Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is dead at the age of 84, the result of complications from COVID-19.

His family says he was fully vaccinated. Powell was a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, under both President George Bush and President Bill Clinton. He was born in New York City on April 5th, 1937, and was raised in the South Bronx. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica. In military life, he was stationed in Germany; Massachusetts; Kentucky; Kansas; and Colorado. He served two tours in Vietnam from 1962 to 1963 and 1968 to 1969. He was also a battalion commander in Korea from 1973 to 1974. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan named General Powell as the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.

General Powell was highly decorated, receiving the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He was also decorated by numerous foreign governments, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal and the Congressional Gold Medal, among others. Powell also received an honorary knighthood form the Queen of England in December of 1993.

Powell retired from the U.S. Army on September 30th, 1993. He is survived by his wife, Alma, and their three children.