Editing Colin Powell (section)

{{Short description|American general and diplomat (1937–2021)}}
{{hatnote group|
{{redirect-multi|2|General Powell|Secretary Powell}}
{{other people}}
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{{pp-move-indef}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Colin Powell official Secretary of State photo.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2001
| order               = 65th
| office              = United States Secretary of State
| President           = [[George W. Bush]]
| deputy              = [[Richard Armitage (government official)|Richard Armitage]]
| term_start          = January 20, 2001
| term_end            = January 26, 2005
| predecessor         = [[Madeleine Albright]]
| successor           = [[Condoleezza Rice]]
| order1              = 12th
| office1             = Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
| president1          = {{plainlist|
* [[George H. W. Bush]]
* [[Bill Clinton]]
}}
| deputy1             = {{plainlist|
* [[Robert T. Herres]]
* [[David E. Jeremiah]]
}}
| term_start1         = October 1, 1989
| term_end1           = September 30, 1993
| predecessor1        = [[William J. Crowe]]
| successor1          = [[John Shalikashvili]]
| order2              = 15th
| office2             = United States National Security Advisor
| president2          = [[Ronald Reagan]]
| deputy2             = [[John Negroponte]]
| term_start2         = November 23, 1987
| term_end2           = January 20, 1989
| predecessor2        = [[Frank Carlucci]]
| successor2          = [[Brent Scowcroft]]
| office3             = [[United States Deputy National Security Advisor]]
| president3          = Ronald Reagan
| term_start3         = December 2, 1986
| term_end3           = November 23, 1987
| predecessor3        = [[Peter Rodman]]
| successor3          = John Negroponte
| birth_name          = Colin Luther Powell
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1937|4|5}}
| birth_place         = New York City, U.S.<!--Per WP:OVERLINK "The names of subjects with which most readers will be at least somewhat familiar," including locations with NYC as an example, do not typically need to be linked)-->
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2021|10|18|1937|4|5}}
| death_place         = [[Bethesda, Maryland]], U.S.
| resting_place       = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| party               = {{plainlist|
* [[Independent politician|Independent]] (until 1995, 2021)
* [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (1995–2021)
}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Alma Powell|Alma Johnson]]|August 25, 1962}}
| children            = 3, including {{enum|[[Michael Powell (lobbyist)|Michael]]|[[Linda Powell|Linda]]}}
| education           = {{plainlist|
* {{nowrap|[[City College of New York]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])}}
* [[George Washington University]] ([[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])
}}
| signature           = Colin Luther Powell Signature.svg
| allegiance          = United States
| branch              = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears        = 1958–1993
| rank                = [[General (United States)|General]]
| unit                = {{plainlist|
* [[3rd Armored Division (United States)|3rd Armored Division]]
* [[23rd Infantry Division (United States)|23rd Infantry Division]]
}}
| commands            = {{indented plainlist|
* Chairman, [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
* [[United States Army Forces Command|U.S. Army Forces Command]]
* [[V Corps (United States)|V Corps]]
* 2nd Brigade, [[101st Airborne Division]]
}}
| battles             = {{plainlist|
* [[Vietnam War]]
* [[United States invasion of Panama|Invasion of Panama]]
* [[Gulf War]]
}}
| mawards             = {{see below| {{slink||Awards and decorations}}}}
}}

