WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has nominated Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., of the U.S. Air Force, to succeed Gen. Mark Milley as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking a historic step for the highest-ranking military officer in the country.
The announcement was made Tuesday in a formal ceremony in the Rose Garden, attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, among other high-ranking officials.
Brown, who currently serves as Chief of Staff of the Air Force, would be the first Air Force officer to serve as the top military advisor to the president, defense secretary and the National Security Council. His nomination underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to advancing diversity in leadership roles throughout the U.S. military.
During the ceremony, Biden praised Brown’s vast experience, calling him “uniquely qualified for the gravity of this role.”
Gen. Brown’s nomination now heads to the Senate for confirmation. If confirmed, he would replace Gen. Milley, who has held the position since September 2019.
