President Joe Biden is reportedly poised to pick Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the first African-American to lead the U.S. military’s highest body, to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The selection of Brown, the first African-American to command a fighter wing, would be a historic moment in U.S. military history. Brown, an F-16 fighter pilot, would succeed current Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and become the highest-ranking officer in U.S. armed forces.
The pick would also mark a major shift in the nation’s top military post, as the Pentagram has long been dominated by white male military officers. It would also be a particularly significant moment for the Air Force, as Brown’s selection would make him the first black service chief to lead a branch of the U.S. armed forces, the nation’s oldest military branch.
Brown, who has commanded several fighter wings and is the current vice chief of staff of the Air Force, was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2018 and has a long history of public service. He is widely considered to be an effective leader and strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the military.