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

CNN
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Soon after extra than 35 several years in the US Maritime Corps., Lt. Gen. Michael Langley is established to be the very first Black basic to accomplish just one of the branch’s optimum rankings.

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday held a confirmation hearing for Langley, who’s nominated to be the Commander of US Africa Command, which oversees the nation’s armed forces presence in Africa. If the Senate confirms him, he will be the Marines’ first Black 4-star basic. In the Marines’ 246-12 months record, 73 White adult males have arrived at the 4-star rating.

“It is a wonderful honor to be the President’s nominee to lead US AFRICOM,” Langley reported at Thursday’s confirmation listening to. “I’m grateful to the have faith in and self esteem extended by him.”

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Langley graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and has been in services with the Maritime Corps considering that 1985. The son of a US Air pressure veteran who served for 25 a long time, Langley has commanded at each individual amount and served in several continents, becoming deployed to nations around the world like Japan and Afghanistan over the system of his career.

Langley has several state-of-the-art degrees, which include a Masters in Nationwide Security Strategic Experiments from the US Naval War School as effectively as a Masters in Strategic Scientific tests from the US Military War College.

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

Black service users have engaged in every American conflict dating again to the American Revolution in the 18th century, with each branch owning different insurance policies bordering racial segregation right up until President Harry Truman formally desegregated the military in 1948.

In relationship with extended-standing racial disparities and diversity challenges in the military services, some armed forces officers have sought to deal with racial bias in the course of the armed forces.

A 2020 CNN critique of information delivered by the Pentagon and Section of Veterans Affairs unveiled the stark truth that Black service associates are significantly less likely to turn out to be officers and, as a final result, are a lot more probable to be critically injured for the duration of assistance relative to their White colleagues.

In his opening statements, Langley spoke to the challenging international safety ecosystem and the systemic outcomes of existing international tensions in Africa as very well as worries especially dealing with the continent. He explained he hopes the command continues to deal with difficulties of strategic competition and extremism in Africa while integrating diplomatic efforts.

“I am enthusiastic to interact throughout the full authorities to faithfully execute the insurance policies and orders of the President and the Secretary of Protection,” Langley said in the conclusion of his opening statements throughout the hearing.