Trump nominates first black Air Force chief of staff

President Trump has nominated Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. to be the next Air Force chief of staff.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper made the announcement on Monday. If Brown is confirmed by the Senate, he will be the Air Force’s first black service chief. Brown is currently commander of Pacific Air Forces, a role he has been in since 2018.

If confirmed, Brown, known as C.Q., would take over for Gen. David Goldfein, who has been Air Force chief of staff since July 2016 and is expected to retire this year.

“The USAF will be well served by the formidable talents of CQ Brown,” tweeted Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett. “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,” which is short for the National Defense Strategy.

The USAF will be well served by the formidable talents of CQ Brown. 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. https://t.co/2P8JDx1idS

— Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett (@SecAFOfficial) March 2, 2020

Brown is a graduate of Texas Tech University and was commissioned in 1984. He is an experienced F-16 combat pilot and, prior to serving as commander of Pacific Air Forces, was the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

Goldfein congratulated Brown on his nomination and lauded his experience in a Monday tweet.

Congratulations to Gen CQ Brown on his nomination to be our next Chief. He’s led worldwide – in the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. When it comes to global, operational savvy there’s nobody stronger–one of the finest warriors our @usairforce has ever produced. https://t.co/OBBTPQPrHg

— Gen. Dave Goldfein (@GenDaveGoldfein) March 2, 2020

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