Charles Q. Brown Jr.

{{Infobox military person

| image = CJCS Brown.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Official portrait, 2023

| nickname = CQ

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|3|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Air Force

| serviceyears = 1984–2025

| rank = General

| commands = {{plainlist|

}}

| battles = {{plainlist|

}}

| awards = {{ubl|Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3)|Air Force Distinguished Service Medal|Defense Superior Service Medal|Legion of Merit (4)}}

| alma_mater = {{plainlist|

}}

| signature = Charles Q. Brown Jr. signature.jpg

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Opening Statement of Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr. at his Confirmation Hearing to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.ogg|title=Charles Q. Brown Jr.'s voice|type=speech|description=Brown's opening statement at his confirmation hearing to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Recorded July 11, 2023}}

}}

Charles Quinton Brown Jr. (born March 2, 1962) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2023 to 2025.{{Cite web |last1=Copp |first1=Tara |last2=Baldor |first2=Lolita C. |date=2025-02-21 |title=Trump fires chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-brown-joint-chiefs-of-staff-firing-fa428cc1508a583b3bf5e7a5a58f6acf |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=The Associated Press |language=en}}{{cite news|accessdate=February 22, 2025

|url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-fires-the-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-fd4a4d07

|title=Trump Fires Top Pentagon Officers in Sweeping Overhaul, Chairman of Joint Chiefs and top Navy admiral are among those ousted

| first=Nancy A. |last=Youssef |work=Wall Street Journal |date=February 22, 2025}} Prior to that appointment, Brown served as the 22nd chief of staff of the Air Force from 2020 to 2023.

Brown entered the Air Force in 1984 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps and served as a fighter pilot, where he has logged over 3,000 flight hours, including 130 hours in combat. He has commanded the Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, 31st Fighter Wing, 8th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and 78th Fighter Squadron. He has also served as deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command.

Brown, nominated by President Donald Trump during his first term, became the first African American to lead a branch of the United States Armed Forces. He was later nominated by President Joe Biden to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpQM4RmZ_wk|title=President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|date=25 May 2023|access-date=26 May 2023|type=YouTube livestream|publisher=The White House|location=The White House, Washington, D.C.|website=YouTube}} {{PD-notice}} Brown was abruptly dismissed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on February 21, 2025, by President Donald Trump.{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Missy |date=February 21, 2025 |title=Trump ousts Joint Chiefs chairman, other leaders in major Pentagon shake-up |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/21/trump-joint-chiefs-of-staff-charles-brown-dan-caine/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Trump subsequently announced that Brown would be replaced with Dan Caine.{{Cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Helene |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |date=2025-02-22 |title=Dan Caine, Trump's Joint Chiefs Pick, Had Unusual Path to Top Ranks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/us/politics/dan-caine-trump-joint-chiefs.html |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-22 |title=Trump fires chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and two other military officers |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-brown-joint-chiefs-of-staff-firing-fa428cc1508a583b3bf5e7a5a58f6acf |website=AP News |language=en}}

In 2020, Brown was on Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.{{Cite magazine|title=General Charles Q. Brown Jr: The 100 Most Influential People of 2020|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888804/charles-q-brown-jr/|access-date=2020-09-23|magazine=Time}}

Early life and education

Charles Quinton Brown Jr.[https://swco-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/10605/257256/ttu_minbdm_000292.pdf Commencement] Texas Tech University 1984 was born in 1962 to a military family in San Antonio, Texas. Brown was nicknamed "CQ". He has one younger sister. He had one younger brother (died in 2003). His father, Charles Sr., served for 30 years in the Army, rising to the rank of colonel. His paternal grandfather, Robert E. Brown, was drafted in World War II and served in the Pacific Theater in Hawaii and Saipan.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Brown graduated in 1980 from Homer L. Ferguson High School in Newport News, Virginia and from Texas Tech University in Lubbock with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He was also a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps.{{Cite web|date=December 21, 2020|title=He proved the sky's the limit for Black airmen|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2020/12/21/he-proved-the-skys-the-limit-for-black-airmen/|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=Dallas News|language=en}}{{Cite web|first=Charles Q. Jr.|last=Brown Jr.|date=February 11, 2021|title=Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Brown Jr. Opens Up About Emotional Talks on Race with His Sons|url=https://people.com/human-interest/voices-against-racism-general-charles-q-brown-jr/|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=People|language=en}} At Texas Tech, he joined the Eta Upsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in the spring of 1981.{{Cite journal |last=Adams |first=Terrence |date=2020-12-21 |orig-date=2020-12-21 |editor-last=Campbell |editor-first=Colin H. |title=Congratulations to Brother Charles Q. Brown Jr.! {{!}} Next Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force |url=https://issuu.com/apa1906network/docs/the_sustainability_issue_the_sphinx_fall_2020 |journal=The Sphinx |volume=106 |issue=3 |page=37 |access-date=2023-09-25 |via=Issuu }}

