Biden will nominate Air Force Commander Charles Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking US official position.
Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said President Joe Biden is expected to announce the appointment of Gen. Charles Brown on May 25. This move has been expected for a long time, especially in the context of rising US-China tensions, as General Brown is a former fighter pilot and has extensive experience in the Pacific.
If confirmed by the US Senate, General Brown would become the second black officer in US history to hold the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after Colin Powell 20 years ago. It will also be the first time that the Pentagon’s top two posts, including Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be filled by people of color.
General Brown testified before the US Senate Armed Services Committee in 2020. Photo: Reuters
General Charles Brown describes himself as an introvert, contrasting with the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley. He oversaw coalition air operations against the Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East and served as commander of the US Pacific Air Force (PACAF) from 2018 to 2020.
While General Brown is highly regarded, it is unclear how fast or slow the approval process for his nomination will be. Senator Tommy Tuberville has blocked many appointments of US Department of Defense officials from February to now because he thinks the Pentagon is using funds to pay for the travel expenses of soldiers who want to have abortions.
The United States Joint Chiefs of Staff is the body responsible for advising the government on military matters and leading the armed forces. This agency is made up of a President, a Vice President, and the top 6 service leaders of the US Armed Forces.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the highest-ranking officer in the US military and is also the senior military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council and the Secretary of Defense. However, the holder of this position has no direct command over the US military’s combat forces.
Vu Anh (according to Reuters)
