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 . In 1977 Powell was assigned to the Pentagon as an assistant to the deputy assistant secretary of defense. 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 troops for worldwide deployment and defending the US continent . Powell is a graduate of City College in New York and has an MBA from George Washington University in Washington . Wounded on both of his tours in Viet Nam , he holds 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 troops for worldwide deployment and defending the US continent . Powell is a graduate of City College in New York and has an MBA from George Washington University in Washington . Wounded on both of his tours in Viet Nam , he holds the Distinguished Service Medal , the Bronze Star , and the Purple Heart .