The US Senate has confirmed the appointment of three military leaders to positions within the Defense Department.
On 20 September, the Senate voted to confirm Air Force General CQ Brown, Jr. (photo) to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On 21 September, the Senate voted to confirm General Randy A. George as Army Chief of Staff and General Eric M. Smith as Marine Corps Commandant, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement.
“I want to congratulate General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. on his confirmation as our nation’s next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said following the confirmation vote.
“He will be a tremendous leader of our joint force, and I look forward to working with him in his new capacity,” he added.
Since August 2020, Brown had served as Air Force Chief of Staff. In his new role, he will replace outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark A. Milley, who retires at the end of this month. Brown will be sworn in later this month.
Brown began his service as a pilot. He has served as both an instructor and commandant at the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He was also the Commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, dubbed the Wolf Pack, in Kunsan, South Korea.
Brown’s nomination as the new Chairman was announced in May. At the time, Austin voiced his approval of the choice when he said Brown “has developed the expertise, the vision and the warfighting acumen to help the President and Senior Department of Defense (DOD) leaders navigate today’s toughest national security challenges. In his tenure leading the U.S. Air Force, he has been a model of strategic clarity and a powerful force for progress.”
Austin also offered congratulations to George and Smith following their confirmations.
“I want to congratulate General Randy A. George and General Eric M. Smith on their confirmation as our nation’s next Chief of Staff of the Army and Commandant of the Marine Corps, respectively,” They will each be incredible leaders of their service and will work to strengthen and modernize our military for the challenges ahead,” Austin said. (U.S. Department of Defense; Photo: Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., visiting U.S. Naval War College in April 2023 © Kristopher Burris, U.S. Navy)
