First African American to be Air Force Chief

First African American to be Air Force Chief : Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., has become the first African American appointed to the top military post in any armed service, when Senate approved his nomination as chief of staff of the Air Force by a 98-0 vote June 9. The path for Brown was cleared last May 7, when he testified before Senate Armed Services Committee.

“I am committed to the Air Force achieving irreversible momentum towards implementation of the National Defense Strategy and an integrated and more lethal joint force,” Brown told the Senate panel.

Brown will succeed Gen. David Goldfein, who is retiring. The swearing-in ceremony will take place Aug. 6. He comes to the Air Force’s senior-most uniformed position from his current position as commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

A 35-year veteran, Brown joined the Air Force in 1984 upon graduating from Texas Tech University with a degree in civil engineering, where he also earned his commission through the school’s ROTC program. He has more than 2,900 flying hours – to include 130 combat hours – mostly as an F-16 pilot.

Prior commands include a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, and U.S. Air Forces Central Command. Before moving to his job as commander at Pacific Air Forces, he served as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

Source : Fedweek.com

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