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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Joe Biden's secretary of defense designee, the first Black man to be nominated to lead the Department of Defense, was confirmed by the Democratically dominated U.S. Senate by a vote of 93-2 on Friday, with Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri the only two senators who voted no.

President Biden, who was inaugurated on Wednesday, has described retired four-star Army Gen. Floyd Austin as a leader and team player who easily gained the love and respect of troops, allies and enemies across the globe during his distinguished military career, and said the retired general is a dedicated husband and father who well equipped to lead the Department of Defense.

"In my judgment, there's no question that he is the right person for this job at the right moment leading the Department of Defense at this moment in our nation's history," Biden said of his choice for defense secretary when he nominated him for the prestigious post.

The former vice president who served under former president Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, Biden said Austin, 67, is "a man of great decency and a man of dignity."

Sources say Biden had no qualms offering him the job of heading the dEPARTMENT OF dEFENSE, the nation's largest government agency, and commanding the troops around the world.

Austin won Biden's support over front-runner Michelle Flournoy,  a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy under President Bill Clinton and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy under President Obama,

He needed a congressional waiver to be confirmed because he has not been out of the military for the required seven years.

That waiver was approved by the Senate before the confirmation vote was taken on Friday

Before CENTCOM, Austin served as the 33rd vice chief of staff of the United States Army from January 2012, to March 2016.

He was also the last commanding general of United States Forces – Iraq, Operation New Dawn, which ended on December 18, 2011, and then Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

He retired from the Army in April 2016.

The retired general's defense secretary nomination to lead the Department of Defense came after increasing pressure from Black leaders, including congressional Democrats and  CBC members like Rep James Clyburn of South Carolina, also the majority whip.

They said Blacks should get top level Cabinet positions as Whites traditionally get at the White House, including lucrative secretary posts.

Biden has said that he expects Black leaders to speak out on issues of public concern pertinent to the Black community.

"Their job is to push me," Biden told reporters. "That's their job."

The nation's 46th president and a former U.S. senator and vice president who served under Barack Obama, the country's first Black president, Biden's inauguration drew a host of dignitaries and well wishers to the nation's capitol, including Obama,  former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, former President George Bush, members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and several  of the Supreme Court justices such as Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a President Trump appointee who cruised through confirmation hearings late last year.

While Vice President Mike Pence was there as scheduled, Trump did not attend and, instead, gave a farewell speech before supporters and his family before exiting the White House earlier in the day on Marine One, leaving behind a legacy of political divisiveness and unrest, and some 400,000 Americans dead from a coronavirus pandemic that he refused to take seriously.

There were no large crowds at Biden's inaugural ceremony due to COVID-19 and the fear of more violence by Trump protesters, an inaugural celebration that was void of the angry mob that seized the Capitol and stormed congressional chambers two weeks ago at Trump's  insistence, a historic riot that left four protesters and a capital police officer dead and culminated in the president's subsequent impeachment for a second time.

Lady Gaga, Jenifer Lopez and Garth Brooks were among those who performed.

Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts with his wife, first lady Dr. Jill Biden, by his side.

He said during his inauguration speech that he will be " a president for all Americans."

A former California attorney general and U.S. senator, Harris,  was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayer, an Obama appointee and the only Latino on the nine-member court that has a 6-3 conservative majority.

Her well-suited husband, Doug Emhoff, is a millionaire entertainment lawyer, and now America's second man.

The couple is set to become the eighth permanent residents of Number One Observatory Circle, the official residence of the vice president.

Both Biden and Harris had an array of family members at the inauguration.

Cleveland women said that they are ready to march for women's rights in Cleveland on Jan 23,  just three days after the inauguration, and that the theme of the annual  women's march in the largely Black major American city is "A new era."

"We are preparing for a peaceful rally and march this weekend in Cleveland as we celebrate a new era for women, look back on the gains and losses since this new women's movement took off in January 2017 after former President Trump was inaugurated, and call for President Trump and Vice President Harris to make do on promises to Cleveland  and Northeast Ohio women,  Black people, and impoverished urban cities like Cleveland," said Women's March Cleveland head organizer Kathy Wray Coleman,  a Black Cleveland activists and former public school biology teacher.

Ohio state Sen. Sandra Williams of Cleveland is among the rally speakers and will speak specifically on the Jan 22 anniversary of Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

Pictured is Ohio senator Sandra Williams of Cleveland

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.