Wilmington (United States) (AFP) – US President-elect Joe Biden named retired army general Lloyd Austin on Tuesday as his pick to be secretary of defense — and the first African-American to lead the Pentagon. “Throughout his lifetime of dedicated service — and in the many hours we’ve spent together in the White House Situation Room and with our troops overseas — General Austin has demonstrated exemplary leadership, character, and command,” Biden said in a statement. “He is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and crises we face in the current moment.” The 67-year-old four-star gener…