WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he had nominatedAir Force General CQ Brown as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffduring a brief ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House.
"Gene. Brown is a fighter from a proud lineage of warriors," Biden said, referring to Brown's father, a Vietnam War veteran, and his grandfather, who led a divisional unit during World War II.
Brown's leadership roles in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East and Europe provide him "unmatched firsthand knowledge of our theaters of operations and strategic insight to understand how they all work together to keep the American people safe." Biden said. accompanied by Brown, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
“While General Brown is a proud kick-ass American airman, he was also an operational leader in combined forces above all else,” Biden said. “He earned the respect in all ministries of those who saw him in action and trusted his judgment. In addition, he has earned the respect of our allies and partners around the world, who regard General Brown as a trusted partner and strategist of the highest order."
If confirmed by the Senate, Brown - who served asChief of Staff of the Air Forcefor nearly three years, he would succeed Army General Mark Milley as the Army's top uniformed officer.
Milley sat in the front row of the audience at the ceremony, along with Brown's wife, Sharene. Biden, wearing her signature sunglasses, thanked Milley and her family for their years of service.
“As president, you led our military through the most complex security environment our world has faced in a long, long time,” Biden said. “We have strengthened our alliances from NATO to the Indo-Pacific and built new partnerships like AUKUS [the US-UK-Australia Trilateral Defense Agreement]. ... He has helped guide our country and our military on a course that will put us in the strongest possible position for success for years to come."
And Biden congratulated Sharene Brown for her work to improve the lives of military families through her "Five and Thrive" initiative.
As president, Brown would advise the president on military matters, including the possible defense of Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion and NATO's efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion. He also regularly consulted with top military commanders from across the services to gather their views on strategy, operations and budgets so he could present a range of options to Biden.
The Senate unanimously approved Brown's appointment to Air Force Chief of Staff in June 2020, making him the first black head of a branch of the US military. However, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R Ala., withheld Defense Department appointments because of the department's decision to provide leave and travel services so soldiers can obtain abortion services, which could pose a barrier to Brown's approval.
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What General CQ Brown would bring as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Two sources confirmed to Defense News that the president has selected General Brown to succeed Army General Mark Milley as the nation's top military officer.
ByStephen Losey
In his three years as Air Force Chief of Staff, Brown focused on a major overhaul of the service, a plan he called "Rush Change or Lose," which also became something of a mantra for him. this effort istransforming the structure of the website, changing the way the services prepare for potential conflicts with major adversaries such as China and Russia, and phasing out old and obsolete aircraft such asWarty boar A-10,Centinela E-3and oldercazas F-15C, which he and other Air Force commanders believed would not be suitable for future high-level warfare.
Biden highlighted Brown's Accelerate Change or Lose strategy as exactly what the military needs.
“General, you are right,” Biden said. “To keep the American people safe, prosperous and protected, we must act quickly and adapt quickly. We must maintain a credible fighting force capable of deterring and defeating any potential threat."
A retired general familiar with the discussions told the Air Force Times that Biden seriously considered both Brown and Marine Corps Cmdr. Gen. David Berger for the job, but ultimately chose Brown.
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Brown would be the second black person to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first being Army General Colin Powell under President George H.W. a bush. This would be the first time in national history that the Department of Defense's top uniformed and civilian leaders are black, as Austin is the first black secretary of defense.
Video "Unbreakable"
In June 2020, shortly after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, days before the Senate voted to confirm him as Chief of Staff, Brownmade a moving videoin which he discussed Floyd's death and his own experiences as a black person in the military. The video went viral, with observers saying Brown's candid conversation helped spark conversations about racism and injustice in the military community.
Biden said the "unflinching" testimony shows that Brown "is not afraid to speak his mind [and] will deliver an honest message that needs to be heard and will always do the right thing when it's hard."
Biden said the video also showed "his deep love for our country, to which he has dedicated his entire adult life."
Republicans praised Brown's appointment and urged him to stay out of politics if the Senate nominates him for the job.
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, a leading Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised Brown as "an exceptionally qualified officer" and said he should "focus on preparedness, deterrence and warfare rather than politics." .
"I also know him as a prudent advocate of accelerating innovation so that our military is ready to defend our country and deter potential threats, especially from the Chinese Communist Party," Wicker said.
Home Defense Appropriations, Ken Calvert, R-Calif., said Brown "must focus on maintaining our superiority in the air, land, sea and space and not get distracted by other issues that ultimately don't result in a increase in US mortality." cash."
