Today the United States Senate confirmed Lloyd Austin as the 28th United States Secretary Of Defense, since the Department’s inception in 1947, after World War II.
The Honorable Secretary Austin is competent in his new position, through his depth of experience in diplomacy in a severe, complex environment, as the former CENTCOM Combatant Commander, in specific service mission requirements and force provider as the former Vice Chief of the Army, as a warfighter as the Commanding General of U.S. forces in Iraq, and as the Commander, Multi-National Corps, in Iraq.
Secretary Austin is hard-nosed, fair, a listener, and a decisive decision maker. He is a strong believer and leader for Missile Defense: a high-demand, low-density, critical asset under his commands.
“We must continue working together with allies and partners to enhance our regional missile defense efforts in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. Our cooperation strengthens deterrence and provides assurance essential to the unity of our alliances, which are threatened by missile coercion and attacks. Many of our allies and partners are acquiring advanced maritime and shore land-based air and missile defense systems that will contribute to collective security. If confirmed, I will encourage them to continue these efforts, while seeking opportunities to deepen interoperability with the U.S. and regional partners. These opportunities include joint exercises that demonstrate both interoperability and our joint resolve to both work together and fight together.”
“IAMD is inherently a joint endeavor and requires a synchronized approach across the Department. Emerging adversary air and missile capabilities continue to fundamentally alter the way future conflicts will be conducted. Correspondingly, the threat requires the Department to thoughtfully and routinely reassess future organizational structures in a global context, to address threat capabilities that limit or negate U.S. capabilities to operate and project joint military forces. If confirmed, I will work with the Services, the Joint Staff, and civilian leadership to ensure that our approach to IAMD is well integrated and addresses current and future operational needs.”
“As our adversaries have demonstrated through rapid and repeated flight testing, the lines between ballistic and non-ballistic missile threats have become increasingly blurred, most clearly evidenced by the advent of hypersonic missile threats. If confirmed, I would encourage efforts to address the full spectrum of missile threats, including the continued development of integrated air and missile defense architectures for both regional and homeland defense, as well as the accelerated development of intercept capability for hypersonic missile defense.”
The Honorable Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a rugby player for the United States Military Academy at West Point, a team player, and a scholar.
Our nation’s Department of Defense is in good oversight, with a good, proven leader that has honor and commands respect for his actions.
