Michael Langley: US Senate expected to confirm Marines’ first Black four-star general in 246 years

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The Senate Armed Expert services Committee on Thursday held a affirmation listening to for Langley, who’s nominated to be the Commander of US Africa Command, which oversees the nation’s military services existence in Africa. If the Senate confirms him, he will be the Marines’ initially Black four-star standard. In the Marines’ 246-12 months background, 73 White males have achieved the four-star position.

“It is a great honor to be the President’s nominee to direct US AFRICOM,” Langley reported at Thursday’s affirmation listening to. “I’m grateful to the belief and self confidence prolonged by him.”

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Langley graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and has been in support with the Maritime Corps due to the fact 1985. The son of a US Air power veteran who served for 25 years, Langley has commanded at each individual level and served in various continents, being deployed to nations around the world like Japan and Afghanistan about the class of his profession.

Langley has numerous superior levels, together with a Masters in Countrywide Safety Strategic Reports from the US Naval War University as effectively as a Masters in Strategic Reports from the US Military War College or university.

Last 12 months, Stars and Stripes described that Langley was a single of only six Black generals in the Marines.

Black support users have engaged in every single American conflict courting back again to the American Revolution in the 18th century, with each branch owning distinctive insurance policies bordering racial segregation till President Harry Truman officially desegregated the armed forces in 1948.

In link with very long-standing racial disparities and variety troubles in the armed forces, some army officials have sought to deal with racial bias in the course of the armed forces.

A 2020 CNN review of facts provided by the Pentagon and Division of Veterans Affairs exposed the stark reality that Black provider members are a lot less most likely to turn into officers and, as a outcome, are a lot more possible to be critically hurt in the course of service relative to their White colleagues.

In his opening statements, Langley spoke to the tough international protection setting and the systemic effects of present-day world-wide tensions in Africa as perfectly as issues precisely experiencing the continent. He claimed he hopes the command proceeds to address difficulties of strategic competitiveness and extremism in Africa although integrating diplomatic endeavours.

“I am enthusiastic to engage across the complete govt to faithfully execute the insurance policies and orders of the President and the Secretary of Defense,” Langley said in the summary of his opening statements throughout the listening to.

CNN’s Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.

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