The Pentagon announced the appointment of a new press secretary

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has named an Air Force brigadier general as the Pentagon’s new press secretary.

“I have appointed Brigadier General Patrick Ryder as the next Pentagon press secretary. Patrick will play an important role in leading our efforts to provide timely, accurate information to the media and, through the media, to the American people,” Austin said in a statement.

Ryder is currently the Air Force and Space Force’s chief public affairs officer.

He previously served as press secretary to the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Austin’s press secretary when the current secretary of defense was head of U.S. Central Command from 2013-2016.