Gen CQ Brown, Jr. , USAF, Retired

Supporter
DISC Type : s

Executive-in-Residence at Duke University

Tampa, Florida, United States

Overview

Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. is a retired 40-year Air Force veteran who served as the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nations highest-ranking military officer. A distinguished engineering graduate from Texas Tech University, he now holds an executive-in-residence appointment at Duke University, advising on leadership and national security.

He is a command pilot with over 3, 000 flying hours and values his roles as a husband and father above all. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys NFL football, exploring good food, and smoking brisket. His personal motto is, "Every Day is a Good Day, Just Some Days are Better. "

Unique fact: He was the first African American to lead any branch of the U. S. military, serving as the 22nd Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Personality Overview

Risk-averse

Calm

Thoughtful In Approach

They prefer to follow rules and procedures.  They are unlikely to become strong champions as they don't prefer pushing other people. They are motivated by the potential impact of their decision on the organization.

Topics They Care About

Accelerating Change
Authored the strategic doctrine "Accelerate Change or Lose, " a core philosophy he championed as Air Force Chief of Staff to modernize the force against future threats.
Strategic Leadership
His career has centered on strategic planning and global operations, culminating in his role as principal military advisor to the President and National Security Council.
Mentorship & Development
Frequently speaks on developing future leaders, empowering them to make decisions, and creating opportunities, reflecting on his own journey and the mentors who guided him.

Media Appearances

Gen has no verified media appearances

Work History

7-2025
Executive-in-Residence at Duke University
7-2025
Keynote Speaker at Leading Authorities, Inc.
9-2025
Advisor & Consultant at Resilience
7-2025
Senior Advisor to at McKinsey & Company
7-2025
Member Board of Directors at Bessemer Trust

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University
Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 1 Location : Tampa, Florida, United States Job Level : Junior Designation : Executive-in-Residence at Duke University
URL has been copied!

Insights For Selling To Gen CQ

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Show willingness to accommodating their needs or requests
  • Pause and ask them if they have any questions
  • Use phrases like ‘others say that’, ‘zero risk in’, ‘seen proof of’ etc.

DONT's

  • Don’t rush them to make quick decisions
  • Avoid saying anything that sounds like a risky proposition
  • Don’t don the salesperson avatar, be the friendly advisor instead

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Gen CQ is

  • Low-risk, go-ahead from other stakeholders and successful evaluation as per process matter the most to them.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Gen CQ

  • They don’t say no very often, and can take you around in circles sometimes.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Gen CQ move?

  • They do not like to rush and can be quite slow in their decision making.

  • Can Gen CQ take some risk or not?

  • They have little risk-appetite and prefer to take decisions that others support.

You And Gen CQ

Personality Compatibility


Other Duke University Employees

Explore more public profiles from related professionals at the same organization.

More Profiles

Discover additional public profiles from our index.

Search more profiles

Looking for someone else? Search here for anyone.

Or visit Humantic AI to know more.