Lloyd Austin

Lloyd Austin
Born	Lloyd James Austin III 8 8, 1953
Birthplace	Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Retired U.S. Army general, former U.S. Secretary of Defense
Known for	28th United States Secretary of Defense; first African American to serve as Secretary of Defense, commander of CENTCOM, and commander of a division, corps, and field army in combat
Education	United States Military Academy (BS), Auburn University (MA), Webster University (MA)
Awards	Silver Star, Defense Distinguished Service Medal (5)

Lloyd James Austin III (born August 8, 1953) is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as the 28th United States Secretary of Defense from January 22, 2021, to January 20, 2025, under President Joe Biden. A career soldier whose military service spanned more than four decades, Austin rose through the ranks to hold some of the most consequential command positions in the American military, including the 12th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army, and commander of United States Forces – Iraq (USF-I) during the final withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraq in 2011. Born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Thomasville, Georgia, Austin graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975 and built a distinguished combat record across multiple theaters, earning the Silver Star for valor during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He holds the unique distinction of having commanded in combat at the one-, two-, three-, and four-star general officer levels, and was the first African American to command a division, a corps, and a field army in combat. Following his retirement from the military in 2016, Austin served on several corporate boards before being nominated by President-elect Biden to lead the Department of Defense. His confirmation by the United States Senate on January 22, 2021, by a vote of 93–2, made him the first African American to serve as Secretary of Defense.

Early Life

Lloyd James Austin III was born on August 8, 1953, in Mobile, Alabama. He grew up in Thomasville, Georgia, a small city in the southern part of the state. Details about his parents and family background during his early years remain limited in public records, though Austin has spoken about growing up in the segregated American South and the values of discipline and service that shaped his upbringing. His path toward a military career began when he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he would join the Long Gray Line of Army officers.

Education

Austin graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree in counselor education from Auburn University and a Master of Arts degree in business management from Webster University. In addition to his academic degrees, Austin completed numerous military education courses throughout his career, including the United States Army Infantry School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College. He was also a participant in the Brookings Institution's Leadership Forum.

Career

Early Military Career

Austin was commissioned as an infantry officer upon his graduation from West Point in 1975 and began a career in the United States Army that would span 41 years. Over the course of his early service, he held a variety of command and staff positions within the infantry branch. He rose steadily through the junior and mid-grade officer ranks, gaining experience in both operational and staff assignments that prepared him for senior leadership roles. His assignments included service with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Division, among other units. Austin developed a reputation as a skilled tactician and a leader who maintained close relationships with the soldiers under his command, earning him the moniker "a soldier's soldier" among peers and subordinates.

Command in Iraq and Afghanistan

Austin's career entered a transformative phase with the onset of the War on Terror following the September 11, 2001 attacks. He served in multiple command roles across Iraq and Afghanistan, building a combat record that was notable for its breadth across all general officer ranks. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Austin served as the assistant division commander for the 3rd Infantry Division and was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor, for his actions during the campaign. He became the first African American to command a division in combat when he led the 10th Mountain Division, and subsequently the first African American to command a corps in combat.

Austin's most prominent operational command came when he was appointed as the commanding general of United States Forces – Iraq (USF-I) in September 2010, succeeding General Raymond Odierno. In this role, he oversaw the execution of Operation New Dawn, the final phase of the American military mission in Iraq, and was responsible for the drawdown and withdrawal of the remaining United States combat forces from the country. Under Austin's command, the last convoy of American troops departed Iraq on December 18, 2011, marking the end of nearly nine years of military operations in the country. Managing the complex logistics and security challenges of withdrawing tens of thousands of troops and vast quantities of equipment while maintaining stability in Iraq was considered one of the most significant operational achievements of Austin's career.

Director of the Joint Staff

Prior to his assignment in Iraq, Austin served as the 40th Director of the Joint Staff from August 2009 to June 2010, succeeding General Stanley A. McChrystal. In this role, he served as the principal military adviser and assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helping to coordinate the activities of the Joint Staff and manage the flow of information and recommendations to the nation's senior military leadership. This position placed Austin at the nexus of strategic military planning and policy during a period of active combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army

On January 31, 2012, Austin assumed the position of the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army, the second-highest-ranking officer in the United States Army. He was the first African American to hold this position. As vice chief, Austin was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Army staff and played a key role in shaping Army policy during a period of transition as the service adjusted to the drawdown from Iraq and prepared for eventual reduction of forces in Afghanistan. During his tenure as vice chief, Austin addressed issues including Army readiness, modernization, and the troubling rise in soldier suicides, a subject on which he spoke publicly. He served in this role until March 2013.

Commander of United States Central Command

On March 22, 2013, Austin assumed command of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), succeeding General Jim Mattis and becoming the first African American to lead a unified combatant command with geographic responsibility for the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia. As CENTCOM commander, Austin oversaw all U.S. military operations in one of the most strategically complex and volatile regions in the world.

During his tenure at CENTCOM, Austin confronted the rapid rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which in 2014 seized vast swaths of territory across Iraq and Syria, declaring a caliphate and committing widespread atrocities. Austin was the principal military commander responsible for developing and executing the U.S.-led military campaign against ISIL, which included a sustained air campaign and the training and equipping of local partner forces. He testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the progress and challenges of the campaign on multiple occasions.