In 1994, while serving in the Air Force, Brown earned a master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Military career

File:General Charles Q. Brown Jr. flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon.jpg]]

Brown was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1984 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Texas Tech University. From May 1985 to March 1987 he underwent pilot training in Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida, and was promoted to first lieutenant on 28 February 1987. In April 1987 Brown became an F-16 pilot with the 35th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, until October 1988. In the following month he was made an instructor pilot and wing electronic combat officer for the 307th and 308th Fighter Squadrons, at the Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. On 28 February 1989 he was promoted to captain. From April to August 1991 he was a student at the USAF Fighter Weapons School, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, graduating from its Instructor Course. After that he was a squadron weapons officer for the 307th Squadron until August 1992. In 1992 he also completed the Squadron Officer School.{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108485/charles-q-brown-jr/ |title=General Charles Q. Brown Jr.|access-date=2019-01-11|work=Biographies |publisher=US Air Force}} {{PD-notice}}

From September 1992 to October 1994 Brown was an instructor and evaluator in the F-16 Division at the USAF Weapons School, and after that he was the aide-de-camp to the chief of staff of the Air Force in Arlington, Virginia, until July 1996. On 1 August 1996 he was promoted to major, and also starting that month he became a student at the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Brown completed the college as a distinguished graduate in June 1997. He then became a student at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, graduating in September 1997. Later that month he was made an air operations officer for the U.S. Central Command, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Brown was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1999, and he remained in his role as an air operations officer until November 1999. Between then and June 2003 he had several assignments with multiple squadrons, with the final one being as commander of the 78th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Brown also completed the Air War College in 2000.

He was a national defense fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia, from July 2003 to June 2004, and then was the deputy chief of the program integration division at Headquarters Air Force, until June 2005. That same month, on 1 June, Brown was promoted to colonel, and in July 2005 he became the commandant of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. After that he commanded the 8th Fighter Wing in South Korea from May 2007 to May 2008, and then led the Executive Action Group at Headquarters Air Force from June 2008 to May 2009. He is a command pilot with more than 2,900 flying hours, including 130 combat hours.

Brown's career as a general officer began when he was appointed as commander of the 31st Fighter Wing in Aviano Air Base, Italy in June 2009, and was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 20 November 2009. He was deputy director for operations of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base from May 2011 to March 2013. In May 2013, Brown was promoted to the rank of major general when he was appointed as deputy commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, U.S. Central Command. In March 2014 he was appointed as director of operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration of U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.{{Cite web|title=General Charles Q. Brown, JR.|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2318211/general-general-charles-q-brown-jr/|access-date=2021-03-10|website=www.defense.gov|language=en-US}} In June 2015, Brown received his third star when he was appointed as commander of United States Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) and promoted to lieutenant general. In July 2016 he was appointed as deputy commander of United States Central Command. As AFCENT commander, Brown oversaw all of Air Force operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, while also second-in-command of USCENTCOM.{{Cite web|title=GENERAL CHARLES Q. BROWN, JR.|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108485/charles-q-brown-jr/|access-date=2021-03-10|website=www.af.mil|language=en-US}}

In July 2018, Brown was nominated to succeed General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy as commander of Pacific Air Forces. O'Shaughnessy was nominated to become commander of the United States Northern Command. Brown was also promoted to four-star general with this position. As PACAF commander, Brown oversaw all of major United States Air Force operations within the Indo-Pacific region.{{Cite web|title=Pentagon taps Central Command deputy to lead Pacific Air Forces|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-taps-central-command-deputy-to-lead-pacific-air-forces-1.527426|access-date=2021-03-10|website=Stars and Stripes}}

=Chief of Staff of the Air Force=

File:President Trump Participates in a Swearing-in Ceremony (50191984506).jpg ceremonially swears in Brown as the 22nd chief of staff of the United States Air Force in the Oval Office, 4 August 2020. Brown officially took office two days later in a separate ceremony at Joint Base Andrews]]

