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Colin PowellAmerican civil servant, former US Secretary of State
Date of Birth: 05.04.1937
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York, to Jamaican immigrants. His mother was a seamstress, and his father was a clothing vendor. Powell grew up in the South Bronx and graduated from Morris High School in 1954. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the City College of New York in 1958. Later, in 1971, Powell earned a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.
Military Career
While in college, Powell joined a Reserve Officer Training Corps program that provided him with a small scholarship. He decided to use the money to pursue his childhood interest in military affairs, rather than playing musical instruments, which he had abandoned earlier. Within two years at City College, he became the battalion commander.
Powell's military career officially began at age 21 at Fort Benning, where he underwent basic training and Ranger School after completing Officer Candidate School. He excelled in airborne training and was assigned to an armored division in Gelnhausen, Germany. His first mission there was to guard a nuclear-capable artillery piece.
As a First Lieutenant, Powell was sent to Fort Devens, Massachusetts. In 1961, his military contract expired, but he had no intention of quitting. Around this time, Powell met his future wife, Alma Johnson, on a double blind date. They married on August 25, 1962, before Powell was deployed to South Vietnam. The couple had a son, Michael, and two daughters.
After the war, Powell moved his family to Washington, D.C., where he earned his MBA and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. With his graduate degree, he secured a position in the Pentagon, which eventually led to a year-long White House Fellowship. This gave him the privilege of attending meetings with America's political elite. After the fellowship, Powell was assigned to Korea.
In November 1987, Ronald Reagan appointed Powell as National Security Advisor. In August 1989, George Bush nominated Powell to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Under Powell's leadership, the United States successfully executed Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf.
Political Career
As Secretary of State under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, Powell was the first African-American to hold the position. He became known for his "Powell Doctrine," which emphasized the use of overwhelming force in military operations.
In 2002, Powell faced criticism for his role in advocating for the invasion of Iraq. He reportedly nearly lost his job for insisting that the matter be taken before the United Nations.
After Barack Obama's election as President in 2008, Powell's name surfaced as a possible Cabinet nominee. However, he was not selected. Powell had previously declined a run for President in 1996, reportedly due to pressure from his wife, who threatened to divorce him if he sought the office.
Legacy and Recognition
Colin Powell received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1991. He also served as a distinguished visiting scholar at Syracuse University and a board member of several organizations. Powell's autobiography, "My American Journey," was published in 1995. He remained an influential voice in American foreign policy until his death in 2021.
