Lloyd Austin Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, Biography & More

Lloyd Austin is the 28th Secretary of Defense of the United States, and the first African American to hold this position. He is a retired four-star general who served in the US Army for 41 years, commanding troops in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also a recipient of the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest award for valor, and five Defense Distinguished Service Medals.

Lloyd Austin Wiki/Bio

Name	Lloyd James Austin III
Born	August 8, 1953 (age 70)
Birthplace	Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Spouse	Charlene Banner (m. 1980)
Education	United States Military Academy (BS) <br> Auburn University (MA) <br> Webster University (MBA)
Military service	United States Army (1975–2016)
Rank	General
Commands	United States Central Command Vice Chief of Staff of the Army United States Forces – Iraq Multi-National Corps – Iraq XVIII Airborne Corps 10th Mountain Division 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division <br> 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan <br> Iraq War <br> Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards	Silver Star Defense Distinguished Service Medal (5) Army Distinguished Service Medal (4) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2)
Current position	28th United States Secretary of Defense
Assumed office	January 22, 2021
President	Joe Biden
Deputy	Kathleen Hicks
Preceded by	Mark Esper

Birthday, Family, Education

Lloyd James Austin III was born on August 8, 1953 (age: 70 years, as of 2023), in Mobile, Alabama. He was raised in Thomasville, Georgia, by his parents Lloyd James Austin Jr., a postal worker, and Aletia Taylor Austin, a homemaker. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry branch of the US Army.

He later earned a Master of Arts degree in counselor education from Auburn University in 1986, and a Master of Business Management from Webster University in 1989. He also completed the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Visits Ukraine to Show Support

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday, November 22, 2023, to reaffirm the US commitment to the country’s sovereignty and security amid rising tensions with Russia. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Andriy Taran, and announced a new package of $60 million in military aid to Ukraine.

The visit came as Russia has amassed more than 90,000 troops near the border with Ukraine, according to US and NATO officials, raising fears of a possible invasion or escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the Ukrainian government since 2014. The US and its allies have urged Russia to de-escalate the situation and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Lloyd Austin said that the US stands with Ukraine and supports its aspirations to join NATO, the Western military alliance that Russia views as a threat. He also praised Ukraine’s efforts to implement reforms and combat corruption, which are key conditions for its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

The new military aid package includes additional Javelin anti-tank missiles, counter-artillery radars, secure communications equipment, and medical supplies, according to a Pentagon statement. The US has provided more than $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, including lethal and non-lethal weapons, training, and advisory support.

Austin also visited the Ukrainian Military Academy in Kyiv, where he met with some of the US military personnel who are training and advising the Ukrainian forces. He said that the US-Ukraine partnership is “stronger than ever” and that the US will continue to help Ukraine build a “capable, resilient, and professional” military.

Austin’s visit to Ukraine was part of his European tour, which also included stops in Portugal, Spain, and Germany. He said that his trip was aimed at strengthening the transatlantic bond and addressing the common challenges and opportunities in the region. He also said that the US is committed to maintaining a “free and open” Indo-Pacific and countering the “malign influence” of China and Russia.

During my visit to Kyiv today, we announced additional security assistance for 🇺🇦. This tranche of equipment underscores the U.S. commitment to working with our partners and allies to provide 🇺🇦 with the capabilities it needs to defend itself now and deter future aggression.…
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) November 20, 2023

Military Career

Lloyd Austin served in various leadership positions and assignments throughout his military career, both in the United States and abroad. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, the 10th Mountain Division, the XVIII Airborne Corps, and the US Central Command, among others. He also participated in several military operations, such as Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait, Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

He was promoted to four-star general in 2010 and became the first African American to serve as the vice chief of staff of the Army, the second-highest ranking officer in the Army. He was also the first African American to lead the US Central Command, the unified combatant command responsible for the Middle East and Central Asia. He retired from the Army in 2016, after 41 years of service.

Some of his notable achievements and awards include:

Leading the 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, where he earned the Silver Star for his actions.
Commanding the Multi-National Corps-Iraq from 2008 to 2009, where he oversaw the security agreement between the US and Iraq, and the reduction of US forces in Iraq.
Commanding the US Forces-Iraq from 2010 to 2011, where he was responsible for the transition of US military operations to the Iraqi government, and the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq.
Commanding the US Central Command from 2013 to 2016, where he led the US and coalition efforts to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, and to support the Afghan security forces.
Receiving five Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the highest non-combat related military award, for his exceptional performance of duty in a position of great responsibility.
Received two Legions of Merit, one of the highest military decorations that can be awarded to foreign military personnel, for his service as the chief of staff of the US Central Command, and as the commanding general of the US Forces-Iraq.

Post-Military Career

After retiring from the military, Lloyd Austin joined the boards of directors of several corporations, such as Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, Tenet Healthcare, and Auburn University. He also served on the board of trustees of Auburn University and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

On December 7, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden nominated Austin to be the secretary of defense, the head of the US Department of Defense, and the principal defense advisor to the president. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 22, 2021, by a vote of 93-2, making him the first African American to hold this position. He also received a waiver from Congress to serve as the secretary of defense, since he had not been out of active military service for at least seven years, as required by law.

As the secretary of defense, Lloyd is responsible for the formulation and execution of the defense policies and programs of the United States, and for overseeing the military and civilian personnel, equipment, and resources of the Department of Defense. He also serves on the National Security Council, the principal forum for national security and foreign policy decision-making in the US government.

Lloyd Austin Spouse, Kids

Lloyd Austin with his wife Charlene Denise Banner Austin

Lloyd Austin has been married to Charlene Denise Banner Austin since the early 1980s. She is a consultant for military service members and their families and has a master’s degree in education from Auburn University. She has also been involved in various family support groups and initiatives for military spouses and children.

He has two stepsons, Reginald Hill and Christopher Hill, from his wife’s previous marriage. He also has two grandchildren, Austin and Christian Hill.

Lloyd is a devout Christian and a member of the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. He is also an avid sports fan and enjoys playing golf and basketball. He is known for his calm and humble demeanor and his dedication and loyalty to his country and his troops.