International Desk: Lloyd J. has became the first African American defense secretary. The U.S senate confirmed the retired four-star Army general Lloyd Austin as the Pentagon chief on Friday, (January 22nd).

Austin,,67 is likely to face the task of fully winding down the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, a goal that President Biden’s two predecessors campaigned on but failed to achieve.

In a written message to the army, he said, "It is my duty as defense secretary to make you more effective in your responsibilities. That is, to make sure that you have enough equipment, technology, weapons and training to resist our enemies. This means giving you a clear idea of ​​the goal through sound policies and action plans. As well as giving the maximum in terms of cooperation with our friends and colleagues.That's what people want from us."

Austin retired in 2016 after serving as the first black general in the US Army's Central Command. Earlier, in 2012, as the first black man, he was appointed as the Vice Chief of Staff of the country's army.

Austin was the top commander of US forces in Baghdad when current US President Joe Biden was vice president of the Barack Obama administration in 2010-11. That was the beginning of a relationship of trust between them.