FILE - Charles Quinton Brown Jr, U.S. general and chief of staff of the United States Air Force, smiles during his visit from Tactical Air Wing 73 "Steinhoff." (Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance via Getty Images)WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden will announce Thursday that he is tapping a history-making Air Force fighter pilot with years of experience in shaping U.S.
defenses to meet China’s rise to serve as the nation’s next top military officer, according to a senior administration official.The nomination of Air Force Gen.
CQ Brown Jr. has been long expected. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen.
Mark Milley, whose term ends in October. The official, who was not authorized to publicly comment, requested anonymity to preview the announcement.Biden is expected to unveil Brown as his pick during a Rose Garden event on Thursday afternoon, the official said.Brown's confirmation would mean that, for the first time, both the Pentagon’s top military and civilian positions would be held by African Americans.