General
Colin Powell is only the fourth African-American to attain the rank of four-star
general. On October 1, 1989, President George Bush named him 12th Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the principal military advisor to the President,
Secretary of Defense and National Security Council. The appointment was a tribute
to General Powell's dedication to country and excellence in leadership.
After graduation from City
College of New York, General Powell became a second lieutenant in the army infantry
and attended specialized schools for rangers and airborne infantry. By 1968,
this young warrior had served two tours of duty in Vietnam and rose to the rank
of major.
General Powell served in
Korea, the Pentagon and secured advanced schooling at the National War College
in Washington, D.C. and in 1981, he was promoted to brigadier general. From
1983 to 1 986, General Powell was military assistant to Secretary of Defense
Caspar Weinberger and was promoted to lieutenant general.
As a three-star general,
he took command of the Army's Fifth Corps in West Germany. Six months later
the President named him deputy to National Security Advisor, Mr. Frank Carlucci.
When Mr. Carlucci become Secretary of Defense, the President made General Powell
Notional Security Advisor. Soon after he was promoted to Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff.
General Powell has served
with distinction at every stage of his career. He credits his parents, wife
and family for giving him support and inspiration. Uppermost in his mind are
a keen sense of history and an appreciation for the sacrifices others have made
to prepare the way for him.
