President-elect Joe Biden's pick to lead the Defense Department says he's aware of the historical moment that would come with his confirmation. Retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin said Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware, that a man from his own hometown of Thomasville, Georgia, became the first Black graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Austin, who would be the first Black leader of the Pentagon, said that man and others including the Tuskeegee Airmen and Colin Powell "paved the way for me and countless others" to be part of the U.S. military. Biden on Wednesday officially announced Austin as his pick for defense secretary. He would need a congressional waiver since he's been out of the military less than the seven years required by law. Austin said he reveres the principle of civilian control of the military and sees himself now as a civilian, not as a general. He said that if confirmed by the Senate, he will surround himself in the Pentagon with civilian officials and advisers to ensure accountability. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world. To watch complete coverage on Bloomberg Quicktake 24/7, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/qt/live, or watch on Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Fire TV and Android TV on the Bloomberg app. Have a story to tell? Fill out this survey for a chance to have it featured on Bloomberg Quicktake: https://cor.us/surveys/27AF30 Connect with us on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Bloomberg Breaking News on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BloombergQuickTakeNews Twitter: https://twitter.com/quicktake Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quicktake Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quicktake