Calvert praised Brown's tenure as Air Force chief, noting that he understood that "we must innovate and equip our warfighters with next-generation resources to protect our nation" to "outpace technological advances from China and other adversaries."
ties around the world
In an interview with Defense News on Wednesday, retired Gen. Dave Goldfein, Brown's predecessor as Air Force Chief of Staff, said Brown's skills, honed over nearly four decades in uniform, and the ties he has forged with Their counterparts around the world will be crucial as the United States The United States faces many challenges.
"Regarding...Ukraine, China, Korea or Iran, can you name the challenges you'll face? You've built enough relationships and enough credibility to walk into the room and, in your very thoughtful way, provide advice to your military." and assess associated risks, allowing the president and senior civilian leadership to make the most informed decisions,” Goldfein said.
Since meeting Brown in the mid-1990s, when Brown was an aide to then-Chief of Staff General Ron Fogleman and Goldfein was an aide to the Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, Brown has always been a deep thinker and a silent consensus builder, Goldfein said. These qualities will serve him well as he advises Biden on the nation's most pressing military issues.
“He really thinks things through,” Goldfein said. “He Normally he's not the loudest at the table, and he's certainly not the loudest, but he always has the most to say. … When he spoke at a meeting, everyone leaned forward, listened, took notes.”
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Goldfein pointed to the 2019 Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, as an example of Brown's ability to bring together people of different backgrounds and interests to build common ground.
At this conference, which was attended by air chiefs from around 18 countries, then-PACAF Commander Brown organized a series of small panel discussions that brought together air chiefs from each participating country. Goldfein said that during these talks, the "chemistry" between Brown and the air chiefs of other Pacific nations was obvious.
“What stood out to me was the coverage that he invested in across the region that was shown during the conference,” Goldfein said. “It was a relationship built on trust, it was a relationship built on mutual trust, it was a relationship built on how he valued each of them, his participation and contributions. Since he's an amazing listener, they knew she was paying attention to everything they had to say."
Goldfein said Brown's extensive experience in some of the world's major military theaters is unparalleled among general officers, particularly during his time leading the nation's air forces in the Pacific and Middle East and serving as a senior commander. in Europe.
“I don't know if we'll find an officer who has spent more time in joint operations in every theater than CQ Brown,” Goldfein said.
Goldfein said the kind of relationship building that Brown excelled at during the 2019 Pacific Conference will be critical in his new role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Goldfein said Brown had already amassed a significant contact list of top leaders around the world, including ambassadors, top defense ministers and heads of state. He foresaw that as president, Brown would be able to quickly connect with international leaders he hadn't yet met.
“When there's a crisis and you need to talk to one of your counterparts, that's the worst time to build relationships,” Goldfein said. “You want to build on the relationships you've already invested in. ... It will build relationships, at the highest levels of government, with some of the most important countries we've dealt with."
Rachel S. Cohen contributed to this report.
OStephen LoseyIBryant Harris
Stephen Losey is a war reporter for Defense News. Previously, he covered leadership and personnel issues at the Air Force Times and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He traveled to the Middle East to cover US Air Force operations.
Bryant Harris is a congressional reporter for Defense News. Since 2014, he has covered foreign policy, national security, international affairs, and US politics in Washington. He has also written for Foreign Policy, Al-Monitor, Al Jazeera English and IPS News.
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FAQs
Who are the 8 members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? ›
The Joint Chiefs of Staff consist of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Chief of Space Operations.
Who chooses the Joint Chiefs of Staff? ›(a) Appointment; Term of Office . —(1) There is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces.
What total number of Joint Chiefs of Staff serve as advisors to the secretary of defense? ›| Joint Chiefs of Staff | |
|---|---|
| Number of members | Eight |
| Administration | |
| Parent agency | U.S. Department of Defense |
| Staff organization | The Joint Staff (for the Chairman and the Vice Chairman; the service chiefs and the National Guard Bureau chief have their own staffs assisting them) |
The headquarters are known as Joint Staff Headquarters and act as secretariat of JCSC. It is located at Chaklala, Rawalpindi. As of 2022, General SAHIR SHAMSHAD MIRZA is serving as Chairman Joint chiefs.
Can the president fire military generals? ›In any event, if an officer (especially one who had been a three or four-star general) is relieved from his or her position and reverts to the lower rank of major general and still refuses to request retirement, the President may be able to dismiss the officer from the armed forces entirely.
