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General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret)
General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret) became the 65th Secretary of State on January
20, 2001. As he stated at his confirmation hearing, the guiding principle of U.S.
foreign policy during his tenure was that "America stands ready to help any country
that wishes to join the democratic world."
General Powell brought extensive experience with him to his office. Before becoming
Secretary of State, Colin Powell served as a key aide to the Secretary of Defense
and as National Security Advisor to President Reagan. He also served 35 years in
the United States Army, rising to the rank of Four-Star General and serving as Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989 – 1993). During this time he oversaw 28 crises
to include the Panama intervention of 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in the victorious
1991 Persian Gulf War.
Born in New York City on April 5, 1937, General Powell was raised in the South Bronx.
His parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica.
General Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from
Morris High School and the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor's
degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission
as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic
achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington
University.
General Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. military awards and decorations
including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the
Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service
Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal,
and the Purple Heart.
General Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the
President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Secretary of Energy
Distinguished Service Medal. He has received awards from over two dozen countries
to include a French Legion of Honor and an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
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. Established at the
Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in Philadelphia in April of 1997, and endorsed
by every living U.S. President, America’s Promise aims to ensure all children in
America have access to the fundamental resources needed to build and strengthen
them to become responsible, productive adults. He has also been a member of the
Board of Trustees of Howard University and the Board of Directors of UNCF. 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.
Since returning to private life, General Powell has become a strategic limited partner
at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital
firm. He is the Founder of the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at his alma
mater, the City College of New York, and he is helping to raise funds for the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC and for the construction of an education
center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. General Powell is the author of his best-selling
autobiography, My American Journey.
General Powell is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama.
The Powell family includes son Michael; daughters, Linda and Annemarie; daughter-in-law
Jane, and grandchildren Jeffrey, Bryan, Abigail and Patrick.
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