President Biden on Thursday nominated Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointing him as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer at a precarious time for America’s combat troops.
At a Rose Garden ceremony announcing the nomination, Mr. Biden hailed Gen. Brown as a leader who is deeply knowledgeable and prepared for the challenges posed by China and Ukraine.
“With Gen. Brown as chairman, I know I’ll be able to rely on his advice as a military strategist and as a leader in military innovation, dedicated to keeping our armed forces the best in the world,” Mr. Biden said.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as the senior military advisor to the president. If confirmed by the Senate, Gen. Brown will advise Mr. Biden on issues ranging from Russia’s war on Ukraine to China’s military aggression in the Asia-Pacific region. Either situation could emerge as the next major conflict for the U.S., making his appointment all the more critical.
“I’ll also be able to rely on him as a thoughtful, deliberate leader who was unafraid to speak his mind, as someone who will deliver an honest message that needs to be heard and will always do the right thing, even when it’s hard. That’s the number one quality a president needs in a chairman,” the president said.
Gen. Brown previously served as commander of Pacific Air Forces, the
