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The U.S. Senate votes 93–2 to confirm Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense, making him the first African-American to lead the The Pentagon.
2021-01-22

While testifying about the United States military’s current strategy, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Paul J. Selva warns the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) against falling into a ground fight trap with ISIL and U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter cautions that increased U.S. ground presence will “Americanize” the conflict. The Daily Beast reports that both Pentagon officials “did little to assuage lawmakers’ concerns that the strategy isn’t working.’’ At the same time, former U.S. defense officials tell SASC the current approach is inadequate.
2015-12-10

Leon Panetta is sworn in as the new United States Secretary of Defense, succeeding Robert Gates.
2011-07-1

Robert Gates, the United States Secretary of Defense, arrives in Afghanistan to meet with the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai.
2011-03-7

United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates flies to China for a four-day trip after expressing American worries that the Chinese "clearly have potential to put some of our [military] capabilities at risk", adding that America has "to pay attention to them" and "respond appropriately with our own programmes".
2011-01-9

United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urges the United States Senate to abolish "don't ask don't tell" for gays and lesbians serving in the US military and releases a report showing that ending the policy would have little impact.
2010-11-30

The United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says the July 2011 timetable to start withdrawing United States armed forces from Afghanistan is set in stone.
2010-08-16

U.S. defense secretary Robert Gates announces new rules that make it more difficult to expel gay service members.
2010-03-25

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates reviews allegations of misconduct in Afghanistan by the private military company formerly known as Blackwater, Xe Services LLC.
2010-03-6

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates makes his first visit to Pakistan.
2010-01-21