Lloyd Austin

Lloyd James Austin III is a retired United States Army four-star general who has served as the 28th and current United States secretary of defense since January 22, 2021.
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Some of the key events about Lloyd Austin

  • 1975
    Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point
  • 1986
    Earned a Master's degree in Education from Auburn University
  • 1989
    Completed the Infantry Officer Advanced Course
  • 2006
    Became the first African American to command a division in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • 2009
    Assumed command of XVIII Airborne Corps
  • 2010
    Appointed as Commanding General of United States Forces - Iraq
  • 2012
    Became the first African American to lead U.S. Central Command
  • 2013
    Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
  • 2013
    Failed to anticipate and prevent the rise of ISIS while serving as head of U.S. Central Command
  • 2015
    Faced criticism for allegedly downplaying the threat of ISIS in intelligence reports
  • 2016
    Retired from the Army after 41 years of service with the rank of four-star general
  • 2016
    Oversaw a controversial U.S. airstrike on a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, resulting in civilian casualties
  • 2021
    Confirmed as the first African American Secretary of Defense in U.S. history
  • 2021
    Faced backlash for slow response to remove National Guard troops from the U.S. Capitol after January 6 riot
  • 2021
    Criticized for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan
  • 2022
    Received criticism for not informing President Biden promptly about his hospitalization
  • 2023
    Faced scrutiny for keeping his prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment secret from the President and other officials
  • 2023
    Criticized for lack of transparency regarding his health issues and extended hospital stay
  • 2023
    Questioned about potential security risks due to his undisclosed medical condition while serving as Defense Secretary
  • 2024
    Faced calls for resignation due to his handling of health disclosures and temporary transfer of duties

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

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