Austin relinquished command of CENTCOM on March 30, 2016, with General Joseph Votel succeeding him. He retired from the United States Army after 41 years of active-duty service.

Post-Military Private Sector

Following his retirement from the Army in 2016, Austin transitioned to the private sector. He joined the boards of directors of several major corporations, including Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, and Tenet Healthcare. He also served on the board of trustees of Auburn University, his graduate alma mater. Austin's service on the Raytheon Technologies board drew scrutiny during his subsequent nomination as Secretary of Defense, given the company's status as one of the largest defense contractors in the world. He resigned from all corporate boards upon his nomination.

Austin also served on the board of trustees of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. After leaving the Pentagon in January 2025, he rejoined the Carnegie Corporation board in 2025.

In June 2025, Austin drew criticism from members of both political parties after establishing a consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Rick Scott criticized the move, citing concerns about the revolving door between senior government defense positions and the private sector, particularly given Austin's earlier statements that he would not pursue lobbying or consulting after leaving office.

Secretary of Defense

On December 7, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Austin as the 28th Secretary of Defense. Because Austin had retired from active military service fewer than seven years before the nomination, his appointment required a congressional waiver of the National Security Act of 1947, which mandates a seven-year cooling-off period between active military service and civilian leadership of the Defense Department. Congress granted the waiver, and Austin was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 2021, by a vote of 93–2, becoming the first African American to serve as Secretary of Defense.

As Secretary of Defense, Austin oversaw a period of consequential developments in American defense and national security policy. Among the most significant events during his tenure was the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, which ended the United States' longest war but was accompanied by chaotic scenes at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport and the deaths of 13 American service members in a suicide bombing attack at Abbey Gate. Austin played a central role in managing the department's response to the crisis.

Austin also led the Pentagon's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, coordinating the provision of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine and organizing the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of more than 50 nations that met regularly to coordinate military assistance. His leadership during this period was focused on strengthening alliances, particularly the NATO alliance, and deterring further Russian aggression. Austin also addressed efforts related to the potential accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, which both nations pursued in response to the Russian invasion.

In the Indo-Pacific region, Austin worked to strengthen American defense partnerships and alliances in the context of competition with China, including expanded cooperation with Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and other regional partners. He made multiple trips to the Indo-Pacific to reinforce these relationships.

A significant controversy during Austin's tenure arose in early 2024 when it was revealed that he had been hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for complications following a medical procedure without notifying the White House, Congress, or senior Pentagon officials for several days. The incident raised questions about the chain of command and transparency, prompting an internal review of notification procedures at the Department of Defense.

In August 2024, Austin made a consequential decision regarding the military commissions at Guantanamo Bay detention camp, withdrawing from plea agreements that had been negotiated with three defendants accused of involvement in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In July 2025, a federal appeals court ruled that Austin "indisputably" had the authority to cancel the plea agreements.

Austin served as Secretary of Defense until January 20, 2025, when he was succeeded by Pete Hegseth following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Personal Life

Austin is married to Charlene Austin. He has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his career in the military and in government. After leaving the Pentagon in January 2025, Austin returned to private life, rejoining the Carnegie Corporation of New York board of trustees and establishing a consulting practice in Washington, D.C.

Austin's health became a matter of public interest in early 2024 following his hospitalization and the subsequent disclosure that he had been treated for prostate cancer. He continued to serve as Secretary of Defense through the remainder of his tenure.

Recognition

Austin received numerous military awards and decorations throughout his 41-year Army career. His decorations include the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor, which he received for his actions during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also received five Defense Distinguished Service Medals, three Army Distinguished Service Medals, and the Legion of Merit, among many other awards.

Austin holds the distinction of being the first African American to serve in each of the following positions: commander of a division in combat, commander of a corps in combat, commander of a theater-level field army in combat, vice chief of staff of the Army, commander of United States Central Command, and Secretary of Defense. These milestones represent significant achievements in the history of the United States military and the broader trajectory of African Americans in senior government leadership.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recognized Austin's leadership alongside other service members at events promoting the partnership between the military and professional sports.

Legacy

Lloyd Austin's career is notable for the breadth and depth of his combat command experience and for his role as a barrier-breaking figure in both the United States military and civilian government. As the first African American to serve as Secretary of Defense, and the first to hold multiple senior command and staff positions in the Army, Austin's career trajectory represented a significant expansion of African American representation at the highest levels of the American defense establishment.

His tenure as CENTCOM commander during the rise of ISIL and his management of the withdrawal from Iraq as commander of USF-I placed him at the center of two of the most consequential military operations of the post-9/11 era. As Secretary of Defense, his leadership during the U.S. response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the withdrawal from Afghanistan defined his legacy in civilian defense leadership. The hospitalization disclosure controversy in 2024 and post-service consulting work drew criticism and added complexity to assessments of his time in office.

Austin's career reflects the evolving role of the United States military in the 21st century, spanning the transition from large-scale conventional and counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to the era of great-power competition with Russia and China. His experience commanding at every general officer level in combat, a distinction no other officer has matched in the modern era, underscored his standing as one of the most operationally experienced military leaders of his generation.