welcome.
General Colin Luther Powell is a retired four-star general of the United
States Army and the first African American appointed to that position. He was also
the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. In 2001 he became the first
African American to serve as the 65th United States Secretary of State
(2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush.
Military Leader and Diplomat
General Colin Luther Powell is a retired four-star general of the United States Army and the first African American appointed to that position. He was also the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2001 he became the first African American to serve as the 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush.
Early Life
Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York. The son of Jamaican immigrants Luther and Maud Powell, Colin was raised in the South Bronx. Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, and graduated from Morris High School in 1954. He later went on to graduate from the City College of New York where he studied Geology.
Military Career
While in college Powell found his calling—in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He soon became commander of his unit. This experience set him on a military career and gave him a chance to be a leader. After graduating from college in 1958, Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After attending basic training at Fort Benning Georgia he was assigned to the 48th Infantry in West Germany as a platoon leader. He was one of 16,000 advisers sent to South Vietnam in 1962 by President John Kennedy. While patrolling the Vietnamese-Laotian border in 1963, he was wounded by a punji-stick booby trap. It was during this first tour of duty, that he was awarded a Purple Heart and, a year later, a Bronze Star.
While on his second Vietnam tour of duty from 1968 to 1969, Major Powell was injured in a helicopter crash. He managed to rescue his comrades from the burning helicopter, for which he was awarded the Soldier's Medal.
While still in the military Powell earned a MBA at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. In 1973 Colonel Colin Powell served a tour of duty in Korea as a battalion commander. After graduating from the Army War College, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded a brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. In 1987, Powell became national security adviser. General Powell fine-turned his leadership skills as he moved from his early years as a ROTC Cadet to a four star general.
In 1989, General Colin Powell was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs the highest military position in the Department of Defense. General Powell was the first African-American officer to receive this distinction. He became a national figure during Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations in Iraq. As chief military strategist, he developed what became known as the "Powell Doctrine," an approach to military conflicts that advocates using overwhelming force to maximize success and minimize casualties. The Powell Doctrine states that a list of eight questions all have to be answered affirmatively before maximum military action is taken. Below are the questions that should be answered:
General Colin Luther Powell is a retired four-star general of the United States Army and the first African American appointed to that position. He was also the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2001 he became the first African American to serve as the 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush.
Early Life
Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York. The son of Jamaican immigrants Luther and Maud Powell, Colin was raised in the South Bronx. Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, and graduated from Morris High School in 1954. He later went on to graduate from the City College of New York where he studied Geology.
Military Career
While in college Powell found his calling—in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He soon became commander of his unit. This experience set him on a military career and gave him a chance to be a leader. After graduating from college in 1958, Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After attending basic training at Fort Benning Georgia he was assigned to the 48th Infantry in West Germany as a platoon leader. He was one of 16,000 advisers sent to South Vietnam in 1962 by President John Kennedy. While patrolling the Vietnamese-Laotian border in 1963, he was wounded by a punji-stick booby trap. It was during this first tour of duty, that he was awarded a Purple Heart and, a year later, a Bronze Star.
While on his second Vietnam tour of duty from 1968 to 1969, Major Powell was injured in a helicopter crash. He managed to rescue his comrades from the burning helicopter, for which he was awarded the Soldier's Medal.
While still in the military Powell earned a MBA at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. In 1973 Colonel Colin Powell served a tour of duty in Korea as a battalion commander. After graduating from the Army War College, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded a brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. In 1987, Powell became national security adviser. General Powell fine-turned his leadership skills as he moved from his early years as a ROTC Cadet to a four star general.
In 1989, General Colin Powell was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs the highest military position in the Department of Defense. General Powell was the first African-American officer to receive this distinction. He became a national figure during Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations in Iraq. As chief military strategist, he developed what became known as the "Powell Doctrine," an approach to military conflicts that advocates using overwhelming force to maximize success and minimize casualties. The Powell Doctrine states that a list of eight questions all have to be answered affirmatively before maximum military action is taken. Below are the questions that should be answered:
- Is a vital national security interest threatened?
- Do we have a clear attainable objective?
- Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
- Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
- Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless
entanglement?
- Have the consequences of our action been fully
considered?
- Is the action supported by the American people?
- Do we have genuine broad international support?
After all of these questions were answered General Powell use of "overwhelming force" help to win the 1991 war against Iraq. The war accounted for one of the lowest casualty rate during American conflicts.
*General
Colin Powell was the Chairman of the Chief of Staffs during the Gulf War.
General Colin Powell has spent much of life inspiring many with his military leadership skills. He rose from the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1958 to becoming a Four Star General in 1989. As a soldier, he was committed to protecting the country and those who served under him. He had many support roles early in his career. His organizational talent and leadership skills were often recognized by those who placed him in key military positions and government advisory roles. As a leader, he developed his 13 rules of leadership that are widely used by leaders today.
General Colin Powell has spent much of life inspiring many with his military leadership skills. He rose from the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1958 to becoming a Four Star General in 1989. As a soldier, he was committed to protecting the country and those who served under him. He had many support roles early in his career. His organizational talent and leadership skills were often recognized by those who placed him in key military positions and government advisory roles. As a leader, he developed his 13 rules of leadership that are widely used by leaders today.
General Powell's
last military assignment, from October 1, 1989, to September 30, 1993, was as the
12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in
the Department of Defense. At age 52, he
became the youngest officer to serve in this position. He used his 13 rules of leadership to oversee
28 crises. During these crises, Powell
earned his nickname, "The Reluctant Warrior." He rarely used military intervention as the
first solution to an international crisis.
Instead he usually prescribed diplomacy as the first option. He has earned many awards, decorations,
medals, and ribbons as a leader.
General Colin
Powell retired as a four star general even though there was public and
Congressional pressure to award him a fifth star making him General of The
Army. His concern for human
life during international conflicts and his leadership roles during 28 crisis certifies General Powell as one of
our greatest military leaders.