Colin Powell Fast Facts - CNN.com (CNN) -- Here's a look at the life of Colin Powell, former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Personal: Birth date: April 5, 1937 Birthplace: Harlem, New York Birth name: Colin Luther Powell Parents: Luther Powell, a shipping clerk Mother: Maud Ariel (McKoy) Powell, a seamstress Marriage: Alma Vivian (Johnson) Powell (August 25, 1962-present) Children: Annemarie Powell (May 1970); Linda Powell (April 1965); Michael Powell (March 1963) Education: City College of New York, B.S. in geology,1958; George Washington University, M.B.A.,1971; National War College, 1976 Military service: U.S. Army, 1958-1993, General Other Facts: Powell grew up in the South Bronx, the son of Jamaican immigrants. Powell participated in ROTC in college, leading the precision drill team and attaining the top rank offered by the corps, cadet colonel. Military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Soldier's Medal and two Purple Hearts. Civilian awards include the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal as well as receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice. Powell was the youngest man and first African-American to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. Timeline: June 1958 - Is commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army. 1960s - Serves two tours of duty in South Vietnam. 1963 - Powell is wounded while in Vietnam by a Vietcong booby trap. 1969 - Powell is wounded again in Vietnam in a helicopter crash. He rescues two other soldiers in the crash. 1972-1973 - As a White House fellow, works for Frank Carlucci, the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Caspar Weinberger. 1976-1977 - Commander of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. 1979 - Executive assistant to Charles Duncan, Jr., Secretary of Energy. 1979-1981 - Senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. 1981-1983 - Assistant division commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Ft. Carson, Colorado. 1983-1986 - Senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. 1986-1987 - Is assigned to U.S. Fifth Corps in Frankfurt, Germany. December 1987-January 1989 - National Security Advisor to President Ronald Reagan. 1989-1994 - Commander-in-chief of the Forces Command at Ft. McPherson, Georgia. October 1, 1989-September 30, 1993 - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the youngest man and first African-American to hold that position. 1991 - Oversees Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 1993 - Retires from the military a four-star general. 1993 - Is named honorary Knight Commander Most Honorable Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II. 1994 - Negotiates with military leaders of Haiti to allow the peaceful return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, ending the need for a U.S. invasion of the country. 1995 - Publishes his memoir, "My American Journey," with Joseph E. Persico. 1997 - Starts "America's Promise Alliance" to promote volunteerism and improving the lives of children. 1997 - The Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies (now the Colin L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service) is established at the City College of New York. July 30, 2000 - Gives the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in support of George W. Bush. January 20, 2001-January 26, 2005 - Serves as the 65th Secretary of State of the United States, the first African-American to hold that position. January 26, 2001 - Is sworn in as the 65th Secretary of State of the United States. February 5, 2003 - Powell addresses the United Nations Security Council to present the United States' case against Iraq under UN Resolution 1441 regarding weapons of mass destruction. December 15, 2003 - Undergoes surgery for prostate cancer at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He was diagnosed with the disease in late summer 2003. November 15, 2004 - The White House announces President Bush has accepted Powell's letter of resignation dated November 12. Letter states he will remain in office until his successor is confirmed. January 3, 2005 - Powell and Florida governor, and the president's brother, Jeb Bush, arrive in Bangkok, Thailand as their first stop of a four-day tour of the devastation in several countries affected by the December 26 tsunami. January 26, 2005 - Resignation becomes effective with the confirmation of Condoleezza Rice. 2005 - Joins the California venture capital firm of Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers as a "strategic limited partner." March 2006 - The National War College Foundation establishes the Colin Powell Chair for National Security, Leadership, Character and Ethics. Summer 2007 - Begins to speak out against the Bush administration's decision to go war against Iraq, the increase in troop strength in Iraq and the treatment of prisons at Guantanamo Bay. January 20, 2009 - Is one of the honorary co-chairs of President Barack Obama's inauguration. Powell had endorsed Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. February 3, 2010 - Powell reverses his stance on gays and lesbians in the military; his opposition to homosexuals in the military helped lead to the original "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the 1990s. 2012 - Publishes a second memoir, "It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership," with Tony Koltz.