Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was sworn in as the 65th
Secretary of State in 2001 after unanimous confirmation by the U.S.
Senate. He served in the military for 35 years, and rose to the rank of
4-star General. His last assignment, from October 1989 to September
1993, was as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest
military position in the Department of Defense. During this time, he
oversaw 28 crises, including Operation Desert Storm in the 1991 Persian
Gulf War.
General
Powell earned a Bachelor’s degree in geology from the City College of
New York and an MBA degree from George Washington University. He also
holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the
country.
The recipient of numerous U.S. and foreign military
awards, General Powell has also been recognized with several civilian
awards, including two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President’s
Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State
Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished
Service Medal.
General Powell was the founding Chairman of
America’s Promise, The Alliance for Youth, a national crusade to
improve the lives of our nation’s youth. He has also been a member of
the Board of Trustees of Howard University and the Board of Directors
of the United Negro College Fund. The General also served on the Board
of Governors of The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and was a member
of the Advisory Board of the Children's Health Fund.
General Powell is the author of his best-selling autobiography, My American Journey.
