CQ Brown, Jr.

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• National Security
• Military Strategy
• Defense and Aerospace

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  CQ Brown, Jr.

  Susan McCaw Distinguished Visiting Fellow

  Short Bio

  Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. is the Susan McCaw Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2023–25. He earned his commission in 1984 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Texas Tech University with a degree in civil engineering.

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  Mid-Length Bio

  Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. is a strategic leader and global security expert whose career has centered on leading people, strengthening alliances, and driving change. He most recently served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2023–25), the nation’s highest‑ranking military officer and principal military advisor to the president, secretary of defense, and National Security Council. As chairman, he emphasized that honing warfighting skill must have primacy, championed bold modernization and new operating concepts, and underscored that trust remains the foundation of the military profession. He guided efforts to balance risk, align strategic processes, and advance joint force design for an evolving security environment.

  Previously, as chief of staff of the US Air Force, General Brown advanced his hallmark strategic approach: Accelerate Change or Lose. He empowered airmen through mission command, elevated data‑informed decision making, and deepened allied and partner interoperability under the Integrated by Design concept. A decorated F‑16 pilot, he commanded at every level and served across the United States, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Indo‑Pacific, building deep experience in coalition airpower and joint operations. Throughout these roles, he focused on cultivating future‑focused talent, aligning large organizations to execute under pressure, and building cultures of accountability and initiative.

  Brown is the Hoover Institution’s Susan McCaw Distinguished Visiting Fellow. He is an executive-in-residence at Duke University, jointly appointed in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Pratt School of Engineering. He is also a member of the RAND National Security Advisory Board and serves on the boards of directors of Bessemer Trust, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the Air & Space Forces Association. He is a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company and advises several private companies. Drawing on experience from the flight line to the White House Situation Room, he helps organizations and their leaders navigate uncertainty in complex, high-stakes environments, strengthen governance, and develop the next generation of leaders.

  Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He served as a national defense fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and inspired by the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, he remains committed to principled leadership, international collaboration, and preparation of leaders to make sound decisions under pressure.

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