Charles Quinton Brown Jr. (born 1962) is a United States Air Force general who has served as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 1 October 2023.

His paternal grandfather, Robert E. Brown, was drafted in World War II and served in the Pacific Theater in Hawaii and Saipan.

[citation needed] Brown graduated in 1980 from Homer L. Ferguson High School in Newport News, Virginia and from Texas Tech University in Lubbock with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.

[6] Brown has served in a variety of positions at the squadron and wing level, including an assignment to the United States Air Force Weapons School as an F-16 instructor.

[6] Brown's career as a general officer began when he was appointed as commander of the 31st Fighter wing in Aviano Air Base, Italy.

As AFCENT commander, Brown oversaw all of Air Force operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, while also second-in-command of USCENTCOM.

[7][8] In July 2018, Brown was nominated to succeed General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy as commander of Pacific Air Forces.

As PACAF commander, Brown oversaw all of major United States Air Force operations within the Indo-Pacific region.

[9] On 2 March 2020, the White House announced that President Donald Trump would nominate Brown to become the next Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, succeeding General David L.

[10] On 9 June 2020, Brown was unanimously confirmed (98–0) by the United States Senate to succeed Goldfein as Chief of Staff of the US Air Force.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a longtime advocate for the tanker, participated in a demonstration flight at Joint Base Andrews.

[18] Considered a frontrunner for the position prior to his official nomination,[19][20] Brown was formally announced as President Joe Biden's nominee to succeed General Mark Milley as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 25 May 2023.