'A privilege': Biden nominates Kathleen Hicks to be first female deputy defense secretary

US president-elect Joe Biden, on December 30, minated Kathleen Hicks to be deputy secretary of defence. If confirmed by Senate, Hicks would be first woman in American history to hold second-highest rank in Pentagon.   mination also reiterates Biden’s claim to include more woman and people of colour in his ministration. Alongside Hicks, Democrat leer has also picked up civilian Colin Kahl, who previously served in Obama ministration to senior Pentagon post. Biden has earlier minated retired general Lloyd Austin for position of defence secretary. 

"se respected, accomplished civilian leers will help le Department of Defense with integrity and resolve, safeguard lives and interests of American people, and ensure that we fulfill our most sacred obligation: to equip and protect those who serve our country, and to care for m and ir families both during and after ir service. Dr. Kath Hicks and Dr. Colin Kahl have bro experience and crisis-tested judgment necessary to help tackle litany of challenges we face today, and all those we may confront tomorrow. y will be trusted partners to me, vice president-elect, and Secretary-designate Austin — as well as our dedicated civilian and military team — as we work to restore responsible American leership on world st,” Biden said in a statement. 

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Who is Kathleen Hicks?

Born in 1970, Kathleen H. Hicks is an American acemic and former civil servant working as a senior vice president and director of international security program at  Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. She h previously, in 2021, served as principal deputy under secretary of defence for policy under Barack Obama ministration. 

According to official website of CSIS,  Hicks has received distinguished service awards from three Secretaries of Defense and a Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, DOD Senior Professional Women’s Association Excellence in Leership Award, and 2018 Walter Beach Award from National Capital Area Political Science Association.  

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