Charles Q. Brown Jr.
Official portrait, 2023
Nickname(s)CQ
Born1962 (age 61–62)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1984–present
RankGeneral
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards
Alma mater
Signature

Charles Quinton Brown Jr. (born 1962) is a United States Air Force general who is serving as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since October 1, 2023. Prior to his appointment, Brown served as the 22nd chief of staff of the Air Force from 2020 to 2023. Brown entered the Air Force in 1984 and served as a fighter pilot, where he has logged over 3,000 flight hours, including 130 hours in combat. He has commanded the Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, 31st Fighter Wing, 8th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and 78th Fighter Squadron. He has also served as deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command.

In 2020, Brown was named by Time magazine on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[1]

Early life and education

Charles Quinton Brown Jr.[2] was born in 1962 to a military family in San Antonio, Texas. Brown was nicknamed "CQ". He had one sister. His father, Charles Sr., served for 30 years in the Army, rising to the rank of colonel. His paternal grandfather, Robert E. Brown, was drafted in World War II and served in the Pacific Theater in Hawaii and Saipan.

Brown graduated in 1980 from Homer L. Ferguson High School in Newport News, Virginia and from Texas Tech University in Lubbock with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He was also a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps.[3][4] At Texas Tech, he joined the Eta Upsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in the spring of 1981.[5]

In 1994, while serving in the Air Force, Brown earned a master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Military career

Lieutenant General Charles Q. Brown Jr. with General Lloyd Austin during the Ninth Air Force change of command ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, June 29, 2015.
Lieutenant General Brown, as AFCENT commander, helps cut the opening ribbon at Dubai Air Show 2015.
Lieutenant General Brown flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Brown was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1985 after completing the ROTC program.[6] Brown has served in a variety of positions at the squadron and wing level, including an assignment to the United States Air Force Weapons School as an F-16 instructor. His notable staff tours include aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force; director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group; and deputy director, operations, U.S. Central Command. He also served as a national defense fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia.[6]

Brown has commanded a fighter squadron, the United States Air Force Weapons School, and two fighter wings. One was the 8th Fighter Wing, nicknamed "Wolf Pack", at Kunsan Air Force Base, South Korea. Prior to his current assignment, he served as director, operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe—Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He is a command pilot with more than 2,900 flying hours, including 130 combat hours.[6]

Brown's career as a general officer began when he was appointed as commander of the 31st Fighter wing in Aviano Air Force Base, Italy. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in June 2009. In May 2013, Brown was promoted to the rank of major general when he was appointed as deputy commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, U.S. Central Command. In March 2014 he was appointed as director of operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration of U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany.[7]

In June 2015, Brown received his third star when he was appointed as commander of United States Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT). In July 2016 he was appointed as deputy commander of United States Central Command. As AFCENT commander, Brown oversaw all of Air Force operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, while also second-in-command of USCENTCOM.[7][8]

In July 2018, Brown was nominated to succeed General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy as commander of Pacific Air Forces. O'Shaughnessy was nominated to become commander of the United States Northern Command. Brown was also promoted to four-star general with this position. As PACAF commander, Brown oversaw all of major United States Air Force operations within the Indo-Pacific region.[9]

Chief of Staff of the Air Force

Vice President Mike Pence ceremonially swears in Brown as the 22nd chief of staff of the United States Air Force in the Oval Office, August 4, 2020. Brown officially took office two days later in a separate ceremony at Joint Base Andrews.

On March 2, 2020, the White House announced that President Donald Trump would nominate Brown to become the next Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, succeeding General David L. Goldfein.[10] On June 9, 2020, Brown was unanimously confirmed (98–0) by the United States Senate to succeed Goldfein as Chief of Staff of the US Air Force.[11] With this confirmation he became the first African American to lead a branch of the United States Armed Forces.[12] As Air Force Chief of Staff, he advises the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council regarding Air Force matters, and is the most senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for organizing, training and equipping all of the active-duty Air Force officers, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

Brown has acted to establish a flexible logistics system in the Air Force's budget for Fiscal year 2021, in order to ensure the Air Force is capable of conducting "expeditionary logistics under attack".[13]

General Brown piloting a Boeing KC-46A Pegasus.

