Trump nominates first African American Air Force chief

President Trump has nominated Gen. Charles Brown to be the next Air Force chief of staff, setting Brown up to be the nation’s first African American military service chief, the Pentagon announced Monday.

If confirmed, Brown would also be the first African American to sit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff since Colin Powell was chairman from 1989 to 1993.

“The USAF will be well served by the formidable talents of CQ Brown,” Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett tweeted.

“He has unmatched strategic vision & operational expertise. His leadership will be instrumental as the service continues to focus on the capabilities & talent we need to implement the #NDS,” she added, referring to the National Defense Strategy.

Brown, who has been the commander of Pacific Air Forces since July 2018, would take over for current Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein, who is expected to retire in the summer.

Prior to leading Pacific Air Forces, Brown was the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

His résumé also includes time as the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command in 2015 and 2016 during the height of the air campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

He has also served multiple tours across Europe, Asia and the Middle East as an F-16 fighter jet pilot.