How many 4 star generals are there? ›The U.S. Code explicitly limits the total number of four-star officers that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active-duty general or flag officers is capped at 218 for the Army, 149 for the Navy, 170 for the Air Force, 62 for the Marine Corps, and 21 for the Space Force.
Who is the highest ranking military commander in the US armed forces? ›General Mark A. Milley is the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.
Who do 4 star generals report to? ›That body of four-star generals is led by another four-star general, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who serves as the chief military adviser to the president, secretary of defense and National Security Council.
Does the President need approval of Joint Chiefs of Staff? ›There is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces. The Chairman serves at the pleasure of the President for a term of four years, beginning on October 1 of an odd-numbered year.
How many 5 star generals are there? ›The five-star ranks were retired in 1981 on the death of General of the Army Omar Bradley. Nine Americans have been promoted to five-star rank, one of them, Henry H. Arnold, in two services (U.S. Army then later in the U.S. Air Force).
Which country has the most powerful military in the world? ›
1. United States Of America. US Military has the biggest defence budget in the world. They are known for their most powerful Air Force on the planet, named as United States Air Force (USAF).
Is the secretary of defense above the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? ›DOD's Top Leaders
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military advisor to the president and the secretary of defense. The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the next highest ranking military leader.
Grant joins George Washington and John J. Pershing as the only generals to achieve the rank. This honor has been informally referred to as being a "six-star general." The highest official star rank in the U.S. Army is a five-star general, called the General of the Army.
What do you call a 4 star general? ›The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Army. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below General of the Army (five-star general).
Where does the chairman of the Joint Chiefs live? ›Since 1962 Quarters Six has been the official residence of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Constructed in 1908, the same year that Orville Wright made the world's first military test flight at Fort Myer, the quarters was originally a duplex designed to house two junior officers and their fami- lies.
Which branch can fire the President? ›Johnson became the first president impeached by the House, but he was later acquitted by the Senate by one vote. The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole power to impeach federal officials, and it makes the Senate the sole court for impeachment trials.
Who is the oldest US president in office? ›Age of presidents
The youngest at the time of his election to the office was John F. Kennedy, at age 43. The oldest person elected president was Joe Biden, the nation's current president, at age 77. Biden celebrated a birthday between Election Day and Inauguration Day making him 78 when sworn into office.
Only Congress can declare war and appropriate military funding, yet the president is commander in chief of the armed forces.
Who is the only 7 star general? ›No person have ever been awarded or promoted to a seven-star rank, although some commentators might argue that General George Washington posthumously became a seven-star general in 1976 (see Part Seven).
Who are the 5 5 star generals? ›Five men have held the rank of General of the Army (five star), George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, and Henry H. Arnold, who later became the only five-star general in the Air Force.
What is the most secret military unit? ›
If they are compromised during a mission, the US government may deny all knowledge. SOG is considered the most secretive special operations force within the United States, with fewer than 100 operators. The group generally recruits personnel from special mission units within the U.S. Special Operations community.
Who was last 5 star general? ›In September 1950, Omar N. Bradley became the fifth Army general to be promoted to five-star rank. The five-star rank still exists, although no U.S. officers have held it since the death of General Bradley in 1981.
How much does a 5 star general make? ›He is also the only person to have ever held a five-star rank in two branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. These officers who held the rank of General of the Army remained officers of the United States Army for life, with an annual $20,000 in pay and allowances, equivalent to $308,000 in 2021.
How much does a 4 star general make? ›Regardless of continued time in service, once a military officer achieves the four-star rank of general or admiral, they will no longer receive pay raises and are capped at $16,974 per month.
Do 4 star generals have bodyguards? ›Many have chefs who deserve their own four-star restaurants. The generals' personal staff include drivers, security guards, secretaries and people to shine their shoes and iron their uniforms. When traveling, they can be accompanied by police motorcades that stretch for blocks.
Was Patton a 5 star general? ›With the exception of Douglas MacArthur, Patton ranks as the greatest general the United States put on the field during the Second World War. Patton achieved four-star rank for his battlefield exploits as one of the best commanders of mechanized forces on either side during the War.
How many female four-star generals have there been? ›In the history of the U.S. military, there have been hundreds of four-star generals and admirals, but only 10 have been women.
Does the President have control of the military as Commander in Chief? ›Under the Constitution, the President as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy is the supreme military commander charged with the responsibility of protecting and defending the United States. The phrase “Army and Navy” is used in the Constitution as a means of describing all the armed forces of the United States.
