Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will travel to Maxwell Air Force Base Friday, September 13, 2024, and will accompany First Lady Jill Biden to highlight the new universal pre-kindergarten program being implemented at Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools. Secretary Austin will also conduct a troop engagement and give remarks announcing the fourth iteration of his "Taking Care of Our People" initiative, which is a top priority for the Department of Defense and a core readiness issue.