Today In Black History
SecDef Lloyd Austin
Issue #495 Today In Black History, Friday, February 9, 2024
Today’s Black History WOW!
Photo Credit: America 250
Lloyd Austin was born on August 8, 1953, in Mobile, Alabama, and began his military career when he enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1971. He graduated in 1975 and served as a commander at various levels, from leading a platoon to commanding divisions, and eventually becoming a four-star general.
Austin led the 3rd Infantry Division during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, earning accolades for his strategic planning and tactical execution. He later served as the commanding general of United States Forces-Iraq, where he oversaw the withdrawal of troops and the transition to Iraqi control.
In 2010, he was nominated by then-President Barack Obama to become the vice chief of staff of the Army. This made him the second-highest-ranking officer in the Army, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the force. This led to his promotion to the commanding general of the United States Central Command, overseeing military operations in a vast region that included the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Africa.
Throughout his impressive career, Austin has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Silver Star, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit, among others.
Austin made history in 2021 when he became the first African American to serve as the United States Secretary of Defense.
Note: “SecDef” is the unofficial abbreviation for “Secretary of Defense.” Secretary Austin has agreed to testify before Congress about his recent hospitalization for prostate cancer, why he did not immediately alert the White House, and to give a reminder that the chain of command was successfully in place while he was away.
Today In Black History
- In 1861, Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens were elected president and vice president of the Confederate States of America. Stephens previously declared in a speech that the Confederacy was specifically set up to continue the practice of slavery unimpeded.
- In 1861, Tennessee voted against secession.
- In 1897, the British Expedition Force invaded Benin City, ending the Nigerian Kingdom of Benin, which was formed in the 11th century.
- In 1962, Jamaica signed an agreement to become independent.
- In 1971, Satchel Paige was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first player from the Negro League to receive this honor.
- In 1995, Dr. Bernard Harris became the first Black astronaut to take a spacewalk.
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