US President-elect Joe Biden named retired General Lloyd Austin as his Secretary of Defense nominee. In a statement, Biden said that Austin was uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and crises in the current moment, adding that he looked forward to once again working closely with him as a trusted partner to lead the military with dignity and resolve, revitalise alliances in the face of global threats, and ensure the safety and security of the American people.

If confirmed by the Senate, Austin would be the first Black man to lead the Department of Defense. CNN reported that Austin’s selection would make him one of the most prominent members of Biden’s Cabinet and the incoming administration.

It is to be mentioned that the Secretary of Defense is in control of the nation’s largest government agency, commanding troops around the world and the internal workings of the Pentagon, one of the world’s most formidable bureaucracies.