WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Joe Biden has been replaced by retired four-star Army General Lloyd J. Four people familiar with the decision have said they will appoint Austin as secretary of defense. If confirmed by the Senate, Austin will be the first black leader of the Pentagon. Biden chose Austin over the longtime pre-runner-up candidate, Michael Flornoy, a former senior Pentagon official and Biden supporter, the first female secretary to serve on defense. Biden also considered J. Johnson, a former Pentagon general adviser and former Secretary of Homeland Security. Austin’s appointment was confirmed by four people, who spoke anonymously with the Associated Press due to a lack of knowledge about the exam. Properly notified. Biden presented and Austin accepted the post on Sunday, says a person familiar with the process. As a professional military officer, the 67-year-old Austin is likely to face opposition from some in Congress and the defense establishment who believe in the map. A clear line between the Pentagon’s civilian and military leadership. Although many previous defense secretaries served briefly in the military, George C. Marshall and James Mattis were the only two industry executives. Marshall also served as Secretary of State. Like Mattis, Austin should get a congressional discount to serve as Secretary of Defense. With the creation of the post of Secretary of Defense in 1947 and the recent banning of a retired military officer, the Congress aimed for civilian control of the military. One of those who confirmed the selection said that Austin’s choice was to choose the best person, but admitted that pressure had built up the name of a candidate of color and that Austin’s role had risen in recent days. Austin was a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, and served in uniform for 41 years. Biden has known Austin at least since the general years when Biden was vice president of the leading U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq. Austin was commander of the International Corps-Iraq in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected president, and he returned to lead U.S. troops from 2010 to 2011. Austin served as the Army’s first Bloc Vice President in 2012. Service number 2-ranking status. A year later he took over as US Commander-in-Chief, where he began designing and implementing a US military strategy to divert Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Austin retired from the military in 2016, a legitimate requirement that a former member of the military who needs a congressional dismissal should not have been in uniform for at least seven years before serving as defense secretary. That discount has only been granted twice – most recently in the case of Mattis, a retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trump’s first Pentagon chief. The Matisse period at the Pentagon is now seen by some as a testament to why a recently retired military officer should serve as Secretary of Defense only in rare exceptions. Although Mattis is widely regarded for his military prowess and intelligence, critics say he tends to surround himself with military officers at the expense of a broader civilian perspective. He resigned in December 2018 in protest of Trump’s policies. Lauren Dijong Shulman, who has spent 10 years in senior positions at the Pentagon and the National Security Council, said she understands why Biden is looking for candidates with a deeper understanding of the military. However, he worries that the appointment of a general to a political role could prolong some of the damage caused by the politicization of Trump’s military. “But retired generals are no substitute for one of the leaders of the public,” he said. “Public officers come with different skills and different perspectives. Big commanders do not make good appointments worldwide.” Austin has strong leadership, honesty and sharp wit. He will not be a model defense secretary, not only because of his 41-year military career, but because he has strayed from public view. It is a shortcoming to say that he is a quiet general. Although he testified before Congress, he gave some interviews and did not want to talk publicly about military action. Full defense: Biden’s change did not diminish Austin’s words when he spoke. In 2015, Austin described the majority of Iraqi Sunnis as refusing to fight for their government, describing how the Islamic State army managed a year ago across the Syrian border to seize control of large parts of northern and western Iraq. – And in some cases – ISIS has been pushed across the country, ”Austin said. He was praised by the Obama administration for his work in Iraq and the Federal Command, although he did not accept Obama’s decision in December 2011 to leave Iraq altogether. Austin was involved in the Iraq war from beginning to end. He served as Assistant Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division during the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and oversaw the withdrawal in 2011. When Austin retired in 2016, Obama praised his “character and talent” and his judgment and leadership. The man familiar with the matter drew Biden to Austin’s supervision of the Iraq eviction, especially given the military’s upcoming role in the distribution of corona virus vaccines. Like many retired generals, Austin has served on corporate boards. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Radeon Technologies. Austin’s election broke a day before a meeting between Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris and civil rights groups, many of whom pushed the president-elect to choose more blacks. Cabinet Members. Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton said Monday: “I think many in the civil rights community will support this. This is the first time we’ve seen a person in that position. Globally, this means something, especially after a conflicting relationship we had with the previous administration.” The selection was first announced by Politico as a “step in the right direction but not the choice of Biden’s Austin .___ Lemire del Wilmington” Julie Pace, head of the AB Washington Bureau, contributed to the report.
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