'''Colin Luther Powell'''<!-- Do not add KCB, see above.--> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|oʊ|l|ᵻ|n|_|ˈ|p|aʊ|ə|l}} {{Respell|KOH|lin|_|POW|əl}};{{efn|Despite his parents' pronunciation of his name as {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɒ|l|ᵻ|n}} {{Respell|KOL|in}}, Powell pronounced his name {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|oʊ|l|ᵻ|n}} {{Respell|KOH|lin}} from childhood on after the World War II flyer [[Colin Kelly]].<ref name=WashingtonPost_OnPolitcs2000>{{Cite news|access-date=April 30, 2010|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/elections/gop2000guide/powellpost.htm|title=Major Player: Gen. Colin L. Powell (Ret.)|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 28, 2000|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107095445/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/elections/gop2000guide/powellpost.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The preferred pronunciation of "Powell" rhymes with "bowel", not with "Joel".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Alexander|last=Chancellor|author-link=Alexander Chancellor|title=You Say Tomato|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=August 9, 1993|page=27}}</ref>}} {{Birth date|1937|4|5}} – {{Death date|2021|10|18}}) was an American diplomat<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state-who-made-case-for-iraq-invasion-dies-of-covid-complications-at-84.html|title=Colin Powell, trailblazing soldier and statesman who made case for Iraq invasion, dies of Covid at 84|last=Macias|first=Amanda|publisher=[[CNBC]]|date=October 19, 2021|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029082933/https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/10/18/colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state-who-made-case-for-iraq-invasion-dies-of-covid-complications-at-84.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and army officer who was the 65th [[United States secretary of state]] from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American to hold the office.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-10-19|title=Colin Powell: Former US secretary of state dies of Covid complications|language=en-GB |publisher=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58957273|access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref> He was the 15th [[National Security Advisor (United States)|national security advisor]] from 1987 to 1989, and the 12th [[chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] from 1989 to 1993.

Powell was born in New York City in 1937 to parents who immigrated from [[Colony of Jamaica|Jamaica]]. He was raised in the [[South Bronx]] and educated in the New York City public schools, earning a bachelor's degree in geology from the [[City College of New York]]. He joined the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] while at City College and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] on graduating in 1958. He was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding many command and staff positions and rising to the rank of [[four-star general]]. He was commander of the [[U.S. Army Forces Command]] in 1989.

Powell's last military assignment, from October 1989 to September 1993, was as Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, the highest military position in the [[United States Department of Defense]]. During this time, he oversaw twenty-eight crises, including the [[invasion of Panama]] in 1989 and [[Operation Desert Storm]] in the [[Persian Gulf War]] against Iraq in 1990–1991. He formulated the [[Powell Doctrine]], which limits American military action unless it satisfies criteria regarding American national security interests, overwhelming force, and widespread public support.{{sfn|LaFeber|2009}} He served as secretary of state under Republican president [[George W. Bush]]. As secretary of state, [[Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations Security Council|Powell gave a presentation to the United Nations Security Council]] regarding the [[rationale for the Iraq War]], but he later admitted that the speech contained substantial inaccuracies. He resigned after Bush was reelected in 2004.{{sfn|LaFeber|2009|p=71}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Powell resigns with three other Cabinet secretaries |website=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/15/powell/index.html |access-date=2024-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Secretary Powell's Letter of Resignation |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/38225.htm}}</ref>

In 1995, Powell wrote his autobiography, ''My American Journey'' and then in retirement another book titled, ''It Worked for Me: Lessons in Life and Leadership'' (2012). He pursued a career as a public speaker, addressing audiences across the country and abroad. Before his appointment as Secretary of State he chaired [[America's Promise]]. In the [[2016 United States presidential election]], Powell, who was not a candidate, [[Faithless electors in the 2016 United States presidential election|received three electoral votes]] from Washington state for the office of President of the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/21/colin-powell-places-third-presidential-race-electo/ |title=Colin Powell places third in presidential race at Electoral College |last=Richardson |first=Valerie|date=December 21, 2016|website=The Washington Times |access-date=October 19, 2018 |archive-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020011814/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/21/colin-powell-places-third-presidential-race-electo/ |url-status=live}}</ref> He won numerous U.S. and foreign military awards and decorations. His civilian awards included the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (twice), the [[Congressional Gold Medal]], the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]], and the [[Secretary's Distinguished Service Award]]. Powell died from complications of [[COVID-19]] in 2021, while being treated for a form of [[blood cancer]] that damaged his [[immune system]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=LLS Statement on the Death of Former Secretary of State Colin Powell |url=https://www.lls.org/news/lls-statement-death-former-secretary-state-colin-powell |access-date=2023-06-25 |publisher=Leukemia and Lymphoma Society}}</ref>