Retired Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the former highest-ranking U.S. military officer who was fired by President Trump in February 2025, has joined Powerus, an artificial intelligence-enabled autonomous drone technology company partly owned by Trump’s two eldest sons. Brown will serve as senior adviser and executive-in-residence, advising the Florida-based company on defense strategy, autonomous systems deployment, and national security partnerships, according to a company announcement on March 24, 2026.
Brown’s appointment to Powerus marks a notable turn in his career after being abruptly removed from his post as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the firing at the time, telling Fox News that Brown was “not the right man for the moment.” In his new role, Brown said the pace of technological change determines military leadership, and that “companies that will define the future of American defense are the ones building real capability right now.”
Powerus was co-founded by former U.S. Army special operations veterans and produces autonomous drone systems for military and commercial use. The company is partially owned by President Trump’s sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., and has been competing aggressively for Pentagon contracts. In March 2026, Powerus announced it would merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a golf course operator, with Powerus continuing as the surviving entity.
Pentagon Contracts and Drone Program
The appointment comes as Powerus has secured significant Pentagon backing. On April 30, 2026, the company signed a weapons deal with the U.S. Air Force to supply an undisclosed number of interceptor drones following a demonstration at a facility in Arizona. The contract was a major win for the startup as it competes in the broader defense drone market.
In May 2026, Powerus was selected to compete in Phase II of the Pentagon’s $1 billion Drone Dominance Program, which aims to procure tens of thousands of low-cost, one-way attack drones. Brett Velicovich, Powerus co-founder and former special operations intelligence analyst, praised Brown’s expertise, saying his experience “means that the operational realities of the battlefield and the strategic vision of U.S. defense leadership are now embedded in everything we build.”
Brown’s background as the 22nd Chief of Staff of the Air Force and first African American to lead a military service branch brings significant credibility to Powerus’s efforts. Throughout his nearly 40 years in the Air Force, Brown commanded fighter squadrons, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and two fighter wings, while serving as a command pilot with over 3,100 flying hours, primarily in the F-16.
Sources
- Bloomberg — General Brown’s appointment to Powerus as senior adviser, company description, and his background as fired Joint Chiefs chairman
- The Hill — Brown’s role at Powerus, company details, Pentagon contract pursuit, and Powerus merger announcement
- GlobeNewswire — Powerus selection for Phase II of Pentagon’s $1 billion Drone Dominance Program in May 2026
- AP News — Powerus drone sales efforts and Pentagon contract details
