The nation’s first black secretary of defense, retired U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, arrived at the Pentagon on Friday afternoon after a lightning-fast congressional waiver and confirmation.
Austin arrived to work at the Pentagon for the first time in civilian clothing, welcomed by acting Defense Secretary David Norquist and saluted by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley.
The 41-year Army veteran stopped at the bottom of the Pentagon’s river entrance to face waiting journalists, thank them for their presence, and in a deep baritone offered a “see you around campus” before proceeding up the steps without responding to reporters’ questions.
In a message to the force released shortly after his arrival, Austin outlined the priorities he will have leading 2 million uniformed members of the military.
“My job as Secretary of Defense is to make you more effective at doing yours,” his statement read. “That means ensuring you have the tools, technology, weapons, and training to deter and defeat our enemies.”
Austin also promised to help the country confront the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We must help the Federal Government move further and faster to eradicate the devastating effects of the coronavirus,” he said.
Austin promised to “do everything we can to vaccinate and care for our workforce” and “alleviate the pressure this pandemic has exerted on you and your families.”
As of Friday, the Defense Department had recorded more than 206,000 coronavirus cases and 225 deaths, including nearly 133,000 active-duty service members sickened and 17 killed by the virus.
Austin’s own Army brethren have been most affected by the pandemic.
The Army has recorded nearly double the next largest service tally, with 46,707 soldiers sickened. In October, reports emerged that a spike in Army suicides may be related to the stresses caused by the coronavirus.
The new Pentagon spokesman, retired Rear Adm. John Kirby, told the Washington Examiner that Austin received his first DoD coronavirus briefing but did not yet have plans to alter the rollout of vaccines to service members.
“The secretary has made no decisions about altering the current plan to vaccinate the workforce,” he said.
“He is receiving a COVID briefing this afternoon, his first of what will be many,” he added. “As he said to Congress, this is the most pressing priority the department faces right now.”
