Secretary of Defense returns to Fayetteville, a city dear to him

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III spent the day in Fayetteville on Friday.

Austin is the keynote speaker at Fayetteville State University's commencement ceremony on Saturday.

On Friday, Austin visited a Fort Bragg school and came onto campus at Fayetteville State University.

Austin met with ROTC Cadets at FSU. After the cadets graduate and are sworn in as officers, he'll become their boss.

It was a moment the soon-to-be officers in the United States Armed Forces will never forget. They had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the Secretary of Defense. Austin was formerly the Commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps. He was asked about making a trip on the post that's soon to become Fort Liberty.

"This will still be one of greatest power projection platforms in the country," Austin said. "And here we have some of the world's finest service members, soldiers, airmen, sailors, special operators. That's not going to change."

Austin and his wife spent time visiting students at Hampton Primary School on post. The Defense Secretary is no stranger to Fayetteville.

"Fayetteville certainly occupies a special place in the secretary's heart," said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. "He worked just down the road from Fayetteville State University at Fort Bragg. Fayetteville is actually where he met his wife, Charlene. So Fayetteville is really a special place for the secretary."

Austin is the nation's first Black Secretary of Defense. He spent time Friday afternoon talking with ROTC cadets at FSU. That comes the day before he delivers the keynote commencement address at North Carolina's oldest historically Black University.

"Some of the themes you're going to hear him echo at the at the commencement address on Saturday is the value of service," Singh said. "Also service to your community."

Austin said he's looking forward to giving that keynote address in a town he considers to be the center of the military universe.

"And the quality of service that these great troops and families provide to our nation is not going to change," Austin said. "We look forward to that continued tremendous performance. It's good to be back and it's good to see you again."

It’s unclear if Austin will return to Fort Bragg for the official resignation ceremony. Fort Bragg becomes Fort Liberty on June 2.

Fayetteville State's commencement ceremony is at Crown Coliseum. It starts at 9 a.m. and is free and open to the public.