How powerful is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? ›The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nation's highest-ranking military officer and the principal military advisor to the president, the secretary of defense and the National Security Council.
Who protects the President's Chief of Staff? ›The United States Secret Service (USSS or Secret Service) is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security charged with conducting criminal investigations and protecting U.S. political leaders, their families, and visiting heads of state or government.
Who is the most decorated officer in the U.S. history? ›
Gen. Michael Langley was promoted to the rank of general in a ceremony Saturday, becoming the first Black four-star general in the military branch's 246-year history.
What is the pay for a brigadier general? ›| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| US Air Force Brigadier General salaries - 2 salaries reported | $91,970/yr |
| US Marine Corps Brigadier General salaries - 1 salaries reported | $92,851/yr |
United States. The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power.
Who has the most advanced military technology? ›The country with the most advanced military technology is the United States of America (USA). Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom are the other countries with the most advanced military technology in the world.
Who are the best soldiers in the world? ›- The United Kingdom. ...
- Italy. ...
- France. ...
- South Korea. ...
- India. ...
- China. ...
- Russia. ...
- The United States. The US possesses a fleet of ten aircraft carriers, which is its most significant conventional military advantage.
For instance, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is considered the most senior officer of the entire United States military, even though it is possible that contemporaries of the same rank may have earlier dates of rank or longer time in service.
Who runs the U.S. military? ›Lloyd J. Austin III is the 28th secretary of defense, sworn in on Jan. 22, 2021. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Austin served 41 years in uniform, retiring as a four-star Army general after three years as commander of U.S. Central Command.
What is the highest military rank? ›What Is the Highest Military Rank? The highest military rank is O-10, or "five-star general." It is symbolized by five stars for each of the military services. Although it is currently a part of the military service rank system, only nine Americans ever have held this rank.
Who are the current members of the Joint Chiefs? ›- Secretary of Defense. Lloyd J. Austin III.
- Deputy Secretary of Defense. Kathleen H. Hicks.
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Army Gen. Mark A. Milley.
- Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Navy Adm. Christopher W. Grady.
Who was the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? ›
Bush selected General Powell to be the twelfth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When Powell became Chairman on 1 October 1989, he was the first African-American, the first ROTC graduate, and, at fifty-two, the youngest officer to serve in the position.
Who was the 13th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? ›| No. | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | Service branch |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | General Colin Powell (1937–2021) | U.S. Army |
| − | Admiral David E. Jeremiah (1934–2013) Acting | U.S. Navy |
| 13 | General John Shalikashvili (1936–2011) | U.S. Army |
| 14 | General Hugh Shelton (born 1942) | U.S. Army |
Today, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have no executive authority to command combatant forces, but they do work together to organize, train and equip the Joint Force.
What is j3 in the military? ›The Director for Operations (DJ-3) assists the Chairman in carrying out responsibilities as the principal military advisor to the President and Secretary of Defense, developing and providing guidance to the combatant commanders and relaying communications between the President and the Secretary of Defense and the ...
Which president was the first commander-in-chief of the US military? ›George Washington, a leader of the revolutionary movement in Virginia, a former commander of Virginia's frontier forces, and a British colonial army officer, was commissioned "commander-in-chief of the army of the United Colonies of all the forces raised and to be raised by them" on June 19, 1775, by the Continental ...
Who is the highest ranking military officer today? ›General Mark A. Milley is the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.
Does the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff outranks all other officers of the United States armed forces? ›The Chairman, while so serving, holds the grade of general or admiral and outranks all other officers of the Armed Forces. The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs performs duties assigned by the Chairman, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense.
Who is the last Air Force General to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff having filled that role from 2001 2005? ›In September 1950, Omar N. Bradley became the fifth Army general to be promoted to five-star rank. The five-star rank still exists, although no U.S. officers have held it since the death of General Bradley in 1981.
Where does the Joint Chief of Staff live? ›Quarters 1 at Fort Myer is a historic house on the grounds of Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia. Built in 1899, it has been the residence of Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Army since 1910, notably including George C.
Who was the first U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff? ›
Portrait of General of the Army Omar N. Bradley as the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Bradley had been the Army chief of staff when President Harry S. Truman tapped him to become the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Who is the vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff in the US? ›Christopher W. Grady. The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nation's second-highest-ranking military officer, responsible for overseeing joint military requirements, representing the military in National Security Council deputies meetings, and performing other duties as directed by the chairman.