President Joe Biden introduced Thursday he’s nominating Air Drive Normal Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. to develop into the following chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, an appointment that might make him the second Black officer to carry the very best put up within the U.S. navy.
“Normal Brown has constructed a repute throughout the power as an unflappable and extremely efficient chief—as somebody who creates an setting of teamwork, belief and an execute with excellence,” Biden mentioned, throughout a day ceremony held within the White Home Rose Backyard with Brown at his facet. “You’ve been a vital chief in making our nation and our power stronger. You’ve made historical past.”
Brown, 60, is an F-16 fighter pilot and four-star common with management stints in Europe, Asia, and the Center East earlier than taking on as Air Drive chief of workers in 2020.
If confirmed by the Senate, Brown can be the second Black Joint Chiefs chairman after Military Normal Colin Powell, who served within the function from 1989 to 1993. It will additionally mark the primary time in historical past that the Pentagon’s high two leaders, together with Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin, have been Black males.
“He’s an extremely succesful {and professional} officer,” Austin instructed reporters on the Pentagon earlier than the announcement. “What he brings to the desk, to any crew, is that professionalism, that deep expertise, and war-fighting—and I’ve private information of that.”
Brown is ready to succeed retiring-Military Normal Mark Milley because the president’s high navy adviser at a time when the Biden Administration is juggling a variety of worldwide challenges, together with aiding Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and navigating the more and more tense international competitors with China. As the previous commander of Pacific Air Forces, Brown is effectively acquainted with the challenges stemming from Beijing. In 2020, he developed an “Speed up, Change or Lose” initiative throughout the Air Drive to keep up navy superiority over adversaries.
Learn extra: Biden Relents To Ukrainian Stress For Fighter Jets
Born to an Military household in San Antonio, Brown grew to become an officer after finishing his undergraduate diploma in engineering at Texas Tech College in 1984. Ten years later, he earned a grasp’s diploma in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College. Over his profession, he logged greater than 3,000 flying hours, together with 130 fight hours, steadily rising via the ranks to earn a brigadier common’s star in 2009. He’s served as a wing commander at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, and Aviano Air Base, Italy. He was operational director of strategic deterrence and nuclear integration at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in the course of the Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. A 12 months later, he oversaw the each day bombing marketing campaign in opposition to ISIS as the highest air commander within the Center East, and in 2018 took management of Pacific Air Forces.
Brown’s broad background, in addition to his repute as a daring chief, is anticipated to restrict opposition within the Senate, whose approval is required for the appointment. The Senate confirmed Brown 98-0 to develop into chief of workers of the Air Drive after former President Donald Trump nominated him in 2020.
A possible impediment to his affirmation is Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of Pentagon nominees over the Protection Division’s abortion-travel coverage. Roughly 200 senior civilian and uniformed nominees are on maintain due to the Alabama senator’s opposition to allowances paid to cowl journey to acquire abortions—a results of final 12 months’s Supreme Court docket resolution to strike down Roe v. Wade. (The navy doesn’t pay for the process itself.)
Learn extra: Pentagon Accounting Error Means $3 Billion Extra For Ukraine
However Brown’s assist for range, fairness, and inclusion initiatives throughout the navy can also draw consideration from conservative lawmakers, who routinely criticize the Pentagon for insurance policies they deem to be a “woke” agenda. TIME listed Brown as one of many world’s most influential folks in 2020 after he took a stand in opposition to systemic racism in a viral video posted after George Floyd’s loss of life. “I can’t repair centuries of racism in our nation, nor can I repair a long time of discrimination which will have impacted members of our Air Drive,” Brown mentioned in June 2020 as then-President Trump thought-about ordering the U.S. navy to quell racial-justice protests. “I’m eager about how I could make enhancements personally, professionally, and institutionally.”
It was a candid public assertion for an officer in such a senior place, notably one who had but to obtain Senate affirmation. However to those that know him, it was consultant of Brown’s character. Two months later he grew to become the nation’s first Black chief of a navy service and cemented his standing as a pacesetter who’s not afraid to talk his thoughts—even when it’s not expedient to take action.
Extra Should-Reads From TIME
