Senate approves first black military chief of staff

At the same time of the final memorial service for George Floyd in Houston, the U.S. Senate was voting unanimously on Tuesday to approve the first black officer to lead one of the nation's military services, as Gen. Charles Brown was confirmed 98-0 as the next Chief of Staff for the Air Force.

"We salute Gen. Brown for his distinguished service as he becomes the first black service member to lead a branch of the U.S. military," said Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI).

"A historic day for America!" President Trump tweeted from the White House.

Gen. Brown has most recently been the head of U.S. Air Force elements in the Pacific Ocean region; he started pilot training in 1985 and rose through the ranks through the years.

Maybe most notable about Brown's confirmation vote, was that the General issued a video this week discussing George Floyd's death - as the General spoke about how he had lived in 'two worlds' during his life.

"I'm thinking about a history of racial issues, and my own experiences, that didn't always sing of liberty and equality," Brown said.

In his video to fellow service members, the General also spoke of how - even after he had become a pilot - he encountered questions and skepticism, seemingly because he was an African-American.

"I'm thinking about the pressure I felt to perform error-free, especially for supervisors I perceive had expected less from me, as an African-American," the General added.

You can watch his remarks in the video link above.

Cox Media Group