On 2 March 2020, the White House announced that President Donald Trump would nominate Brown to become the next Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, succeeding General David L. Goldfein.{{cite web|url = https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2099461/general-officer-announcement/|title = General Officer Announcement|website = U.S. Department of Defense|date = 2020-03-02 |access-date =2020-03-03}} On 9 June 2020, Brown was unanimously confirmed (98–0) by the United States Senate to succeed Goldfein as Chief of Staff of the US Air Force.{{Cite news |last=Martinez |first=Luis |date=August 6, 2020 |title=History made as first African American general leads one of the military services |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/history-made-african-american-general-leads-military-services/story?id=72211846 |access-date=2022-05-29 |work=ABC News}} With this confirmation he became the first African American to lead a branch of the United States Armed Forces.{{Cite news|title=Senate confirms Brown to be 22nd Air Force chief of staff on unanimous vote|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2213439/senate-confirms-brown-to-be-22nd-air-force-chief-of-staff-on-unanimous-vote/|access-date=2020-06-09|publisher=U.S. Air Force|language=en-US}} As Air Force Chief of Staff, he advises the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council regarding Air Force matters, and is the most senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for organizing, training and equipping all of the active-duty Air Force officers, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

Brown acted to establish a flexible logistics system in the Air Force's budget for Fiscal year 2021, in order to ensure the Air Force is capable of conducting "expeditionary logistics under attack".{{Cite magazine|title=The Next CSAF Lays Out Top Priorities|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/article/the-next-csaf-lays-out-top-priorities/|access-date=2021-03-10|magazine=Air Force Magazine|language=en-US}} He maintained Goldfein's prioritization of multi-domain command and control after the Air Force Association's 2016 Air, Space & Cyber Conference. After the establishment of the United States Space Force, which is also part of the Department of the Air Force, Brown worked closely with the first Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond. Brown has said that the Space Force will make up much of the Air Force department's "near-term innovation and development". He has emphasized the importance of space superiority and committed to a full collaboration between the Air Force and Space Force.

As Air Force Chief of Staff, Brown began integration of the new tanker aircraft, Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, as part of Air Force fleet rejuvenation, and began its operation within Air Mobility Command. Brown and several Congressional delegation members, including U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a longtime advocate for the tanker, participated in a demonstration flight at Joint Base Andrews.{{Cite news|last=Lenahan|first=Ian|title=Sen. Shaheen takes flight with Pease 157th Air Refueling Wing|url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2021/02/25/sen-shaheen-takes-flight-pease-157th-air-refueling-wing/6813075002/|access-date=2021-03-10|work=Seacoastonline.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|date=2021-02-24|title=Air Mobility Command to Start Integrating KC-46 Into Limited Operations|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/air-mobility-command-to-start-integrating-kc-46-into-limited-operations/|access-date=2021-03-10|magazine=Air Force Magazine|language=en-US}}

Brown was featured during the 2021 African-American History Month for making history as the first African-American military chief of staff and the first African American who has led any military branch within the United States Armed Forces. General Lloyd Austin, the first African American to serve as a United States Secretary of Defense, was also featured.{{Cite news|title=Celebrating African American Military Milestones |work= The Beacon|url=https://merrimacknewspaper.com/index.php/2021/02/17/celebrating-african-american-military-milestones/|access-date=2021-03-10|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last=Bostick|first=Thomas|title=Black History Is American History|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbostick/2021/02/23/black-history-is-american-history/|access-date=2021-03-10|magazine=Forbes|language=en}} Brown was made an honorary Tuskegee Airman, receiving the symbolic red jacket in a ceremony on 14 August 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2737933/brown-named-honorary-tuskegee-airman-receives-symbolic-red-jacket/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819011803/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2737933/brown-named-honorary-tuskegee-airman-receives-symbolic-red-jacket/|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2021|title=Brown named honorary Tuskegee Airman, receives symbolic red jacket|first=Stephanie|last=Serrano|publisher=Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs|date=2021-08-18|website=U.S. Air Force}}

=Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff=

File:Joint Chiefs of Staff members pose for a photo inside the Pentagon, USA on 14 November 2024.jpg on 14 November 2024]]

File:230929-D-LS763-1040-2 (53234047511).jpg

File:240826-D-ON707-4959 (53950210267).jpg and Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi in Israel, 26 August 2024]]

