Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Senate Confirms Brown to Lead Air Force in Historic Vote
Air Force Magazine ^ | 6/09/2020 | Rachel S. Cohen

Posted on 06/10/2020 4:57:09 AM PDT by cll

Senators confirmed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the first black military service chief in American history in a 98-0 vote June 9.

Brown, the decorated four-star general in charge of Pacific Air Forces, will begin his four-year term as Air Force Chief of Staff once he is sworn in on Aug. 6. His confirmation comes as the military responds to nationwide protests over police brutality and systemic racism, spurred by George Floyd’s death in Minnesota last month.

“There is no one I know who is better prepared to be Chief of Staff, no one who has the experience and the temperament to lead the Air Force,” said Gen. David Goldfein, the service’s current top uniformed official. “The Air Force and our nation will be in good hands under his leadership.”

Parochial concerns delayed the confirmation vote. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) held up Brown’s nomination to press the Air Force to base its new KC-46 tanker in his state, Defense News reported June 3. Sullivan reportedly dropped his formal hold after discussions with the Air Force.

Vice President Mike Pence presided over the unanimous vote. Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin of Maryland and Ed Markey of Massachusetts were absent.

As the 22nd Air Force Chief of Staff, Brown will inherit a 2020 budget of a $168 billion and about 685,000 employees. He has pledged to carry out the service’s sweeping modernization plan, continue fighting insurgents in the Middle East and Africa and posturing against Russia and China—all while adjusting to operations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, he opened the door to a review of the Air Force’s roles and missions, and said he would pursue new approaches to aircraft and personnel readiness.

Brown, who was nominated for the top job in March, has racked up more than 2,900 flight hours in more than a dozen aircraft, held leadership positions at U.S. Central Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. He’s also earned nearly 20 military decorations since the 1980s.


TOPICS: Government; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airforce; charlesqbrown; trump
Nominated by President Trump back in March, well before the Floyd brouhaha took hold. Before the left starts claiming that this was a token appointment.
1 posted on 06/10/2020 4:57:09 AM PDT by cll
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: cll

Meanwhile biden wept at the floyd funeral


2 posted on 06/10/2020 5:00:41 AM PDT by ronnie raygun (silence is golden, I will not kneel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ronnie raygun

....Biden is such a fraud.... the man has no scruples
at all.... but the idea of a “President Biden” just
makes me want to puke.....in this day and age, it is
a possibility.....


3 posted on 06/10/2020 5:08:05 AM PDT by TokarevM57
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cll

Another Perfumed Prince or a real general - time will tell.


4 posted on 06/10/2020 5:10:10 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turnWhen is the next election and can any republican stan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Nominated by President Trump back in March, well before the Floyd brouhaha took hold. Before the left starts claiming that this was a token appointment.


Yeah I expect the crap media and the rat party to start pushing the, “Trump is pandering to the blacks”, theme all day long and for the next few days. Saw ABC News this morning and they are trying twist it already.


5 posted on 06/10/2020 5:22:56 AM PDT by redshawk ( I want my red balloon. ( https://youtu.be/V12H2mteniE))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

“”as the first black military service chief in American history in a 98-0 vote June 9. “”””””

That can’t be good.


6 posted on 06/10/2020 5:23:42 AM PDT by shelterguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Wait a minute!!!! The nation is bathed in “racism”, “systemic racism” and “white supremacy”, so how does a great general like Brown get to become the first black head of one of the branches of military service????


7 posted on 06/10/2020 5:24:15 AM PDT by Wuli (Get)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PIF

....totally agree.... a highly-decorated retired Army LTC
once told me that the military’s warrier class
pretty much tops out at pay grade O-5 (LTC) and
beyond that, into pay grade O-6 (Colonel), and
above, you are into the political class...
once you reach flag rank, you’d better be a good politician, and they are always plotting how to get that next star.....


8 posted on 06/10/2020 5:24:54 AM PDT by TokarevM57
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: cll

Trump has to be the worst racist in history. He’s absolutely HORRIBLE at it.


9 posted on 06/10/2020 5:42:15 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MuttTheHoople

Joe Biden thinks he isn’t black.


10 posted on 06/10/2020 5:45:13 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: PIF

I vote for real general, 2 tours as a fighter wing commander and 130 combat hours. Not thrilled with his most recent comments, though.


11 posted on 06/10/2020 5:48:03 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: TokarevM57

Agree with that sentiment, heard the same thing from my last battalion commander in Germany.


12 posted on 06/10/2020 5:49:26 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: cll

The guy is a top general, yet he whined about racism. Irony much? Whining from the top of the hill is a very bad sign.


13 posted on 06/10/2020 5:56:54 AM PDT by hopespringseternal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

“Senators confirmed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the first black military service chief in American history in a 98-0 vote June 9.”

RACISM! 98-0?

I don’t know this guy. He very well may be the BEST guy for the job, but ZERO “NO” votes?

Why? Because what Senator would vote “NO” for this Black nominee on the day of Saint George Floyd’s funeral? NOT A SINGLE ONE!

That is racism.


14 posted on 06/10/2020 6:02:06 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Reagan promoted Colin Powell so that he could be the first president to have a black general. How well did that work out?


15 posted on 06/10/2020 8:17:46 AM PDT by euram
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson