Charles Q. Brown is a real-life Maverick, the iconic fighter pilot portrayed by Tom Cruise in the mega-popular “Top Gun” movies.
Brown not only graduated as a young aviator from the Air Force Weapons School – the branch’s equivalent of the Navy’s Top Gun program – he later returned as an F-16 Fighting Falcon instructor. Then, in 2005, he was assigned to a two-year stint as commandant of the Weapons School, located at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
This is just one aspect of Brown’s remarkable military career, which also includes commanding two fighter wings and a squadron, and serving as the top general of the Air Force. He was eventually appointed chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, the highest-ranking officer of the entire American military, heading a panel consisting of the top commander of each uniformed branch.
Brown has flown more than 20 types of aircraft during his career, logging more than 3,100 flight hours including 130 combat hours. He’s received the Bronze Star, four Legions of Merit, three Defense Distinguished Service Medals, and numerous other decorations. Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of 2020, three years before he was appointed joint chairman.
Despite such an extensive record, current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth once questioned in writing whether Brown would have been appointed chairman if he wasn’t Black. “We’ll never know, but always doubt,” he wrote.
The irony of Hegseth, one of the most under-qualified individuals to ever be nominated to his post, questioning the merits of a guy as accomplished as Brown tells you everything you need to know about Trumpworld.
Last Friday evening (which is typically when politicians release announcements they wish to remain under the radar), Trump abruptly announced that Brown had been dismissed as joint chairman. He praised the fighter pilot as a “fine gentleman and an outstanding leader,” but provided no reason for his firing.
Now, when Hegseth assumed the role of defense secretary, he made a lot of noise about ridding the military of politics and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policies. The supposed goal, he and Trump have both claimed, was to ensure our nation’s leadership – and workforce in general – is based on merit.
However, the Trump administration is replacing Brown – an active-duty, four-star general – with a retired three-star general. For those who don’t know, that’s a pretty significant difference.
Brown headed the Air Force for three years prior to his appointment as joint chiefs chairman, and was the commanding officer of all Pacific air forces for two years before that. Dan Caine, his nominated successor, has never overseen a branch of our military, nor has he held a combatant command position. At least one of these qualifications are required to serve as joint chairman, under Title 10 of the United States Code.
But according to the president of the United States, Caine once told Trump he “loved” him, and then donned a MAGA hat.
Put it this way – if you already suspected Trumpworld’s anti-DEI policies are just an excuse for blatant and blanket racism, seeing a super-qualified Black general replaced by a less-qualified white guy during Black History Month probably confirmed your suspicion. Of course, Hegseth has banished Black History Month and other “identity” events from the Defense Department.
It was Trump who emphasized that Brown was the “first-ever African American military service chief,” after he nominated the celebrated fighter pilot to lead the Air Force back in 2020. He also called him “a Patriot” at the time.
By every indication, Caine also had an honorable and impressive military record as an Air Force fighter pilot. I just don’t know why he is more deserving of this position than Brown – other than being an apparent fan of Trump’s – when he doesn’t even meet the basic job requirement.
Hegseth once implied Brown was hired for his skin color; now he’s created similar questions regarding Caine. Both men deserve better. Unfortunately, Brown wasn’t the only casualty of last week’s politically inspired purge.
Adm. Lisa Franchetti was also fired as the Chief of Naval Operations, a post she’s essentially held since August 2023. Before taking on that role, at various times during her 40-year career Franchetti commanded the Sixth Fleet, two carrier strike groups and the destroyer USS Ross. She served as the Navy’s chief for warfighting development before her appointment as vice chief of naval operations in 2022.
She’s also the first woman in history to head the Navy, and the first female member of the joint chiefs of staff.
In addition, the Air Force’s second highest-ranking officer, Gen. James Slife, was also removed, as were the judge advocate generals of the Air Force, Navy and Army. For those who don’t know, JAG officials are the people who oversee the military justice system.
You might want to ask why Trumpworld foresees a need to impede our uniformed legal system.
Typically, when a military leader is relieved of command it’s due to performance – in this instance, no rationale was given for the removal of any of these career officers. What’s more, the Trump administration hasn’t even lined up replacements for anyone but Brown. Hegseth actually announced they are now “requesting nominations” for the positions.
Just hours before these political firings, a group of veterans serving in the U.S. House of Representatives – including Maine’s Jared Golden – released a letter to Hegseth demanding transparency in such actions. They noted that military members swear an oath to the Constitution, not an individual.
“An apolitical military is an essential component of our democracy and our national security,” they wrote.
That long-standing tradition is about to be bludgeoned, and I hope Congress is brave enough to take it on.
D. Allan Kerr recommends people view Gen. Brown’s kickass 2021 Air Force commercial if they want to know his views on DEI.
Kerr: Whitewashing of U.S. military is under way – Seacoastonline.com
