Colin Powell

Biography

In 2001, under President George Bush, General Colin Powell, became the first African-American to be appointed as United States Secretary of State.

Powell served in the Korean War as a Lieutenant Colonel and as executive officer and later assistant chief of staff of operations for the 23rd Infantry Division – with the rank of Major – during the Vietnam War. A professional soldier for 35 years, he held a variety of command and staff positions, rising to the rank of General.

Powell obtained an MBA in 1971, then served a White House fellowship under President Richard Nixon. In the eighties, Powell served at Fort Carson, Colorado before becoming senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. From 1987 to 1989 he became Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor. He was then promoted to 4-star General under President George W. Bush and served as Commander-in-Chief (CINC) of the U.S. Army's Forces Command.

In 1989, he became only the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without having been a divisional commander. He has overseen several military crises most notably the invasion of Panama in 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

In 1997 Powell established America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, a nonprofit organization to help needy and at-risk children.

Career Highlights

Links

America’s Promise – aimed at improving the life of America’s at-risk and needy children