USNI News SECDEF Lloyd Austin’s Message to the Force March 4, 2021 6:45 PM The following is the March 4, 2021 Department of Defense memo from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Message to the Force MEMORANDUM FOR ALL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EMPLOYEES SUBJECT: Message to the Force As the Secretary of Defense, I am committed to ensuring that the Department develops the right people, priorities, and purpose of mission to continue to defend our Nation from enemies foreign and domestic. This will require aligning our priorities and capabilities to a changing and dynamic threat landscape. We will do so in a way that is based on a sober assessment of our strategic needs and recognize the importance of building and sustaining a strong workforce and unity within our Department, across the Nation and with our allies and partners around the world.