The confirmation of Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the next Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

U.S.  Senator Kevin Cramer announced the news of General C. Q. Brown’s confirmation via Twitter.

The announcement of an airman leading the Joint Chiefs has been welcomed by airmen in Minot and Grand Forks, tweeted the senator on Wednesday evening. Cramer’s full statement on General C.Q. Brown’s confirmation to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is below:

“Congratulations to General C.Q. Brown on a well-earned confirmation to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Having an airman leading the Joint Chiefs is welcome news to our airmen in Minot and Grand Forks. Over the past three years as Secretary of the Air Force, he saw firsthand the critical contributions North Dakota makes to our national security. His experience and wisdom will serve him well in his new role.”

The appointment of the second Black man on the Joint Staff, after Colin Powell two decades ago, is being celebrated during a week that the United States Air Force (USAF) turned seventy-six years old. Brown, a former fighter pilot with experience in the Pacific, is only the second Black officer to hold this position.

Brown was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Texas Tech University in 1984. He has served in various positions at the squadron and wing levels, including an assignment to the U.S. Air Force Weapons School as an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor.

His notable staff tours include aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group; and Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command.

He also served as a National Defense Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, Virginia. Brown has commanded a fighter squadron, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, two fighter wings, and U.S. Air Forces Central Command.

Before serving as the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Brown was the commander of Pacific Air Forces and air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He is a command pilot with over 3,000 flying hours, including 130 combat hours.

Having an airman leading the Joint Chiefs is welcome news to our airmen in Minot and Grand Forks. My full statement on General C.Q. Brown’s well-earned confirmation to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/353Hz59OUy

— Sen. Kevin Cramer (@SenKevinCramer) September 20, 2023