Washington-ALsharqiya January 23: The new US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin became the first person of African descent to lead the Pentagon in the history of the United States, so that his appointment would be a new achievement recorded in the file of representing people of color in the institutions of the American state. Austin won Senate approval to appoint him defense minister on Friday after broad support from Democrats and Republicans alike, although he needed to seek a special exemption from Congress as he had recently retired and was nominated for a position usually reserved for civilians. Austin pledged to combat extremism in the US military after the participation of plainclothes soldiers in the congressional attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump.