President Reagan will nominate national security adviser Colin Powell for promotion to four-star rank and the post of commander-in-chief of the Army's Forces Command, the White House and Pentagon announced today. The promotion would make the 51-year-old Powell, now a lieutenant general with three stars, the fourth black officer to attain four-star rank in the U.S. armed forces. One of those four is currently on active duty _ Air Force Gen. Bernard P. Randolph. The promotion requires Senate confirmation. In the new post, Powell would be in charge of all the Army troops in the continental United States. The command is headquartered at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta and has traditionally been a major career stepping stone for senior Army commanders. ``President Reagan has the highest respect and affection for General Powell and wishes him all success in his Army career,'' White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said in announcing the nomination. He noted that Powell and Reagan ``have had a close personal relationship.'' ``He was the general who guided preparations for the Gorbachev summits, who helped restructure and give new direction to the National Security Council following the Iran Contra investigation, and who, by his personal integrity and commitment, has restored confidence in the National Seucirty Council itself,'' Fitzwater told reporters. ``General Powell has been a friend and colleague whose advice and counsel have been valued by all members of the White House staff. He is a man of rare quality and distinction,'' the spokesman added. The spokesman said that Powell is expected to assume command in April, 1989, when the current commander, Gen. Joseph T. Palastra Jr., retires. Palastra has held the post since June 1986 and is retiring after 35 years of active military service. After leaving the White House Powell plans to visit a number of army units before assuming his command, Fitzwater said. The spokesman said Powell's new job includes preparing soldiers for world-wide deployment and to defend the U.S. continent. The upcoming promotion was first reported Thursday by the Cox News Service and confirmed a short while later by administration officials. The Pentagon later released a short statement announcing President Reagan's intent to nominate Powell for the job. Sources at the Pentagon said the FORSCOM position was one of the few Army four-star posts scheduled to open in the next few months. Powell succeeded Frank C. Carlucci as President Reagan's national security adviser after Carlucci was tapped to replace the retiring Caspar W. Weinberger. Carlucci was called back to government service by President Reagan to replace Navy Rear Adm. John M. Poindexter in the wake of the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages affair. Carlucci immediately recruited Powell as his deputy, drawing him away from a major command in Europe, and Powell moved up to the top White House spot after Carlucci's move to the Pentagon. Powell is a graduate of City University in New York and received an MBA degree from George Washington University in Washington. Commissioned in the infantry, he was wounded during both of his two tours in Vietnam, once falling into a trap lined with sharpened bamboo sticks, impaling a foot. In 1977 Powell was assigned to the Pentagon as an assistant to the deputy assistant secretary of defense. While later serving as an assistant to Carlucci in the National Security Council, Powell received his first star. He went on to become military assistant to Weinberger before a stint as commander of the Army's Fifth Corps in Europe. Powell's decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
President Reagan will nominate National Security Advisor Colin Powell for promotion to four-start rank and the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Army's Forced Command. This would make the 51-year old Powell the fourth black officer to attain four-start rank in the US armed forces. The new job includes preparing soldiers for worldwide deployment and defending the US continent. Powell is a graduate of City University in New York and has an MBA from George Washington University in Washington. Powell, who served as Secretary of State under Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, was nominated by President Bush on April 11, 2001.