Austin speaks last month in Wilmington, Del., after being formally nominated as defense secretary. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
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Secretary of Defense Mark Esper testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on July 9 in Washington, D.C. Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images hide caption
Defense Secretary Mark Esper, pictured last month, spoke with his Chinese counterpart Thursday amid strained relations between the two countries. Michael Reynolds/AP hide caption
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in May. She wants an Army officer who testified at Trump impeachment hearings to get his promotion. Greg Nash/Getty Images hide caption
Defense Secretary Mark Esper (left) speaks as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley listens during a briefing at the Pentagon on Monday. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte meets Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Oct. 24 at the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting at the former Clark Air Base outside Manila. Dondi Tawatao/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
With Mattis Trip To Philippines, Reminders Of Waning U.S. Influence In Region
Teddy Fischer and Jane Gormley, student journalists from Mercer Island High School near Seattle, wrote stories based on an exclusive interview with Defense Secretary James Mattis. Courtesy of Charlie Fischer hide caption
High School Journalists Land Scoop With Defense Secretary James Mattis
President Trump and Defense Secretary James Mattis speak on Inauguration Day. Mattis travels to South Korea and Japan this week in the administration's first major foreign trip. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption
President-elect Donald Trump speaks alongside retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis after the two met in Bedminster Township, N.J., in late November. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ron Lewis (left) walks next to U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter before boarding a plane at Queen Alia Airport in Amman, Jordan, in July. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, seen here in 2008, is reported to be President Obama's pick to be the next defense secretary. Dave Weaver/AP hide caption