Brown’s Affirmation Listening to for Chairman of Joint Chiefs to Be Held July 11
The long-awaited listening to to substantiate the subsequent Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees will start on July 11, when Air Drive Chief of Employees Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. is ready to testify earlier than the Senate Armed Providers Committee.
That morning, Brown will face the dais of 25 Senators, 4 years after the present Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees Military Gen. Mark A. Milley got here earlier than the SASC. Milley handed his roughly two-hour check, had his nomination authorized by voice vote in committee, and was swiftly confirmed to the position in an 89-1 vote on the Senate flooring simply two weeks after his listening to.
If confirmed by the Senate, Brown can be the primary Airman in 18 years to function commander-in-chief’s prime navy adviser. Brown mentioned he had a recreation plan for find out how to deal with the scrutiny: be himself.
“I’m who I’m,” Brown mentioned June 7 throughout an occasion at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Research occasion. “I take into consideration joint operations. I take into consideration fight functionality—how we are going to proceed to push ourselves to make sure we have now the capabilities to supply the nation what it asks us to do.”
Whereas Brown’s nomination has broad help in Congress from Democrats and Republicans, his affirmation will possible not be as simple.
Although Democrats narrowly management the Senate and have a 13-12 majority of the Democratic caucus within the SASC, Sen. Tommy Tuberville has positioned a maintain on all common and flag officer nominations to protest the Division of Protection’s reproductive well being insurance policies, which pays for service members to journey to hunt an abortion or different care, similar to in-vitro fertilization.
Tuberville’s workplace has mentioned that the maintain will apply to Brown, and it’s holding up the affirmation of different members nominated to be members of the Joint Chiefs.
“Uncertainty about incoming or outgoing commanders and senior leaders could make it troublesome to plan for or advance mission necessities,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Drive Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder mentioned July 6.
Nonetheless, the Senate can carry Brown up for a roll-call vote, and Milley’s time period doesn’t expire till the top of September.
Brown commanded air operations over the Center East as Air Forces Central commander and led Pacific Air Forces earlier than changing into Chief. He additionally commanded the Air Drive Weapons College and is a pilot with 3,000 hours of flying hours, together with 130 fight hours.
Brown is named a considerate chief. As Chief, Brown’s signature “Speed up Change or Lose” mantra, primarily aimed toward modernizing to satisfy China’s rising navy, is broadly in keeping with the priorities of the White Home, the Pentagon, and Congress.
Brown confronted no dissenting votes after being nominated by President Donald Trump to guide the Air Drive in 2020 and was confirmed 98-0 in a roll name vote.
However Brown’s nomination course of might run into obstacles this time, not less than within the brief time period, attributable to insurance policies that don’t have anything to do with Brown as Tuberville sits on the Senate Armed Providers Committee.
“I urge the Senate to as soon as once more verify Common Brown with the identical overwhelming bipartisan help for his new position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees,” Biden mentioned on Might 25 when unveiling his choose.
