<P> Colin Luther Powell ( / ˈkoʊlɪn / ; born April 5 , 1937 ) is an American statesman and a retired four - star general in the United States Army . Powell was born in Harlem as the son of Jamaican immigrants . During his military career , Powell also served as National Security Advisor ( 1987 -- 1989 ) , as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command ( 1989 ) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( 1989 -- 1993 ) , holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War . Powell was the first , and so far the only , African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff . He was the 65th United States Secretary of State , serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005 , the first African American to serve in that position . </P>
<P> Colin Luther Powell ( / ˈkoʊlɪn / ; born April 5 , 1937 ) is an American statesman and a retired four - star general in the United States Army . Powell was born in Harlem as the son of Jamaican immigrants . During his military career , Powell also served as National Security Advisor ( 1987 -- 1989 ) , as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command ( 1989 ) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( 1989 -- 1993 ) , holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War . Powell was the first , and so far the only , African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff . He was the 65th United States Secretary of State , serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005 , the first African American to serve in that position . </P>
first black chairman of joint chiefs of staff
first black chairman of joint chiefs of staff
Colin Luther Powell
Colin Luther Powell