Who is Llyod Austin, Army four-star general and former United States Secretary of Defense

March 5, 2025 Story by: Editor

Lloyd Austin is a retired four-star general in the United States Army and served as the 28th U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. He was the first African American to hold this position. Over his 41-year military career, Austin held key leadership roles, including director of the Joint Staff, commanding general of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, and head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Early life and Military career:

Born on August 8, 1953, in Mobile, Alabama, Austin grew up in Thomasville, Georgia. His father worked as a postal worker, and his mother was a homemaker. He attended segregated schools before graduating from an integrated Thomasville High School in 1971.

In 1973, Austin entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1975 as an infantry second lieutenant. He steadily advanced through the ranks, commanding units at various levels. During the 2003 Iraq invasion, he led the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and later commanded the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.

By 2008, he had returned to Iraq, impressing Adm. Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Barack Obama. Mullen remarked that he had never met anyone with Austin’s deep understanding of ground warfare.

Austin became director of the Joint Staff in 2009, a powerful behind-the-scenes military position. The following year, he was appointed commanding general of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, where he developed a professional relationship with Joe Biden. A devout Roman Catholic, Austin often attended mass alongside Beau Biden, the president’s late son, who was serving in Iraq at the time.

In 2011, Austin oversaw the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. In 2013, President Obama appointed him to lead CENTCOM, where he managed military operations across the Middle East and Afghanistan. After retiring in 2016, Austin joined the boards of Raytheon, Nucor, and Tenet Healthcare.

Tenure as Secretary of Defense

In December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden nominated Austin as Secretary of Defense, and he was confirmed by the Senate in January 2021. One of his first major responsibilities was overseeing the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was completed on August 30, 2021.

During his tenure, two major international conflicts shaped U.S. defense policy: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war with Hamas.

On Russia, Austin took a firm stance, stating in the spring of 2022 that he wanted to see Russia weakened to the point where it could not repeat its actions in Ukraine. Under his leadership, the Pentagon facilitated military aid to Ukraine, including weapons and intelligence support. However, the Defense Department also blocked the Biden administration from sharing intelligence with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into Russian war crimes, fearing it could set a precedent for prosecuting U.S. officials.

Austin also played a key role in the Biden administration’s support for Israel during its war against Hamas in Gaza. On October 13, 2023, a week after Hamas’ attack that killed over 1,100 people, Austin visited Israel, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to the country’s security. In December 2023, the Biden administration bypassed Congress to approve a weapons sale to Israel.

Health and Controversy

In December 2023, Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery on December 22 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Due to complications, he was readmitted to intensive care on January 2, 2024. However, his hospitalization was kept secret for several days, leading to widespread criticism of the Pentagon’s lack of transparency. Even President Biden was reportedly not informed immediately.

A Department of Defense Inspector General review later found that Austin’s actions unnecessarily increased risks to U.S. national security.

Source: Britannia