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Ivan G Thompson
a book bubble about
The Air Force's Black DEI Myths
Politics & Social Sciences
Author Insight
A Public Lynching
My Air Force Academy classmate, David Allvin, the Air Force Chief of Staff, was asked to retire early. The media reports that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wanted to move in a different direction. I know that all our military leaders serve at the President/SECDEF’s discretion. The way it was handled was quiet, professional, and courteous, befitting a stellar officer who gave 40 years of his life in uniform and served in the Air Force’s most demanding role. Contrast that to the firing of General “C.Q.” Brown, former Air Force Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this chapter, I detail General Brown’s stellar career, and I also quote President Trump’s Oval Office remarks when he selected Brown to become the military’s 1st black Service Chief. I also share how Trump and Hegseth met with Brown before the inauguration at the Army-Navy game. If Trump and Hegseth wanted to move in a different direction, they could have asked him to retire. All the reasons cited for his firing happened before Hegseth took office. Instead, they let General Brown think their differences could be overcome and then fired him in the most public, disparaging, and humiliating way. General Brown was relegated to a private retirement without honors in civilian clothes. It likely won points with MAGAmerica but was totally unmerited and disgraceful. I’ve seen senior officers suffer less when forced to retire with demotion due to sexual indiscretion—this amounted to a public lynching.
Book Excerpt
The Air Force's Black DEI Myths
This is an excerpt from the chapter entitled:
General C.Q. Brown Was a “DEI Hire”
This is a transcript from the Oval Office ceremony in which President Trump swore in General Brown as the first black chief of a branch of service:
“THE PRESIDENT: So thank you very much everybody. This is very special. Charles Q. — I like that — Q. Brown, Jr. And you family is very proud of you. Your wife is very proud, your sons are very proud, and I’m very proud. And I’m proud to have you in the Oval Office. This was going to be in a different location, and there’s only one Oval Office. I said, ‘This is the big leagues, and we have to have you and your family over to celebrate.’ This is an incredible occasion.
There’s only one thing I worry about: Charles was confirmed 98 to nothing. That makes me a little bit concerned, right? Ninety-eight — (laughter). I’ve never heard — I’ve never heard that before. You understand what that means: 98 to nothing. So that’s an achievement.
But you have had an incredible career, and this is a capper, and I just want to congratulate you. And it’s an honor to have you in this very fabled office and to have you in the White House. And thank you very much for being here, and congratulations to you and your family on a job well done.
GENERAL BROWN: Thank you, Mr. President. My pleasure.
THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic job. Thank you. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
First of all, would you like to say something, Charles?
GENERAL BROWN: Well, first of all, I appreciate the honor to be back in the Oval Office. It was back on January 15th — I remember it well —
THE PRESIDENT: Right. Right.
GENERAL BROWN: — when I came here for my interview. And I appreciate the trust and confidence from you, the Vice President, Secretary Esper, and Secretary Barrett, General Goldfein, and the rest of the Air Force leadership.” (Oval Office, 2020)
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