Benden nominated retired General Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defence

If approved by the Senate, Austin, 67, is the first African to head the Pentagon.

During his dedicated service long spent at the White House and with our troops abroad, General Austin has shown the exemplary leader, character and command”, Biden said in his statement.

It is highly qualified to face the challenges and crises we currently have”.

Biden's campaign has considered Austin <x0liberal reliable and tested in times of crisis, which has led some of the most complex and most influential operations in the history of the armed forces”, citing the campaign of the extremist group, the Islamic State and the withdrawal of nearly 150,000 military troops from Iraq.

Austin spent 41 years as a career manager.

He served as the first military-coloured deputy chief in 2012, and later headed the US Central Command before retirement in 2016.

His nomination requires confirmation by the Senate, where he could face opposition from lawmakers who believe in the Pentagon civilian leader.

Many democratic senators have said they are against his confirmation for that reason.