Lloyd James Austin III (born August 8, 1953) is a retired United States Army general who served as the 28th United States secretary of defense, from 2021 to 2025, under the Biden administration.
Before retiring from the military in 2016, Austin served as the 12th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), beginning in March 2013. Prior to that he served as the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army from January 2012 to March 2013, and as commander of United States Forces – Iraq from September 2010 to December 2011. He is the first African American to hold each of these positions. After retiring from the armed services, Austin joined the boards of Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, Tenet Healthcare, and Auburn University. On December 7, 2020, he was nominated for defense secretary by president-elect Joe Biden and was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 2021, by a vote of 93–2.
Austin holds the unique distinction of having commanded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan at the one-, two-, three- and four-star levels, and was the first African American to command a division, corps, and field army in combat. He is a recipient of the Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for valor, for his actions during the Iraq invasion, as well as five Defense Distinguished Service Medals.
Early life and education
Lloyd James Austin III was born on August 8, 1953, in Mobile, Alabama. He was raised in Thomasville, Georgia. In 1975, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in counselor education from Auburn University's College of Education in 1986, and a Master of Business Administration in business management from Webster University in 1989. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
Following this assignment and attendance at the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he commanded the Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry and served as the Assistant S-3 (Operations) for 1st Brigade.
In 1981, Austin was assigned to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was the operations officer for the Army Indianapolis District Recruiting Command, and where he later commanded a company in the Army Recruiting Battalion. Upon conclusion of this assignment, he attended Auburn University, where he completed studies for a Master's in education. He then returned to West Point as a company tactical officer.
After completion of the Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York, where he served as the S-3 (Operations) and later executive officer for the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. He subsequently served as Executive Officer for 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain, and later Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security for Fort Drum. He later served as G-3 for the 82nd.
Following graduation from Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he returned to the 82nd Airborne Division for a third tour of duty there to command 3rd Brigade. Austin was awarded a Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for valor, for his actions as commander during the invasion.
<big>Commanding General of 10th Mtn Division (Light) and CJTF-180 – Afghanistan</big>
Austin served from September 2003 until August 2005 as Commanding General of 10th Mountain Division, with duty as Commander, Combined Joint Task Force 180, during the War in Afghanistan. He was the first African American to serve as a U.S. Army division commander in combat. In February 2008, Austin became the second highest ranking commander in Iraq, taking command of the Multi-National CorpsIraq (MNC-I). As commander of MNC-I, he directed the operations of approximately 152,000 joint and coalition forces across all sectors of Iraq. He was the first African American general officer to lead a corps-sized element in combat.
Austin handed over command of XVIII Corps to become Director of the Joint Staff in August 2009. He subsequently assumed the role of Commanding General (CG) of United States Forces – Iraq (USF-I), becoming the first African American in history to command an entire theater of war. As CG, USF-I, Austin was the senior military commander in charge of all US and remaining coalition forces in Iraq. Their mission was to advise, train, assist, and equip the Iraqi Armed Forces and the security agencies part of the Ministry of the Interior. As commander, Austin requested an additional troop presence in Iraq from 14,000 to 18,000.
Austin oversaw the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom and combat operations to Operation New Dawn and stability operations focused on advising, assisting, and training the ISF. He was extensively involved in the internal U.S. discussions and then negotiations with the Iraqi Government leading up to the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement. Opposing total U.S. withdrawal, Austin preferred that the U.S. maintain about 10,000 troops in Iraq after 2011 and he approved staff planning for up to 20,000 remaining troops.
In the absence of a new Status of Forces Agreement, President Barack Obama made the decision to retrograde all U.S. forces out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Austin oversaw the entire operation, concurrently planning and executing the orderly drawdown and redeployment of approximately 50,000 service members. The U.S. command in Iraq formally cased its colors on December 15, 2011, at a reduced-sized BIAP complex, and Austin's speech there cited his division's seizure of the airport over eight years beforehand. Austin, along with other members of the USF-I staff, departed Iraq on December 18, 2011.
