Lloyd Austin is a retired four-star general of the United States Army, has been the 28th United States Secretary of Defense since January 22, 2021. His military career included serving as the 12th commander of United States Central Command, starting in March 2013, until his retirement in 2016.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 70 years
Height- 1.85 meters
Weight-78kg
Full name-Lloyd James Austin III
Born- 8 August 1953
Birthplace-Mobile, Alabama, United States
Spouse-Charlene Austin
Profession-United States Secretary of Defense
Nationality- American
Previous office-Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army (2012–2013)
Office-United States Secretary of Defense since 2021
Family
Born on August 8, 1953, in Mobile, Alabama, Austin was raised in Thomasville, Georgia. His parents are Lloyd James Austin Jr. and Aletia Taylor Austin. His father, a postal worker, and his mother, Aletia Taylor Austin, a devout Catholic, raised Austin along with his five siblings.
Wife
Austin and his wife, Charlene Denise Banner Austin, have been married for more than forty years. Charlene has a background as a non-profit administrator and has contributed to the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University by serving on its board.
Children
Austin has two stepsons.
Education
Lloyd James Austin III graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975. During his time at the Academy, he actively participated in rugby and track. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Arts degree in counselor education from Auburn University’s College of Education in 1986 and a Master of Business Administration in business management from Webster University in 1989. Additionally, Austin successfully completed the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
Career
In June 1975, Austin graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry. In 1981, he served in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the operations officer for the Army Indianapolis District Recruiting Command, later commanding a company in the Army Recruiting Battalion. In 1993, he returned to the 82nd Airborne Division, commanding the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 505th Infantry. From September 2003 to August 2005, Austin served as Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division and as Commander, Combined Joint Task Force 180, during the War in Afghanistan.
On December 8, 2006, Austin was promoted to Lieutenant General, assuming command of XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. On September 1, 2010, he was promoted to General, becoming the Army’s 200th four-star general and the sixth African American to achieve this rank. In December 2011, he became Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Austin took command of CENTCOM on March 22, 2013, after being nominated by President Obama in late 2012.
After retiring, Austin joined the board of Raytheon Technologies in April 2016. As of October 2020, his Raytheon stock holdings were valued at approximately $500,000, with total compensation, including stock, totaling $2.7 million. He was appointed to Nucor’s board of directors in September 2017, joined the board of Tenet Healthcare in May 2018, and operated a consulting firm. Austin was also a partner at Pine Island Capital, an investment company affiliated with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Michèle Flournoy.
On December 7, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced Austin as his nominee for Secretary of Defense. He took office on January 22, 2021, after being sworn in by a Defense Department official and ceremonially by Vice President Kamala Harris on January 25, 2021. On March 28, 2023, Austin testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the DoD’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years Defense Program, emphasizing the objectives of the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS).
Net Worth 2024
As of 2024, Austin’s net worth is estimated, and his pension is valued at approximately $1.8 million.
Latest News about Lloyd Austin
Lloyd Austin Hospitalized
The hospitalization of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remained undisclosed for a more extended period than previously known, with officials revealing that even his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, and President Joe Biden were unaware for several days. The Pentagon provided new details on Sunday, disclosing that Austin underwent an initial medical procedure on December 22, 2023, after which he returned home a day later.
He was admitted to intensive care at Walter Reed military hospital on January 1, 2024, due to severe pain. Hicks assumed some of his duties on January 2, but she wasn’t informed about Austin’s unavailability until January 4. The delay in disclosing Austin’s hospitalization was attributed, in part, to his chief of staff being absent due to illness. Austin, in a statement, took full responsibility for the secrecy. The Pentagon did not provide details about the medical procedure, citing privacy and space considerations at the hospital. Austin, recovering well, resumed full control on January 7. The communication breakdown has raised concerns among lawmakers, urging transparency about Austin’s health and the decision-making process.
