General Charles Brown Jr., was confirmed by the Senate, making him the first black person to serve as Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He now becomes a part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the body of senior military personnel which advices the president, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council on all matters of national security. Brown is only the second black military member to serve as a Joint Chiefs.
The timing may seem suspect, but the General was actually nominated by President Trump back in March 2, 2020. The vote on his confirmation was stymied by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) who hoped to time the vote with a decision on an aircraft base for his state. The lock was lifted last week amid protests over the death of George Floyd and police brutality against the black community.
Vice President Mike Pence presided over the unanimous vote of 98-0. President Trump called it “a historic day for America.”
General Brown is four-star general and former combat pilot with 36 years of dedicated service to the Air Force. He currently commands the Pacific Air Forces in support of nearly 46,000 troops stationed in South Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii and Alaska.
