--- title: Biden's Historic Choice For Next Head of Joint Chiefs description: If confirmed by the Senate, CQ Brown would be nation's second Black Joint Chiefs chairman. canonical: https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/ author: W.J. Hennigan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2023-05-25T18:12:42.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-19T07:23:55.938Z article:section: Politics og:title: Biden's Historic Choice For Next Head of Joint Chiefs og:description: If confirmed by the Senate, CQ Brown would be nation's second Black Joint Chiefs chairman og:url: https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde73d2101eda5c95/698a0f1f86f68e87e76eed84/charles-brown-first-black-military-chief.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3938 og:image:height: 2215 og:image:alt: Congress Air Force og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Biden's Historic Choice For Next Head of Joint Chiefs twitter:description: If confirmed by the Senate, CQ Brown would be nation's second Black Joint Chiefs chairman twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde73d2101eda5c95/698a0f1f86f68e87e76eed84/charles-brown-first-black-military-chief.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # In Historic Choice, Biden Nominates Air Force General For Next Head of Joint Chiefs > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=9caec417-8173-4f75-8095-d8c30bef5c9d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=9caec417-8173-4f75-8095-d8c30bef5c9d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=9caec417-8173-4f75-8095-d8c30bef5c9d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=9caec417-8173-4f75-8095-d8c30bef5c9d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: In Historic Choice, Biden Nominates Air Force General For Next Head of Joint Chiefs [Watch (HLS stream): In Historic Choice, Biden Nominates Air Force General For Next Head of Joint Chiefs](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6UOkj9OP.m3u8) (2:34)  _Published 2023-05-25. President Joe Biden announced Thursday he is nominating Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an appointment that would make him the second Black officer to hold the highest post in the U.S. military._  by [W.J. Hennigan](https://time.com/author/w-j-hennigan/)  ## W.J. Hennigan May 25, 2023 6:12 PM UTC President Joe Biden announced Thursday he is nominating Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an appointment that would make him the second Black officer to hold the highest post in the U.S. military.  by [W.J. Hennigan](https://time.com/author/w-j-hennigan/)  ## W.J. Hennigan May 25, 2023 6:12 PM UTC President Joe Biden announced Thursday he is nominating Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an appointment that would make him the second Black officer to hold the highest post in the U.S. military. “General Brown has built a reputation across the force as an unflappable and highly effective leader—as someone who creates an environment of teamwork, trust and an execute with excellence,” Biden said, during an afternoon ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden with Brown at his side. “You’ve been an essential leader in making our nation and our force stronger. You’ve made history.” Brown, 60, is an F-16 fighter pilot and four-star general with leadership stints in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East before taking over as Air Force chief of staff in 2020. If confirmed by the Senate, Brown would be the second Black Joint Chiefs chairman after [Army General Colin Powell](https://time.com/6107901/colin-powell-legacy/), who served in the role from 1989 to 1993\. It would also mark the first time in history that the Pentagon’s top two leaders, along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, were Black men. “He is an incredibly capable and professional officer,” Austin told reporters at the Pentagon before the announcement. “What he brings to the table, to any team, is that professionalism, that deep experience, and war-fighting—and I have personal knowledge of that.” Brown is set to succeed retiring-Army General Mark Milley as the president’s top military adviser at a time when the Biden Administration is juggling a range of global challenges, including aiding Ukraine in its war with Russia and navigating the increasingly tense global competition with China. As the former commander of Pacific Air Forces, Brown is well acquainted with the challenges stemming from Beijing. In 2020, he developed an “[Accelerate, Change or Lose](https://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/2020SAF/ACOL%5Fbooklet%5FFINAL%5F13%5FNov%5F1006%5FWEB.pdf)” initiative within the Air Force to maintain military superiority over adversaries. **Read more:** [_Biden Relents To Ukrainian Pressure For Fighter Jets_](https://time.com/6281334/biden-ukraine-f-16-fighter-jets/) Born to an Army family in San Antonio, Brown became an officer after completing his undergraduate degree in engineering at Texas Tech University in 1984\. Ten years later, he earned a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Over his career, he logged more than 3,000 flying hours, including 130 combat hours, steadily rising through the ranks to earn a brigadier general’s star in 2009\. He’s served as a wing commander at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, and Aviano Air Base, Italy. He was operational director of strategic deterrence and nuclear integration at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, during the Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014\. A year later, he oversaw the daily bombing campaign against ISIS as the top air commander in the Middle East, and in 2018 took control of Pacific Air Forces. Brown’s broad background, as well as his reputation as a bold leader, is expected to limit opposition in the Senate, whose approval is needed for the appointment. The Senate confirmed Brown 98-0 to become chief of staff of the Air Force after former President Donald Trump nominated him in 2020. A potential obstacle to his confirmation is Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of Pentagon nominees over the Defense Department’s abortion-travel policy. Roughly 200 senior civilian and uniformed nominees are on hold because of the Alabama