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Ash Carter, a former Pentagon commander, passed away at the age of 68.

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Carter died of a "sudden cardiac event" on Monday night in Boston.

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Ash Carter played a key role in the US-led campaign to counter ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

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Barack Obama appointed Ash to lead the Department of Defense for two years. His family announced his passing on Tuesday.

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Carter served as Mr. Obama's fourth and final defence secretary until Jim Mattis took over in 2017.

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From 1993 until 1996, he worked as Bill Clinton's assistant secretary of defence for global security.

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From 1993 until 1996, he worked as Bill Clinton's assistant secretary of defence for global security.

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Carter assisted Mr. Obama in carrying out the initial "pivot to Asia" while he was secretary of defence.

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It sought to compete with China as a big power and military rival.