The first and only African American to serve on the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Luther Powell (born April 5, 1937) is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. Born in Harlem as the son of Jamaican immigrants, Powell’s military career included serving as National Security Advisor, Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War. Powell was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005 – another first, as he was the first African American to serve in that position.
Colin Powell
