Leon Panetta and Lloyd Austin in Iraq, 2011

(Kevin Baron/Stars and Stripes)

Baghdad, Iraq, July 10, 2011: For the first time as defense secretary, Leon Panetta is greeted by Gen. Lloyd Austin, commanding general, U.S. Forces — Iraq. Austin would become the 28th secretary of defense under President Joe Biden in January 2021. Panetta served as the 23rd secretary of defense, under President Barack Obama.

Read Stars and Stripes’ coverage of Panetta’s visit here and here.