Blowout vote: Austin passed 93-2 with senators saying they were confident civilian control of the military was secure in his hands
Into work: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Mark Milley, head for their Pentagon offices as Joe Biden's pick becomes the first ever black Pentagon chief
* Retired four star general Lloyd Austin will be Joe Biden's Defense Secretary and the first ever African American to lead the Pentagon
* Austin ran Central Command, which oversees forces in the Middle East and Afghanistan, until 2016 * 67-year-old West Point graduate had 41-year Army career including vice chief of Army staff and commander of all forces in Iraq
* Is second member of Biden cabinet to be confirmed after Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines
* Senate and House had to give waiver because of his recent military service - only third after George Marshall in 1950 and Jim Mattis in 2017
Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Army's elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation Friday to become the nation's first Black secretary of defense.
The 93-2 vote gave President Joe Biden his second Cabinet member; Avril Haines was confirmed on Wednesday as the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence.
The two objections came from Republicans Josh Hawley and Mike Lee.
Biden is expected to win approval for others on his national security team in coming days, including Antony Blinken as secretary of state.
Read more ....
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 22, 2021
National Guard troops kicked out of Senate are back in Capitol following outrage from lawmakers, public -- Military Times
The Nuclear Football Is Now Following President Joe Biden Around -- Defense News
The border emergency is canceled, but thousands of troops there aren’t scheduled to go home -- Military Times
Nearly 1 in 5 people charged in Capitol riot have military history: analysis -- The Hill Pentagon Won't Force US Troops to Take COVID-19 Vaccine -- VOA
Okinawa Marines ban most off-base activities as island's coronavirus case numbers climb -- Stars and Stripes
The Navy's Littoral Combat Ships Are a Slow, Broken Mess -- Popular Mechanics
U.S. Navy Supports Maiden Deployment of Royal Navy's New Carrier -- Maritime-Executive
Navy Working on Better Maintainability, Self-Sufficiency for LCS and Rest of Surface Fleet -- USNI News
The Air Force’s New Report On Ballistic And Cruise Missiles Misses Its Target -- Defense News To meet nonproliferation goals, Biden must commit to nuclear modernization -- John D. Maurer, Defense News
MBDA uses micro-drone as a spotter for its anti-tank missile -- Defense News
To Rule the Invisible Battlefield: The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Chinese Military Power -- War On The Rocks
Engine Failure, Aircrew Error Led to Fatal E-11A Crash in Afghanistan, Air Force Says -- Military.com
US to resume processing thousands of stalled visas for Afghans who aided Americans -- Washington Post
Russia Welcomes US Proposal to Extend Nuclear Treaty -- Military.com/Canadian Press
North Korea’s new sub missile is first step toward a new ICBM -- Foreign Policy
