NEW YORK: United States President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominateGeneral (retd) Lloyd Austin to be defence secretary.

According to American media reports, Gen Austin, 67, would be the firstAfrican-American to lead the Pentagon.

A formidable figure at the Pentagon, Gen Austin also headed the US CentralCommand, the military’s combat command, with responsibility for Iraq,Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria most of the places where the United States is atwar.

As chief of the U.S. Central Command from 2013-16, Gen. Austin made visitsto Pakistan where he interacted with Army’s leadership.