For Memorial Day, we wanted to recognize the top African-American military officers in the U.S. armed forces who are serving their country with distinction, even as black officers in the military’s upper ranks remain a rarity.
Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III
In March, Army Gen. Austin became the 12th commander — and the first African American to hold the position — of Central Command in charge of U.S. military operations in the Middle East. The four-star general will oversee the withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan in 2014. Prior to taking over CENTCOM, he was the vice chief of staff of the Army and the last commanding general for U.S. forces in Iraq.
