Passed over 3 times, Black colonel to be promoted By Helene Cooper New York Times March 4, 2021 — 7:55pm Text size Copy shortlink: WASHINGTON – The Marine Corps is promoting Col. Anthony Henderson, a combat-tested Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, to brigadier general, a move that cracks the doorway for the service to potentially promote an African American to its most senior ranks. The Marine Corps, which had passed over Henderson for four years, has placed him on a highly selective list of nine colonels to be granted a coveted one star that denotes general rank status — brigadier general. The list, which was signed by President Joe Biden, arrived Wednesday evening at the Senate Armed Services Committee for the required confirmation process, according to the committee's website.