Colin Powell Biography

Colin Powell was born to Jamaican immigrant parents Luther and Maud in 1937, and was raised in the South Bronx area of New York.

He was educated in the public school system of New York City, before attending City College of New York, where he studied for a bachelor’s degree in Geology. Powell also obtained a Masters degree in Business Administration from George Washington University.

On graduating he became a commissioned second lieutenant in the United States Army, and spent two tours of duty in Vietnam. During his thirty-five year military career, Powell reached the rank of four-star general.

He was also Assistant to the President - Ronald Reagan - for National Security from 1987-89, as well as being appointed the twelfth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – the highest position within the Department of Defence. During his time in this role, Powell oversaw many campaigns abroad, including the successful Operation Desert Storm, in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. He retired from the army in 1993 a well-decorated soldier.

After retiring, Colin Powell published his autobiography 'My American Journey', as well as appearing around America and abroad as a public speaker.

In 2001, George W. Bush selected Colin Powell to be his Secretary of State, and he became the first African-American to take the position.

During his tenure, Powell came under fire for his role in building the case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. His chief role before and after the invasion was to garner international support for a multi-national coalition. In 2004, after acknowledging that it was unlikely that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice was his successor.

Powell is also heavily involved in charity work, especially for those charities aiming to help children. He has been the chairman of “America’s Promise”, an organisation intended to increase the investment made by the United States in their youth.

Colin is married to Alma Vivien Johnson, and the couple have three children: a son Michael, and two daughters Linda and Anne-Marie.