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The Wire
Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Charles Q. Brown Jr.
Photo: Benjamin D. Applebaum, U.S. Department of Defense, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

Charles Q. Brown Jr.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Out the door

Air Force fighter pilot and the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs, appointed under Biden and dismissed by Trump in February 2025 with more than two years left in his term.

Why they left: Trump fired him on February 21, 2025 in a Friday-night social media post that gave no reason; the AP described the move as part of an effort to remove military leaders who supported diversity programs. 2 3 Now: Retired from the Air Force; executive in residence at Duke University since July 2025 and, since February 2026, a member of the national security advisory board of the venture firm Shield Capital, according to Wikipedia. 1

Biography

Charles Q. Brown Jr., known as CQ, was born in San Antonio, Texas, and was commissioned through ROTC at Texas Tech in 1984. 1 An F-16 pilot, he rose to lead U.S. air forces in the Middle East and the Pacific, and in 2020 the Senate confirmed him 98-0 as Air Force chief of staff, the first Black officer to lead a military service. 1

President Biden chose him as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the president's top military adviser, and he took office on October 1, 2023. 1 His 16 months in the job were dominated by the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East. 2

Trump dismissed him on February 21, 2025, thanking him for more than 40 years of service. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had earlier questioned Brown's selection and his support for diversity programs, removed the Navy's top admiral and the Air Force's vice chief the same night. 1 2 3 The Senate confirmed retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as his successor on April 11, 2025. 4

In the job

What happened while Charles held the post.

  1. Began his term as chairman after being sworn in by Gen. Mark Milley on September 29, 2023. 1

  2. Traveled to Jordan and Israel for talks with military leaders about threats from Iran. 1

  3. Trump announced his removal on social media and said he would nominate Dan Caine. Hegseth phoned Brown before the post, according to defense officials cited by CBS News. 2 3

  4. The same evening Hegseth announced the removal of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief Gen. James Slife, and said the top military lawyers of the Army, Navy and Air Force would be replaced. 3

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. Before becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth had called for Brown's removal, citing his support for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and questioning whether he got the job because of his race, according to Wikipedia. 1

    Their side: Brown did not respond publicly to those remarks in the sources reviewed; in a farewell post he said his career had focused on warfighting, modernization and trust. 3

Career

  1. U.S. Air Force officer and F-16 pilot
  2. Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command
  3. Commander, Pacific Air Forces
  4. Chief of Staff of the Air Force
  5. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  6. Executive in residence, Duke University

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Charles Q. Brown Jr.. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Charles Q. Brown Jr., Nov. 13, 2026
  2. AP (via PBS NewsHour), Trump fires Gen. CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Feb. 21, 2025
  3. CBS News, Trump fires Gen. Charles Q. Brown as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, other senior officers, Feb. 2025
  4. Wikipedia, Dan Caine, Nov. 13, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.