Army Vice Chief of Staff
In December 2011, Austin was nominated to become Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army (VCSA). He took office on January 31, 2012. As VCSA, he managed the day-to-day administration of the Army's budget and headquarters staff. Under his direction, the Army took steps to reduce the incidence of suicide in the ranks. He also spearheaded the Army's efforts to increase awareness and improve treatment options for the "invisible wounds" of war, namely traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.
United States Central Command
thumb|General Lloyd Austin with President [[Barack Obama at MacDill Air Force Base, September 17, 2014|left]]Austin became the commander of CENTCOM on March 22, 2013, after being nominated by President Obama in late 2012. Austin was preceded as CENTCOM commander by General James Mattis, whom Austin would later succeed as secretary of defense. In his capacity as CENTCOM Commander, General Austin oversaw all U.S. troops deployed and major U.S. military operations around the area of Middle-East and Central and South Asia. The area consisted of 20 countries including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Egypt and Lebanon.
Austin directed the activities of four service component commands, one subordinate unified command (U.S. Forces-Afghanistan/Resolute Support Mission), two major subordinate multi-service commands, and several temporary task forces actively engaged in military operations. Austin oversaw more than 150,000 American and Coalition forces involved in operations throughout the region.
During his tenure, Austin routinely advised the president, the secretary of defense, and other national-level leadership on challenges afflicting the CENTCOM region, and directed U.S. and allied military response to multiple crises and operations. These included the explosive crisis and transition of power in Egypt (2013–14); the resurgence of Al Qaeda's affiliate in the Arabian Peninsula; the Huthi-led insurgency against the Hadi government and the civil war in Yemen; continued support for the operations in Afghanistan against Al Qaeda and other extremist groups; malign activity by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Forces; and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)).
thumb|General Lloyd Austin with Lieutenant General [[Charles Q. Brown Jr. during the Air Forces Central Command change of command ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, June 29, 2015]]
left|thumb|General Austin in 2016
As commander, after ISIL seized control of Mosul in June 2014, Austin oversaw the development and execution of the coalition military campaign plan to counter ISIL in Iraq and Syria, named Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). At its peak, ISIL (also referred to as Daesh) controlled nearly 110,000 square kilometers of territory, including major cities in both Iraq and Syria, and attracted more than 40,000 foreign terrorist fighters. As of October 2014, Austin argued that the U.S. military's primary focus in operations against ISIL should be Iraq. The military campaign to counter ISIL consisted of multiple elements occurring simultaneously or near-simultaneously, including: 1) employing a coalition effort in Iraq to halt the advance of ISIL and to enable the Iraqis to regain their territory and reestablish control over their borders; 2) containing ISIL, in part by ensuring coalition partners have the capacity to secure their sovereign borders; 3) enabling the moderate Syrian opposition forces through a coalition-led train and equip program; and 4) eliminating ungoverned spaces out of which ISIL and other terrorist groups were able to operate.
In its first year, CJTF-OIR conducted over 8,000 airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria. Between 2014 and 2017, ISIL lost 95 percent of the territory they once controlled. By July 2017, Mosul was once again under the control of the Iraqi government, and by December 2017, ISIL had lost all control of territory in Iraq.
On April 15, 2024, Secretary Austin marked 10 years of the global coalition to defeat ISIL, while welcoming Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to the Pentagon. "In 2019, thanks to the courage and sacrifices of the Iraqi security forces and our partners in Operation Inherent Resolve, together, we achieved the territorial defeat of Daesh [another name for ISIL]. But Daesh remains a threat to your citizens and to ours," Austin said.
Austin's retirement ceremony took place at Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall on April 5, 2016. During his departure and retirement ceremony, General Austin said that he was extremely proud of the achievements of the troops under his command. He said "I'm very proud to have had the opportunity to lead troops in combat, I have seen our young leaders do amazing things in really tough and dangerous situations." , his Raytheon stock holdings were worth roughly $500,000 and his compensation, including stock, totaled $2.7million. On May 29, 2018, Austin was appointed as an independent director on the board of Tenet Healthcare. He also operates a consulting firm and has been a partner at Pine Island Capital, an investment company with which Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Michèle Flournoy are affiliated. Biden became acquainted with Austin while Austin was CENTCOM commander in the Obama administration, and reportedly grew to trust Austin after receiving his briefings. Like former defense secretary James Mattis, Austin required a congressional waiver of the National Security Act of 1947 to bypass the seven-year waiting period after leaving active-duty military, as prescribed by (a), in order to be appointed as secretary of defense. Former secretary of defense Robert Gates and former secretary of state Colin Powell, among others, issued statements supporting Austin's nomination.
