Charles Young (March 12, 1864 — 1922) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and was the first African-American ever to obtain that rank.

Young was born in Mayslick , Kentucky, United States, the son of former slaves. His father enlisted as a private in the Fifth Regiment of the Colored Artillery (Heavy) Volunteers . When Young's parents moved across the river to Ripley, Ohio, he attended the white high school. He graduated at the age of 16 and was the first black to graduate with honors. Following graduation, he taught school in the black high school of Ripley.

While engaged in teaching, he had an opportunity to enter a competitive examination for appointment as a cadet at West Point. Young was successful, making the second highest score, and in 1883 reported to the military academy. Young graduated with his commission, the third black man to do so at that time. He was assigned to the Tenth and the Seventh Cavalry where he was promoted to first lieutenant. His subsequent service of 28 years was with black troops — the Twenty-fifth U.S. Infantry and the Ninth U.S. Cavalry .

In 1903 Young served as captain of a black company at Presidio, San Francisco . He was appointed acting superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant national parks, thus becoming the first black superintendent of a national park. He was responsible for the supervision of payroll accounts and directed the activities of rangers. Young's greatest impact on the park was road construction that helped to improve the underdeveloped park.

Due to his work ethic and perseverance, Young and his troops accomplished more that summer than the three military officers who had been assigned the previous three years. Captain Young and his troops completed a wagon road to the Giant Forest, home of the world's largest trees, and a road to the base of the famous Moro Rock. By mid-August, wagons of visitors were entering the mountaintop forest for the first time.

Young was transferred on November 2, 1903, and reassigned as troop commander at the Presidio. In his report to the Secretary of the Interior, he recommended the government acquire patented lands in the park. This recommendation was mentioned in legislation introduced in the United States House of Representatives. The Visalia, California, Board of Trade showed appreciation of his performance as the park's acting superintendent by presenting him with a citation.

On other military assignments, Young continued to persevere in a world of obstacles in his path. Despite segregation and discriminatory assignments, 1,300 blacks were commissioned officers. The highest-ranking black officer, and the first black to reach the rank of colonel, was Charles Young Arlington National Cemetery (Section 3, Grave 1730). Much controversy surrounded the medical retirement of Col. Young, who was the third black graduate of West Point. To protest his forced retirement, he rode his favorite horse, black jack from Ohio to Washington, D.C., to prove his stamina and appeal for reinstatement. Many people felt he was retired to prevent his eventual promotion to general officer during wartime expansion.

Colonel Young was not reinstated until a few days before the war ended. He died in 1922, while serving as military attache in Liberia. His memorial service was conducted in the Memorial Amphitheater with more than 5,000 people present. Young's memorial service is only one of 10 that have ever taken place in the marble Amphitheater.

Colonel Charles Young was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity Incorporated.