(PatriotWise.com) — President Biden’s nominee for the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman once jumped from an F-16 fighter jet into the Florida Everglades. Charles Q. Brown Jr. parachuted from his plane and landed in the Floridian marshes – home to countless alligators.
President Biden nominated the four-star general to replace Army Gen. Mark Milley, whose term ends in October. If confirmed, it will be another in a long line of “firsts” for Mr. Brown. He was the Air Force’s first black commander of the Pacific Air Forces and its first black chief of staff. That made him the first African American to lead any military branch.
During a White House Rose Garden ceremony, the President described Brown as a “warrior descended from a proud line of warriors.” The President also recounted the story of when Mr. Brown avoided alligators in Florida.
Charles Brown – known as CQ – is now 60 years old and has four decades of military service behind him. His father was a US Army colonel who served in Vietnam. His grandfather was US Army Master Sgt. Robert E. Brown Jr. who led an American unit in the Second World War. Brown has spoken about racism and equality and said he wants to improve the military so that personnel can “appreciate the value of diversity and serve in an environment where they can reach their full potential.”
Military nominations are, however, currently held up in the Senate. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville is blocking nominations in protest at the Pentagon’s policy to give time off and travel costs to servicewomen stationed in states that restrict abortion. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Mr. Tuberville is putting national security at risk and testing the patience of his colleagues in the Senate.
Leading Senate Republican Mitch McConnell has said he disagrees with Tuberville’s actions, and some Democrats have suggested McConnell should use his influence to persuade Tuberville to end his protest action.
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