The United States Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed General Charles Brown Jr as Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, making him the first Black officer to lead one of the nation’s military services.

Vice President Mike Pence presided over the historic 98-0 vote to confirm Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. to be Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Pence called the moment ‘historic’.

The vote came as the Trump administration struggles with the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

The US military has long been known for the lack of diversity among its leadership. According to the Pentagon’s latest figures, 18.7% of enlisted members of the military are black. But only 8.8% of officers are black, compared to 76.1% who are white.