First Black Head of US Military – General Charles Q. Brown

he White House announced that President Joe Biden has chosen US Air Force chief General Charles Q. Brown to become the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, subject to Senate approval.

If appointed, Brown, a former fighter pilot with experience in the Pacific, would be only the second Black officer to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after General Colin Powell two decades ago, and will follow Biden’s appointment of Lloyd Austin as the first Black US Secretary of Defense, the top civilian position at the Pentagon.

Brown would also take on the role at a time of rising tensions with China. His resume is long and his awards are many, proving he may be the right man for the job.

In his recommendation presentation to the White House, Biden said of the General:

So, today I have the honor of introducing my nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, Jr.  General, welcome.
 
“General Brown is a warrior, descended from a proud line of warriors. His father, a U.S. Army Colonel, C.Q. Brown, served in Vietnam.  His grandfather, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Robert E. Brown, Jr., led a segregated unit in World War Two. And command pilot General Brown brings to this role more than 3,000 hours of flighting — flying experience, including 130 combat hours. He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle and how to keep your cool when things get hard, like when your F-16 was on fire.  (Laughter.)  And you returned to the base in Florida in 1991.  C.Q. had to eject more than 300 mi- — 300 miles an hour, landing in the Everglades.”

“General Brown is also a warfighter who has commanded in Europe, the Middle East, and Indo- — and the Indo-Pacific. And he has an unmatched firsthand knowledge of our operation- — our operational theaters and a strategic vision to understand how they all work together to ensure the security for the American people. And while General Brown is a proud, butt-kicking American Airman, first and always he’s also been an operational leader of the joint force.
 
“He gained respect across every service from those who have seen him in action and have come to depend on his judgment. More than that, he gained the respect of our allies and partners around the world, who regard General Brown as a trusted partner and a top-notch strategist.”
 
“No matter how complicated the mission, from helping build and lead the coalition now more than 80 nations strong to counter ISIS threats in the Middle East, to positioning our Air Force for the future in Indo- — in the Indo-Pacific, General Brown has built a reputation across the force as an unflappable and highly effective leader; as someone who creates an environment of teamwork, trust and — and then executes with excellence; and someone who smokes a mean brisket.”

Brown’s experiences include overseeing coalition air operations against Islamic State in the Middle East, as well as commanding the US Air Force in the Pacific from 2018 to 2020.