Brown has maintained Goldfein's prioritization of multi-domain command and control following the Air Force Association's 2016 Air, Space & Cyber Conference.[13] Following the establishment of the United States Space Force, which is also part of the Department of the Air Force, Brown worked closely with the first Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond. Brown has said that the Space Force will make up much of the Air Force department's "near-term innovation and development". He has emphasized the importance of space superiority and committed to a full collaboration between the Air Force and Space Force.[13]

As Air Force Chief of Staff, Brown began integration of the new tanker aircraft, Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, as part of Air Force fleet rejuvenation, and began its operation within Air Mobility Command. Brown and several Congressional delegation members, including U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a longtime advocate for the tanker, participated in a demonstration flight at Joint Base Andrews.[14][15]

Brown was featured during the 2021 African-American History Month for making history as the first African-American military chief of staff and the first African American who has led any military branch within the United States Armed Forces. General Lloyd Austin, the first African American to serve as a United States Secretary of Defense, was also featured.[16][17][4] Brown was made an honorary Tuskegee Airman, receiving the symbolic red jacket in a ceremony on August 14, 2021.[18]

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Brown is sworn in as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by his predecessor, General Mark Milley, on September 29, 2023.

Considered a frontrunner for the position prior to his official nomination,[19][20] Brown was formally announced as President Joe Biden's nominee to succeed General Mark Milley as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on May 25, 2023.[21] He was confirmed by the Senate on September 20, 2023,[22] and sworn in on September 29.[23][24][25] His term is effective as of October 1, 2023.[26]

Education

Assignments

  • May 1985 – April 1986, student, undergraduate pilot training, 82nd Student Squadron, Williams AFB, Arizona
  • May 1986 – July 1986, student, lead-in fighter training, 434th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
  • August 1986 – March 1987, student, F-16 training, 62nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, MacDill AFB, Florida
  • April 1987 – October 1988, F-16 pilot, 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
  • November 1988 – April 1991, F-16 instructor pilot, wing electronic combat officer, and wing standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 307th and 308th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, Homestead AFB, Florida
  • April 1991 – August 1991, student, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada
  • August 1991 – August 1992, F-16 squadron weapons officer and flight commander of 307th Fighter Squadron, Homestead AFB, Florida
  • September 1992 – October 1994, weapons school instructor, and standardization and evaluation flight examiner, F-16 Division, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
  • October 1994 – July 1996, aide-de-camp to the chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia
  • August 1996 – June 1997, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
  • June 1997 – September 1997, student, Armed Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, Virginia
  • September 1997 – November 1999, air operations officer, Current Operations Division, Operations Directorate, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida
  • November 1999 – June 2003, F-16CJ instructor pilot and assistant operations officer, 79th Fighter Squadron; weapons and training flight commander, 20th Operations Support Squadron; operations officer, 55th Fighter Squadron; and commander of 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
  • July 2003 – June 2004, National Defense Fellow, Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia
  • June 2004 – June 2005, deputy chief of Program Integration Division, Directorate of Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia
  • July 2005 – May 2007, commandant, USAF Weapons School, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada
  • May 2007 – May 2008, commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, South Korea
  • June 2008 – May 2009, director of Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia
  • June 2009 – April 2011, commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy
  • May 2011 – May 2013, deputy director of Operations Directorate, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida
  • May 2013 – February 2014, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command; deputy, Combined Force Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia
  • March 2014 – June 2015, director of operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
  • June 2015 – July 2016, commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command; Combined Force Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia
  • July 2016 – July 2018, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida
  • July 2018 – July 2020, commander of Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; and executive director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii[6]
  • August 2020 – September 2023, chief of staff, United States Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
  • October 2023 – present, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia

Flight information

Brown is rated as a command pilot, having logged more than 2,900 flight hours, including 130 combat hours. Aircraft he has flown include the F-16A/B/C/D, AC-130U, AH-64, AT-38, B-1B, B-2A, B-52H, C-130J, E-8C, HH-60G, KC-135, MV-22, T-37, T-38 and two more fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft.[6]

Awards and decorations

Brown has received the following awards and decorations:[6]

