Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin picked an Air Force general to serve as the next Pentagon press secretary, a move that could spark controversy over the use of an active-duty military officer in a position that occasionally veers into the realm of partisan politics.
Mr. Austin selected Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, now the director of public affairs for the Air Force.
“He brings a wealth of experience, including joint and deployed assignments that will serve him well as he informs the media of our activities around the world,” Mr. Austin said in a statement released Thursday.