senator’s opposition to allowances paid to cover travel to obtain abortions—a result of last year’s Supreme Court decision to strike down _Roe v. Wade_. (The military does not pay for the procedure itself.) **Read more:** [_Pentagon Accounting Error Means $3 Billion More For Ukraine_](https://time.com/6281063/pentagon-accounting-error-ukraine-arms-funding/) But Brown’s support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military may also draw attention from conservative lawmakers, who routinely criticize the Pentagon for policies [they deem to be a “woke” agenda](https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/the-rise-wokeness-the-military). [TIME listed Brown as one of the world’s most influential people in 2020](https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888804/charles-q-brown-jr/) after he took a stand against systemic racism in [a viral video posted](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjPco68usEo) after George Floyd’s death. “I can’t fix centuries of racism in our country, nor can I fix decades of discrimination that may have impacted members of our Air Force,” Brown said in June 2020 as then-President Trump considered ordering the U.S. military to quell racial-justice protests. “I’m thinking about how I can make improvements personally, professionally, and institutionally.” It was a candid public statement for an officer in such a senior position, particularly one who had yet to receive Senate confirmation. But to those who know him, it was representative of Brown’s character. Two months later he became the nation’s first Black chief of a military service and cemented his status as a leader who’s not afraid to speak his mind—even if it’s not expedient to do so. ## Transcript [00:00] So today Ariana going to do, see my nominee to be the next chairman [00:04] of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General, [00:06] Charles to Brown Jr. [00:09] General, welcome as a warrior descended from a proud line of Warriors, [00:15] his father a US army colonel. [00:18] CQ Brown, served in Vietnam, is Grandfather, [00:22] US Army, Master Sergeant, Robert Junior, lettuce, [00:25] segregated, unit award and the command pilot General Brown [00:31] brings to this role more than 3,000 hours of fighting fine experience, [00:35] including 130 combat hours. [00:38] He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle and how [00:42] to keep your cool and things get hard. [00:44] Like, when your F-16 was on fire, [00:49] you made history. [00:51] And you have even made it to as a Jeopardy, [00:54] clue. [00:55] Did you know that you made it to Jeopardy? [00:59] Clue The Daily Double know Les, Brown is a proud American [01:05] Airman First and always, he's also been an operational [01:09] leader in the Joint Force. [01:10] He gained respect across every service from those who have seen [01:14] him in action and have come to depend on his judgment, [01:17] more than that. [01:19] He gained the respect of our allies, [01:21] and partners around the world regard General Brown as a trusted [01:25] partner and a top-notch strategist, and to keep American [01:29] people. Safe prosperous and secure, where to move fast and adapt [01:33] quickly. To maintain a combat credible, Force capable of Discerning [01:38] the feeding, and we have to manage our competition with China [01:43] and meet the reality of renewed aggression in Europe. [01:46] We need to make sure we retain our Competitive Edge in an age, [01:50] where emerging Technologies from Technologies from AI to 3D printing [01:55] printing, could fundamentally change the character of conflict [01:58] with General Brown as chairman. [02:00] I know, I'll be able to rely on his advice as a military [02:03] strategist and as a leader of military Innovation, [02:07] dedicated to keeping armed forces, the best in the world and [02:12] they're the best in the history of the world, [02:14] and that's a fact. [02:16] I also be able to rely a thoughtful, [02:18] deliberate leader, who is unafraid to speak his mind that someone [02:23] will deliver an honest message, that needs to be heard, [02:26] and I'll always do the right thing. [02:28] When it's hard. [02:29] That's the number one quality president needs in the chairman ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/"},"headline":"In Historic Choice, Biden Nominates Air Force General For Next Head of Joint Chiefs","datePublished":"2023-05-25T18:12:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-19T07:23:55.938Z","description":"If confirmed by the Senate, CQ Brown would be nation's second Black Joint Chiefs chairman","url":"https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/","keywords":["Biden Administration","uspoliticspolicy"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde73d2101eda5c95/698a0f1f86f68e87e76eed84/charles-brown-first-black-military-chief.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"W.J. Hennigan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/w-j-hennigan/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde73d2101eda5c95/698a0f1f86f68e87e76eed84/charles-brown-first-black-military-chief.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Congress Air Force","caption":"Congress Air Force","creditText":"Kevin Dietsch—Pool/AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/biden-administration/","name":"Biden Administration"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/","name":"In Historic Choice, Biden Nominates Air Force General For Next Head of Joint Chiefs"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"In Historic Choice, Biden Nominates Air Force General For Next Head of Joint Chiefs","description":"President Joe Biden announced Thursday he is nominating Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an appointment that would make him the second Black officer to hold the highest post in the U.S. military.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/6UOkj9OP/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-05-25T21:47:39.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6UOkj9OP.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/","duration":"PT2M34S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6282556/biden-nominates-charles-cq-brown-joint-chiefs/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```