Personal decorations
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges. Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Unit awards
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Service awards
Combat Readiness Medal
Campaign and service medals
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
Foreign awards
Order of National Security Merit Sam-Il Medal (Republic of Korea)
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) (Singapore)[28]
NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
Other accoutrements
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Philippine Air Force Gold Wings Badge (May 2019)[29]
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge

Other recognition

Effective dates of promotion

InsigniaRankDate
GeneralJuly 26, 2018
Lieutenant generalJune 29, 2015
Major generalJuly 3, 2013
Brigadier generalNov. 20, 2009
ColonelJune 1, 2005
Lieutenant colonelJuly 1, 1999
MajorAug. 1, 1996
CaptainFeb. 28, 1989
First lieutenantFeb. 28, 1987
Second lieutenantFeb. 28, 1985

[6]

References

  1. ↑ "General Charles Q. Brown Jr: The 100 Most Influential People of 2020". Time. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  2. ↑ Commencement Texas Tech University 1984
  3. ↑ "He proved the sky's the limit for Black airmen". Dallas News. December 21, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Brown Jr., Charles Q. Jr. (February 11, 2021). "Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Brown Jr. Opens Up About Emotional Talks on Race with His Sons". People. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  5. ↑ Adams, Terrence (December 21, 2020) [2020-12-21]. Campbell, Colin H. (ed.). "Congratulations to Brother Charles Q. Brown Jr.! | Next Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force". The Sphinx. 106 (3): 37. Retrieved September 25, 2023 – via issuu.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "General Charles Q. Brown Jr". Biographies. US Air Force. Retrieved January 11, 2019. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. 1 2 "General Charles Q. Brown, JR". www.defense.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ "GENERAL CHARLES Q. BROWN, JR". www.af.mil. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Pentagon taps Central Command deputy to lead Pacific Air Forces". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  10. ↑ "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ Martinez, Luis (August 6, 2020). "History made as first African American general leads one of the military services". ABC News. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Senate confirms Brown to be 22nd Air Force chief of staff on unanimous vote". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 "The Next CSAF Lays Out Top Priorities". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ Lenahan, Ian. "Sen. Shaheen takes flight with Pease 157th Air Refueling Wing". Seacoastonline.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Air Mobility Command to Start Integrating KC-46 Into Limited Operations". Air Force Magazine. February 24, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Celebrating African American Military Milestones". The Beacon. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  17. ↑ Bostick, Thomas. "Black History Is American History". Forbes. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  18. ↑ Serrano, Stephanie (August 18, 2021). "Brown named honorary Tuskegee Airman, receives symbolic red jacket". U.S. Air Force. Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs.
  19. ↑ Hitchens, Theresa (April 6, 2021). "CSAF Brown On Deck For Joint Chiefs Chair: RUMINT". Breaking Defense. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  20. ↑ Thompson, Loren (November 28, 2022). "Why The Next Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Should Be From The Air Force". Forbes. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  21. ↑ President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. YouTube (YouTube livestream). The White House, Washington, D.C.: The White House. May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  22. ↑ O'Brien, Connor (September 20, 2023). "Senate confirms Brown to lead Joint Chiefs, blowing past Tuberville's blockade". Politico. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Webcast: Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in Honor of General Mark A. Milley and an Armed Forces Hail in Honor of General Charles Q. Brown Jr". DVIDS. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  24. ↑ Liebermann, Oren (May 5, 2023). "Biden expected to name Air Force chief as next top US general". CNN. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  25. ↑ Cooper, Helene (May 5, 2023). "Biden to Name Air Force Chief to Top Military Post, Officials Say". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  26. ↑ 10 U.S.C. § 152 Chairman: appointment; grade and rank
  27. ↑ Mitchell, Ellen (May 7, 2023). "What to know about Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the next potential Joint Chiefs chair". The Hill. Retrieved October 30, 2023. He attended Texas Tech University on an ROTC scholarship, rather than the Air Force Academy, and has said he only expected to serve in the military for four years.
  28. ↑ "US Air Force chief of staff receives top military award in Singapore". The Straits Times. August 8, 2022.
  29. ↑ "U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander's Visit to Manila Enhances Partnership with Philippine Air Force". U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. May 17, 2019. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
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