Lloyd Austin Photo: AFP

 
US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen retired General Lloyd Austin to head the Pentagon, Politico reported on Monday.

Austin, a retired four-star general of the US Army, was former commander of US Central Command. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first black man to lead the Department of Defense.

A formal announcement is expected soon as the president-elect's transition team said earlier that additional nominations of the new cabinet, including the post for secretary of defense, will be made before Christmas.

Biden has already announced key members of his national security and health teams, as well as senior White House aides.