Colin L. Powell Military Leader

Colin Powell was born in New York City in 1937. He became a U.S. army general, the highest ranking African-American officer in U.S. history and chairman (1989-93) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He served two tours of duty (1962-63, 1968-69) during the Vietnam War and later served in both command (commander, 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 1976-77; commander, V Corps, Europe, 1986) and political (military assistant to the Deputy Defense Secy., 1979-81, and to the Defense Secy., 1983-86) positions.

From 1987 to 1989 he was President Reagan's national security adviser. In 1989 he was made a four-star general and was appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell played an influential role in the planning of U.S. strategy during the Persian Gulf War.