[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 217 (Sunday, December 20, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NOMINATION OF RETIRED GENERAL LLOYD AUSTIN AS THE 28TH U.S. SECRETARY 
                               OF DEFENSE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 20, 2020

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of Congress, as a 
proud citizen of the United States, as an African American woman, and 
as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I rise in strong support 
of President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of retired General Lloyd 
Austin as the 28th U.S. Secretary of Defense.
  Retired General Lloyd Austin is an accomplished and respected 
trailblazer in the United States Army. He is a trusted and crisis-
tested leader who has broken barriers in his historic ascent to the 
highest ranks of the military.
  With more than 40 years of service, Retired General Lloyd Austin is a 
deeply experienced and highly decorated commander who has served with 
distinction in several of the Pentagon's most crucial roles.
  Retired General Lloyd Austin is a son of the South. He was born in 
Mobile, Alabama and grew up in Thomasville, Georgia. He graduated from 
West Point United States Military Academy and later earned degrees from 
Auburn University, Webster University, the Army Command and General 
Staff College and the Army War College.
  Retired General Lloyd Austin was promoted to Lieutenant General in 
2006 and assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. And 
in 2009 he handed over his command to become the Director of the Joint 
Staff.
  Retired General Lloyd Austin retired from the U.S. Army in 2016 as 
the first African American to serve as Commander of CENTCOM, the U.S. 
Central Command, where he oversaw America's military strategy and joint 
operations throughout the Middle East and in Afghanistan.
  He was the chief architect of the military campaign to defeat the 
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and became the second highest ranking 
commander in Iraq, taking command of the Multi-National Corps--Iraq. As 
commander, he directed the operations of approximately 152,000 joint 
and coalition forces in all sectors of Iraq.
  He led the transition of the U.S. and Coalition military forces and 
equipment out of Iraq, the largest logistics operation undertaken by 
the Army in six decades.
  Retired General Lloyd Austin served in the 82nd Airborne Division at 
Fort Bragg, Operations Officer for the Army Indianapolis District 
Recruiting Command, Executive Officer 1st Brigade 10th Mountain 
Division at Fort Drum, Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion 22nd 
Infantry, Chief of Joint Operations Division J-3, Assistant Division 
Commander for Maneuver 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Commander 
of 2nd Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Commanding General 
of U.S. Forces in Iraq, Army Vice Chief of Staff and as Commander of 
CENTCOM.
  Retired General Lloyd Austin is highly decorated with many awards and 
decorations including four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, three 
Army Distinguished Service Medals, a Silver Star, two Defense Superior 
Service Medals, and two Legion of Merit decorations.
  Retired General Lloyd Austin, if confirmed, will become the first 
African American Secretary of Defense which culminates a barrier-
breaking career as the first African American general to command an 
Army Division in combat, to lead a Corps in combat, to command an 
entire theater of war, and to serve as Commander of U.S. Central 
Command.
  Secretary-designate Austin has proven and demonstrated extraordinary 
leadership across a lifetime of distinguished service and is well 
prepared to lead our nation's military as a strong and dedicated 
civilian leader.