Profiles of Bravery

Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III

2021: First black Secretary of Defense

2012: First black vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army and first black commander of U.S. Central Command

Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III

Lloyd J. Austin III is the 28th secretary of defense, sworn in on Jan. 22, 2021. Austin served 41 years in uniform, retiring as a four-star Army general after three years as commander of U.S. Central Command.

President Barack Obama had nominated Austin as the 12th commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Dec. 6, 2012. Austin became the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Jan. 31, 2012. Austin is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., earned a Master of Arts degree in education from Auburn University and a master's degree in business management from Webster University.

Austin sworn in as vice chief of staff Go back to profiles