Biden announces first Black Defense Sec. nominee

President-elect Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he is nominating retired four-star Army general Lloyd J.
Austin to be his secretary of defense, despite his being out of the military less than the seven years required under law.
If confirmed by the Senate, Austin would be the first Black leader of the Pentagon and would need to obtain a congressional waiver to serve as defense secretary.
Congress intended civilian control of the military when it created the position of secretary of defense in 1947 and prohibited a recently retired military officer from holding the position.
Austin retired in 2016. Biden called for a swift confirmation for Austin, whose "deep understanding" of the Pentagon he said is needed to get the U.S. military on the right footing.