Colin Luther Powell (born April 5, 1937) is an American statesman, diplomat, and four-star general who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. Powell was born in Harlem, New York City, to immigrant parents from Jamaica. He is also the first, and so far the only, person of African descent to serve as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, holding that position from 1989 to 1993 under U.S. Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Powell is known for his significant roles in U.S. foreign policy and military affairs. In Hebrew, his name is transliterated as קולין פאוול. In French, it is Colin Powell, and in Spanish, it is Colin Powell. Powell's tenure as Secretary of State was marked by his involvement in the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a decision that has been widely debated and criticized. Despite this, Powell remains a respected figure in American political and military history.
American general, diplomat and statesman (1937–2021)
Colin Luther Powell was an American Army general, diplomat, and statesman who was the 65th United States secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. Originally a member of the Republican Party, he was the first African-American to hold the office. He was the 15th national security advisor from 1987 to 1989, and the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993.