Colin Powell, the first Black secretary of state and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died from COVID-19 complications. He was 84 years old. His family announced his death via a Facebook post, saying they lost a “remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American.” His family also noted that Powell was fully vaccinated.

Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York. His parents were Jamaican immigrants. He grew up in the South Bronx and eventually went to school at the City College of New York, participating in ROTC. He led the precision drill team and earned the top rank offered by the corps, which was cadet colonel. Powell said he liked the structure of the military and felt distinctive wearing a uniform.

Powell’s Early Career

Powell joined the Army in 1958, serving two tours in South Vietnam in the 1960s. He was wounded twice, including a helicopter crash where he rescued two fellow soldiers. After coming home from Vietnam, Powell stayed in the Army. He attended the National War College, rising in leadership. Powell also earned a promotion to brigadier general in 1979; After that, Powell gained an appointment as Ronald Reagan’s final national security adviser in 1987. He also worked with President George H.W. Bush in 1989 as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the youngest and the first Black man to hold this position.

In George H.W. Bush’s administration, Powell’s time included his involvement in some of the most notable American military activities of the late 20^th century, including the 1989 Panama operation, the 1991 Gulf War, and the U.S. humanitarian involvement in Somalia. During Powell’s military tenure, he received several awards. In 1989, Powell received his fourth star, becoming the second Black person to rise to that rank. In 1991, he received a Congressional Gold Medal and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Powell also received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He also received the President’s Citizens Medal.

First Black U.S. Secretary of State

Colin Powell was former president George W. Bush’s first cabinet selection when Bush nominated Powell for secretary of state. Ultimately, Powell was confirmed unanimously by the Senate due to his extensive knowledge in foreign policy and popularity. As Bush’s top diplomat, Powell’s mission was to build international support for the War on Terror, including the Afghanistan War. Although Powell’s career had its share of accolades, there was one incident that Powell would later call a blot on his career.

In 2003, Powell gave a speech in front of the United Nations where he offered evidence that the U.S. intelligence community said proved Iraq hid weapons of mass destruction. The United States went to war with Iraq six weeks after Powell’s speech. However, inspectors later found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Powell left the State Department in 2005, calling that speech a blot that will forever be on his record.

After leaving the Bush administration, Powell went back to regular life. In 2005, he joined the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, where he worked as a strategic adviser until his death. Powell spent most of his career working in and supporting Republican administrations. However, in his later years, he started supporting Democratic candidates. After the January 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection, Powell would renounce his Republican affiliation altogether.

Powell was never afraid to speak about his faith. He was raised in the Episcopal Church and led a youth ministry at his church. According to Powell, his faith led him to serve others and he spent his life doing so. Colin Powell is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alma Vivian Johnson-Powell, and three children.