Joe Biden has formally nominated retired four-star Army General Lloyd Austin to be defense secretary. Austin, who would make history as the first Black defense secretary, spoke alongside Biden on Wednesday.

Lloyd Austin: “America is strongest when it works with its allies. And over the years, I’ve worked hand in hand with our diplomatic colleagues and partners around the globe and witnessed firsthand what we’re able to accomplish together.”

Austin now serves on the board of the leading defense contractor Raytheon and is a partner in the venture capital fund Pine Island Capital alongside Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken. Austin can only be confirmed if he secures a waiver from Congress due to laws designed to preserve the civilian control of the military. Several Democratic senators, including Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Jon Tester and Elizabeth Warren, have indicated they would oppose granting a waiver to Austin. Blumenthal said, “A waiver of the seven-year rule would contravene the basic principle that there should be civilian control of a nonpolitical military.” Three years ago, 17 Democratic senators voted against giving a waiver to James Mattis when he was nominated by President Trump.