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for Austin on January 19, 2021. On January 21, Congress granted Austin a waiver of the seven-year requirement by a 326–78 vote in the House and a 69–27 vote in the Senate. He was confirmed by the Senate in a 93–2 vote on January 22, 2021. Republican senators Josh Hawley and Mike Lee were the only "no" votes. Upon his confirmation and swearing-in later that day, Austin became the first African American Secretary of Defense. Austin took office on January 22, 2021, after being sworn in by a Defense Department official, and was later sworn in ceremonially by Vice President Kamala Harris on January 25, 2021.thumb|[[United States Secretary of Defense|U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd Austin with U.S. president Joe Biden at the Pentagon on February 10, 2021]]
Tenure
Upon assuming the office, Austin announced his top three priorities for the Defense Department in a memorandum issued to all DoD employees. It stated in part: <blockquote>As the Secretary of Defense, I am committed to ensuring that the Department develops the right people, priorities, and purpose of mission to continue to defend our Nation from enemies foreign and domestic. This will require aligning our priorities and capabilities to a changing and dynamic threat landscape. We will do so in a way that is based on a sober assessment of our strategic needs and recognize the importance of building and sustaining a strong workforce and unity within our Department, across the Nation and with our allies and partners around the world. Three priorities – defending the Nation, taking care of our people, and succeeding through teamwork – will guide our efforts.</blockquote>
On March 28, 2023, Austin testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on DoD's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years Defense Program. In his opening statement he reiterated the objectives of the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS):
thumb|Austin with Indonesian defense minister [[Prabowo Subianto in Manama, Bahrain on November 20, 2021]]
thumb|Austin speaks to Department of Defense personnel in February 2021.|left
Part of Austin's primary agenda as secretary of defense was the DoD's plan to confront the COVID-19 pandemic within the department. Austin's first step was to urge service members to get vaccinated, especially after the revelation that almost one-third of active-duty service members had turned down the opportunity to get administered the vaccine. In order to tout the safety of the coronavirus vaccine, Austin took the vaccine himself and also emphasized that taking the coronavirus vaccine will prevent disease among the troops, particularly those who were deployed overseas.
Failure to disclose hospitalization
On January 1, 2024, Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications following a minimally invasive surgical procedure conducted on December 22, 2023, to address his prostate cancer (prostatectomy). On January 2, Austin began experiencing fever and chills and shallow breathing. The medical staff decided to transfer him to the critical-care unit for closer monitoring and better team care by his doctors. Austin spent several days in Walter Reed's intensive care unit (ICU) and during that time delegated authority to the deputy secretary of defense Kathleen Hicks. On January 5, he resumed his functions and duties as secretary of defense from the hospital.
The Department of Defense did not disclose the hospitalization to the President, senior Defense Department officials, senior White House national security staff, members of the U.S. Congress, media outlets, or the public for several days. This failure to disclose contravened established practices of disclosing the medical issues of Cabinet members and senior U.S. officials. President Biden and high-ranking White House officials only learned of Austin's hospitalization three days after it happened, when National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was informed just before he attended an event at Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall where Austin was also scheduled to appear. Sullivan subsequently relayed the information to his colleagues and to Biden. During Austin's hospitalization, Hicks performed the duties of secretary of defense.
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents members of the media covering the Defense Department, criticized Austin's multiday disappearance and the ensuing lack of transparency. Some Democratic and Republican members of Congress called on Austin to resign due to the failure to disclose his absence. While stopped at a coffee shop in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a journalist asked Biden, "Do you have confidence in Secretary Austin?" the president responded, "I do." When the journalist asked, "Was it a lapse in judgment for him not to tell you earlier?" Biden said, "Yes."
During a press conference at the Pentagon on February 1, Austin addressed his hospitalization, stating: