Gen. Lloyd J. Austin is a retired U.S. Army general with nearly 41 years of military service. As the commander of U.S. Central Command from March 2013 through March 2016\, he was responsible for the 20-country Central Region that includes Iraq\, Syria\, Iran\, Yemen\, Afghanistan\, Pakistan\, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He was also the Combined Forces commander in Iraq and Syria. Austin has extensive operational experience\, having commanded troops in combat at the 1-\, 2-\, 3- and 4-star levels. During his last deployment\, he served as a 4-star general and commander of United States Forces-Iraq from September 2010 through December 2011. He later served as the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. Austin is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point\, N.Y. and holds master\'s degrees from Auburn University (education) and Webster University (business management). Austin was confirmed as a member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees in January 2017.
Austin received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Auburn University and the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and a Trustee of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

His many awards and decorations include five Defense Distinguished Service Medals\, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit.

He and his wife\, Charlene\, who is also an Auburn graduate\, live in St. Petersburg\, Fla. They have two sons.

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