Considered a frontrunner for the position prior to his official nomination,{{Cite web|last=Hitchens|first=Theresa|title=CSAF Brown On Deck For Joint Chiefs Chair: RUMINT|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/rumint-csaf-brown-on-deck-for-joint-chiefs-chair/|access-date=April 29, 2021|website=Breaking Defense|date=April 6, 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Loren |title=Why The Next Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Should Be From The Air Force |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2022/11/28/why-the-next-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-should-be-from-the-air-force/ |date=November 28, 2022|access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Brown was formally announced as President Joe Biden's nominee to succeed General Mark Milley as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 25 May 2023.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpQM4RmZ_wk|title=President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|date=25 May 2023|access-date=26 May 2023|type=YouTube livestream|publisher=The White House|location=The White House, Washington, D.C.|website=YouTube}} {{PD-notice}} He was confirmed by the Senate on 20 September 2023,{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Connor|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/20/brown-confirm-joint-chiefs-chair-00117247|title=Senate confirms Brown to lead Joint Chiefs, blowing past Tuberville's blockade|date=2023-09-20|access-date=2023-09-21|website=Politico}} and sworn in on 29 September.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32774|title=Webcast: Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in Honor of General Mark A. Milley and an Armed Forces Hail in Honor of General Charles Q. Brown Jr.|access-date=2023-09-29|website=DVIDS}}{{Cite news |last=Liebermann |first=Oren |date=2023-05-05 |title=Biden expected to name Air Force chief as next top US general |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/04/politics/charles-q-brown-jr-air-force-joint-chiefs/index.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |work=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Helene |date=2023-05-05 |title=Biden to Name Air Force Chief to Top Military Post, Officials Say |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/us/politics/joint-chiefs-chairman-charles-q-brown-milley.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0362-4331}} His term was effective as of 1 October 2023.{{USC|10|152}} Chairman: appointment; grade and rank

After the outbreak of the Gaza war, Brown said that the U.S. military can support the needs of both Israel and Ukraine.{{cite news |title=A new foreign war and a different type of top general for the U.S. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/17/cq-brown-israel-ukraine-00121629 |work=Politico |date=17 October 2023}} He warned Iran "not to get involved" in the war in Gaza.{{cite news |title=Joint Chiefs chairman warns Iran not to get involved in Israel crisis |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/4247688-joint-chiefs-chairman-warns-iran-not-to-get-involved-in-israel-crisis/ |work=The Hill |date=10 October 2023}} In August 2024, Brown traveled to Jordan with plans to also visit Egypt and Israel.{{cite web| url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/united-states/2024/08/25/israel-striking-dozens-of-alleged-hezbollah-targets-in-lebanon| title=Israel says it is attacking Hezbollah targets after intel showed imminent threat | website=alarabiya.net| date=25 August 2024| url-status=live| archive-date=25 August 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825025916/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/united-states/2024/08/25/israel-striking-dozens-of-alleged-hezbollah-targets-in-lebanon}} In August 2024, Brown visited Israel and met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi to discuss threats from Iran.{{cite news |title=Halevi hosts US army chief Brown in north; Gallant says must be ready to thwart Iran nukes |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/halevi-idf-working-to-return-displaced-northern-residents-as-quickly-as-possible/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=27 August 2024}}

On 21 February 2025, President Trump dismissed Brown from the position of chairman. Pete Hegseth, who was later appointed United States Secretary of Defense by Trump, had previously called for Brown's dismissal because of his involvement in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and questioned whether Brown had gotten the job solely because of his race.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-22 |title=Trump fires Black joint chiefs chair Hegseth accused of promoting diversity |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/21/trump-hegseth-joint-chiefs-cq-brown-jr |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Trump said that he would nominate Dan Caine as Brown's successor.{{Cite news |last1=Schmitt |first1=Eric |last2=Cooper |first2=Helene |last3=Swan |first3=Jonathan |date=2025-02-22 |title=Trump Fires Joint Chiefs Chairman Amid Turmoil at Pentagon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/us/politics/trump-fires-cq-brown-pentagon.html |access-date=2025-02-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} As of April 2025, Brown retired from the Air Force after over 41 years of service.{{Cite web |title=Linkedin - Gen CQ Brown, Jr. , USAF, Retired |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/generalcqbrownjr/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=LinkedIn}}{{Cite web |title=Air Force Biographies: General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. |url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108485/charles-q-brown-jr/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=United States Air Force}}

