Secretary of Defense Arrival and Day One Activities

Newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is expected to arrive at the Pentagon at noon.  It will be open press.

He will then be administratively sworn in by Mr. Tom Muir, Acting Director of Washington Headquarters Services.  Immediately upon completion of that swearing-in, he will receive an intelligence briefing.

Secretary Austin will meet with Deputy Secretary Norquist at 1:30 p.m., followed by a meeting with both Mr. Norquist and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Milley.

At 2:30 p.m., the Secretary will chair a COVID briefing, attended by the Deputy Secretary, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, OSD staff, DOD COVID Coordinator Max Rose, Service Secretaries, Service Chiefs, and Combatant Commanders.  Many of these participants will be joining virtually.  All appropriate COVID-prevention guidelines will be observed for those attending in person.

He will speak by phone with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at 3:45 p.m.

At 4 p.m., he will receive operational briefings about China and the Middle East.

The rest of his afternoon will be taken up with administrative check-in procedures.

NOTE: Some of these times are subject to change.