Lloyd Austin Confirmed by Senate, , Becomes First Black Defense Secretary.br Austin is the second of President Joe Biden's br cabinet nominees to be confirmed by the Senate.br The retired four-star general's appointment br was confirmed by a vote of 93-2.br Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and br Mike Lee (R-UT) were the only two br votes against his nomination.br Austin was also the first Black general br assigned to command a division br of the U.S. Army during combat.br He acted as commanding br general of U.S. forces in Iraq.br Austin's confirmation to br President Biden's cabinet br required a waiver passed by br the House of Representatives ...br ... that allows him to serve in the role despite br having been retired from military service br for less than seven years. .br The top Republican member of the Senate Armed Services br Committee, Jim Inhofe, stated he could not "think of a br better person to take the helm than General Austin.