Education

1984 Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Ellen |date=2023-05-07 |title=What to know about Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the next potential Joint Chiefs chair |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3991201-what-to-know-about-air-force-gen-charles-q-brown-jr-the-next-potential-joint-chiefs-chair/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |work=The Hill |quote=He attended Texas Tech University on an ROTC scholarship, rather than the Air Force Academy, and has said he only expected to serve in the military for four years. |language=en-US}}
1991 U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
1992 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
1994 Master of Aeronautical Science degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida
1997 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2000 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2004 National Defense Fellow, Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia
2008 AF Senior Leadership Course, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, North Carolina
2012 Joint Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2014 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2015 Pinnacle Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Flight information

Brown is rated as a command pilot, having logged more than 2,900 flight hours, including 130 combat hours. Aircraft he has flown include the F-16A/B/C/D, AC-130U, AH-64, AT-38, B-1B, B-2A, B-52H, C-130J, E-8C, HH-60G, KC-135, MV-22, T-37, T-38 and two more fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft.

Awards and decorations

Brown has received the following awards and decorations:

style="width:100%;"

valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Personal decorations

{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}

|Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon|width=80}}

|Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon|width=80}}

|Defense Superior Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=80}}18px18px18px

|Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Bronze Star ribbon|width=80}}

|Bronze Star Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Defense Meritorious Service ribbon|width=80}}

|Defense Meritorious Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=80}}18px18px

|Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon|width=80}}

|Aerial Achievement Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Joint Service Commendation ribbon|width=80}}

|Joint Service Commendation Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=80}}18px18px

|Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Unit awards

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame)|width=80}}

|Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=80}}18px18px18px18px

|Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=80}}18px18px

|Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Service awards

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Combat Readiness Medal ribbon|width=80}}

|Combat Readiness Medal

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Campaign and service medals

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=80}}

|National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon|width=80}}

|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon|width=80}}

|Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon|width=80}}

|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Korea Defense Service ribbon|width=80}}

|Korea Defense Service Medal

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Service, training, and marksmanship awards

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}

|Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=AF OS Short Tour Ribbon|width=80}}

|Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png|width=80}}

|Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Longevity Service Award USAF|width=80}}18px18px18px18px

|Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Training Ribbon|width=80}}

|Air Force Training Ribbon

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Foreign awards

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Sam IL Security Medal Ribbon.png|width=80}}

|Order of National Security Merit Sam-Il Medal (Republic of Korea)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) ribbon.png|width=80}}

|Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) (Singapore){{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/united-states-air-force-chief-of-staff-receives-top-military-award-in-spore|title=US Air Force chief of staff receives top military award in Singapore|date=August 8, 2022|website=The Straits Times}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar|width=80}}

|NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia

|valign="top" |

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Other accoutrements

align=center | 150px

|US Air Force Command Pilot Badge

align=center | 120px

|Philippine Air Force Gold Wings Badge (May 2019){{Cite web|url=https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-pacific-air-forces-commanders-visit-to-manila-enhances-partnership-with-philippine-air-force/|title=U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander's Visit to Manila Enhances Partnership with Philippine Air Force|date=May 17, 2019|website=U.S. Embassy in the Philippines|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024185502/https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-pacific-air-forces-commanders-visit-to-manila-enhances-partnership-with-philippine-air-force/|url-status=dead}}

align=center | 95px

|Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

align=center | 100px

|Headquarters Air Force Badge

=Other recognition=

In 2022, Brown received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service}}

Effective dates of promotion

{{USAF DOR O-10|28 Feb. 1985|28 Feb. 1987|28 Feb. 1989|1 Aug. 1996|1 July 1999|1 June 2005|20 Nov. 2009|3 July 2013|29 June 2015|26 July 2018}}

References

External links

[https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108485/charles-q-brown-jr/ Official USAF Biography]
{{C-SPAN|103886}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the 31st Fighter Wing|years=2009–2011}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of United States Air Forces Central Command|years=2015–2016}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of United States Central Command|years=2016–2018}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the Pacific Air Forces|years=2018–2020}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|years=2020–2023}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|years=2023–2025}}

{{s-aft|after=Christopher W. Grady
{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-bef|before=Mark Milley|as=former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2019–2023)}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2023–2025)}}|years=}}

Category:1962 births

Category:20th-century African-American military personnel

Category:21st-century African-American military personnel

Category:African-American United States Air Force personnel

Category:Chiefs of staff of the United States Air Force

Category:Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Military personnel from San Antonio

Category:Order of National Security Merit members

Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

Category:Recipients of the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)

Category:Texas Tech University alumni

Category:United States Air Force generals

Category:Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Category:Squadron Officer School alumni

Category:Air War College alumni

Category:Air Command and Staff College alumni

Category:Joint Forces Staff College alumni