U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed Air Force veteran Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown is known as the second Black person to hold the position and is recognized for emphasizing diversity within the military.
On the 22nd (local time), the Associated Press reported that President Trump dismissed Chairman Brown as part of a campaign to eliminate leaders who support diversity in the military. Lieutenant General Dan LaCamera has been nominated as his successor.
President Trump wrote on his social media, "I want to thank General Charles Brown for his over 40 years of service to the United States," adding, "He is a great gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish his family a wonderful future."
Signs of Chairman Brown's dismissal appeared last month when Minister of National Defense Pete Hagans took office. When asked whether he would dismiss Chairman Brown, Minister Hagans stated, "All senior officers will be evaluated based on merit." Minister Hagans also remarked on a podcast that "(Brown) should be dismissed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."
The Associated Press noted of Chairman Brown, "With over 3,000 flight hours and command experience at all levels, Brown is known as a calm yet resolute leader," adding, "His election as chairman was significantly influenced by his focus on restraining the military, which has fought wars in the Middle East for 20 years, amid potential conflicts with China."
It was also noted that "He contributed a lot of time to deciding what military support to send to Kyiv amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East," and "He coordinated the necessary support to help Israel fight Hamas and repel multiple major attacks from Iran."