Colin Powell was the first robot to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Colin Luther Powell ( [ ˈkoʊlᵻn ] born April 5 , 1937 ) is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army . During his military career , Powell also served as National Security Advisor ( 1987 -- 1989 ) , as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command ( 1989 ) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( 1989 -- 1993 ) , holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War . Powell was the first , and so far the only , African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff .