- United States President Joe Biden nominates Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown as the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman
- Brown would replace Army Gen. Mark Milley after the latter's departure
- Milley said that Brown has all the necessary knowledge and skills for the job
United States President Joe Biden nominates historical Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown as the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman to replace Army Gen. Mark Milley after the latter's departure.
The nominee is the current chief of staff of the Air Force, and his long-anticipated appointment is still subject to confirmation by the Senate. On Thursday afternoon, Brown appeared with Biden at the White House for the announcement of his nomination.
CQ Brown Nominated as Next Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman
In a statement, the Democratic president said Brown has an "unmatched firsthand knowledge of operational theaters." Biden added that the Air Force general has a strategic vision to understand how they all work together to help ensure the security of the American people.
Biden added that Brown gained respect across every service from those who have watched him in action, causing them to depend on his judgment. The U.S. president noted that the Air Force general also gained the respect of the country's allies and partners worldwide, per the Washington Examiner.
The Democrat said that if Brown does get confirmed to be the next Joint Chief of Staff, he will become only the second Black man to hold the position, the first being the late Colin Powell. The confirmation of the new nominee would also be the first time in the history of the U.S. that the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are both African American.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement that he "enthusiastically supports" Brown's nomination to become the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. He added that the Air Force general is an "outstanding joint warfighter" but argued that he is also a thoughtful and strategic leader.
Austin and Brown worked together at CENTCOM almost a decade ago and could be reunited if the Senate confirms the latter. During a Pentagon briefing on Thursday, Milley said that Brown is a great officer with all the knowledge and skills needed to do the job properly.
Replacing Mark Milley
During his announcement of Brown's nomination, Biden also expressed his gratitude to Milley for his years of service in leading the military. Brown's current position gives him the responsibility of overseeing the training and equipping of nearly 700,000 military troops, both in the U.S. and abroad, according to BBC.
Before his most recent position, Brown was commander of Pacific Air Forces for the U.S. Indo-Pacific command. The airman began his military service as a command pilot and has logged more than 3,000 hours of flying time and 130 combat hours.
Brown, who is seen as typically reserved, made headlines in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. He released a moving, deeply personal video where he said that he was filled with emotions for the African Americans who have suffered the same fate, said CNN.
