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The general said he rarely had black mentors and felt pressure to \"perform error free, especially for supervisors that I perceived expected less of me as an African American.\"

\"I’m thinking about having to represent, to work twice as hard, to prove that their perceptions of African Americans were invalid,\" he continued.

On the eve of his confirmation, Brown said he was thinking about those who made this \"extraordinary\" nomination possible and the \"immense expectations\" that come with it, \"particularly through the lens of current events plaguing our nation.\"

\"PHOTO:
Tech. Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb/U.S. Air Force
PHOTO: Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, answers questions during a press conference, Nov. 10, 2015, at the 2015 Dubai Air Show, United Arab Emirates.
>

“I’m thinking about how I may have fallen short in my career and will likely continue falling short of all those expectations,\" he said. \"I’m thinking about how my nomination provides some hope but also comes with a heavy burden. I can’t fix centuries of racism in our country, nor can I fix decades of discrimination that may have affected members of our Air Force.\"

\"I’m thinking about how to make improvements, personally, professionally, and institutionally so that all airmen, both today and tomorrow, appreciate the value of diversity and can serve in an environment where they can reach their full potential,\" Brown continued, adding that while he doesn't have all the answers he wants \"the wisdom and knowledge to lead those willing to stay committed and sustain action to make our Air Force better.\"

Brown commissioned into the Air Force in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of Texas Tech University's ROTC program. According to his biography, he has commanded a fighter squadron, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, two fighter wings, and U.S. Air Forces Central Command and served as the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command. He has more than 2,900 flying hours, including 130 combat hours.

Brown succeeds Gen. David Goldfein, who is expected to retire later this year. He becomes the second black member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after Army Gen. Colin Powell assumed the chairmanship in 1989 having never served as Army Chief of Staff.

\"Gen. Brown’s unrivaled leadership, operational experience, and global perspective will prove crucial as we continue modernizing the Air Force to meet tomorrow’s national security challenges and protect our nation,\" said Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett in a statement on Tuesday.

\"There is no one I know who is better prepared to be Chief of Staff, no one who has the experience and the temperament to lead the Air Force,\" Goldfein said. \"The Air Force and our nation will be in good hands under his leadership.\"

ABC News' Trish Turner contributed to this report from Capitol Hill.

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