Chief of Staff of the United States Army

The chief of staff of the Army (CSA) is a statutory position in the United States Army held by a general officer. As the highest-ranking officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, the chief is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the secretary of the Army. In a separate capacity, the CSA is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (10 U.S.C. § 151) and, thereby, a military advisor to the National Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the president of the United States. The CSA is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty in the U.S. Army unless the chairman or the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are Army officers.

Chief of Staff of the Army
Army Staff Identification Badge
Flag of the Chief of Staff
Incumbent
General James C. McConville

since 9 August 2019
Department of the Army
Army Staff
TypeUnited States Army service chief
AbbreviationCSA
Member ofJoint Chiefs of Staff
Reports toSecretary of the Army
ResidenceQuarters 1, Fort Myer
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length4 years
Renewable one time, only during war or national emergency
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 3033
PrecursorCommanding General of the Army
Formation15 August 1903
First holderLTG Samuel B. M. Young
DeputyVice Chief of Staff of the Army
Websitewww.army.mil

The chief of staff of the Army is an administrative position based in the Pentagon. While the CSA does not have operational command authority over Army forces proper (which is within the purview of the Combatant Commanders who report to the Secretary of Defense), the CSA does exercise supervision of army units and organizations as the designee of the Secretary of the Army.

The 40th and current Chief of Staff of the Army is General James C. McConville.

Appointment

The chief of staff of the Army is nominated by for appointment by the president, for a four-year term of office,[1] and must be confirmed by the Senate.[1] The chief can be reappointed to serve one additional term, but only during times of war or national emergency declared by Congress.[1] By statute, the chief is appointed as a four-star general.[1]

The chief has an official residence, Quarters 1 at Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, Virginia.

Responsibilities

The senior leadership of the Department of the Army consists of two civilians—the secretary of the Army (head of the department and subordinate to the secretary of defense) and the under secretary of the Army—and two military officers—the chief of staff of the Army and the vice chief of staff of the Army.

The chief reports directly to the secretary of the Army for army matters and assists in the Secretary's external affairs functions, including presenting and enforcing army policies, plans, and projections. The chief also directs the inspector general of the Army to perform inspections and investigations as required. In addition, the chief presides over the Army Staff and represents Army capabilities, requirements, policy, plans, and programs in Joint forums.[2] Under delegation of authority made by the secretary of the Army, the chief designates army personnel and army resources to the commanders of the unified combatant commands.[3] The chief performs all other functions enumerated in 10 U.S.C. § 3033 under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Army, or delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in his administration in his name. Like the other service counterparts, the chief has no operational command authority over army forces, dating back to the passage of the Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958. The chief is served by a number of Deputy Chiefs of Staff of the Army, such as G-1, Personnel. The chief's base pay is $21,147.30 per month and also received a Personal Money Allowance (Monthly Amount) of $333.33, a basic allowance for subsistence of $253.38, and a basic allowance for housing from $50.70 to $1923.30.

History

Until 1903, the senior military officer in the army was the Commanding General of the United States Army, who reported to the Secretary of War. From 1864 to 1865, Major General Henry Halleck (who had previously been Commanding General) served as "Chief of Staff of the Army" under the Commanding General, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, thus serving in a different office and not as the senior officer in the army.

The first chief of staff moved his headquarters to Fort Myer in 1908.

List of chiefs of staff of the Army

The rank listed is the rank when serving in the office.

No. Portrait Name Term Background Secretaries served under: Ref.
Took office Left office Duration War / Army Defense
1
Young, Samuel Baldwin MarksLieutenant General
Samuel B. M. Young
(1840–1924)
15 August 19038 January 1904146 daysCavalryElihu Root[4]
2
Chaffee, AdnaLieutenant General
Adna R. Chaffee
(1842–1914)
9 January 190414 January 19062 years, 5 daysCavalryElihu Root
William Howard Taft
[4]
3
Bates, JohnLieutenant General
John C. Bates
(1842–1919)
15 January 190613 April 190689 daysInfantryWilliam Howard Taft[4]
4
Bell, JamesMajor General
J. Franklin Bell
(1856–1919)
14 April 190621 April 19104 years, 7 daysCavalryWilliam Howard Taft
Luke Edward Wright
Jacob M. Dickinson
[4]
5
Wood, LeonardMajor General
Leonard Wood
(1860–1927)
22 April 191021 April 19143 years, 364 daysMedical and cavalryJacob M. Dickinson
Henry L. Stimson
Lindley Miller Garrison
[4]
6
Wotherspoon, WilliamMajor General
William W. Wotherspoon
(1850–1921)
22 April 191416 November 1914208 daysInfantryLindley Miller Garrison[4]
7
Scott, HughMajor General
Hugh L. Scott
(1853–1934)
17 November 191422 September 19172 years, 309 daysCavalryLindley Miller Garrison
Newton D. Baker
[4]
8
Bliss, TaskerGeneral
Tasker H. Bliss
(1853–1930)
23 September 191719 May 1918238 daysField artilleryNewton D. Baker[4]
9
March, PeytonGeneral
Peyton C. March
(1864–1953)
20 May 191830 June 19213 years, 41 daysField artilleryNewton D. Baker
John W. Weeks
[4]
10
Pershing, JohnGeneral of the Armies
John J. Pershing
(1860–1948)
1 July 192113 September 19243 years, 74 daysCavalryJohn W. Weeks[4]
11
Hines, JohnMajor General
John L. Hines
(1868–1968)
14 September 192420 November 19262 years, 68 daysInfantryJohn W. Weeks
Dwight F. Davis
[4]
12
Summerall, CharlesGeneral
Charles P. Summerall
(1867–1955)
21 November 192620 November 19303 years, 364 daysInfantry and artilleryDwight F. Davis
James William Good
Patrick J. Hurley
[4]
13
MacArthur, DouglasGeneral
Douglas MacArthur
(1880–1964)
21 November 19301 October 19354 years, 315 daysInfantry and engineersPatrick J. Hurley
George Dern
[4]
14
Craig, MalinGeneral
Malin Craig
(1875–1945)
2 October 193531 August 19393 years, 333 daysInfantry and cavalryGeorge Dern
Harry Hines Woodring
[4]
15
Marshall, GeorgeGeneral of the Army
George C. Marshall
(1880–1959)
1 September 193918 November 19456 years, 78 daysInfantryHarry Hines Woodring
Henry L. Stimson
Robert P. Patterson
[4]
16
Eisenhower, DwightGeneral of the Army
Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1890–1969)
19 November 19456 February 19482 years, 79 daysInfantryRobert P. Patterson (of War)
Kenneth Claiborne Royall
(of War, 1947; of the Army, 1947–1949)
James Forrestal
(from Sep. 1947)
[4]
17
Bradley, OmarGeneral
Omar Bradley
(1893–1981)
7 February 194815 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]1 year, 189 daysInfantryKenneth Claiborne Royall
Gordon Gray
James Forrestal
Louis A. Johnson
[4]
18
Collins, JosephGeneral
J. Lawton Collins
(1896–1987)
16 August 1949[lower-alpha 2]14 August 19533 years, 363 daysInfantryGordon Gray
Frank Pace
Robert T. Stevens
Louis A. Johnson
George C. Marshall
Robert A. Lovett
Charles Erwin Wilson
[4]
19
Ridgway, MatthewGeneral
Matthew B. Ridgway
(1895–1993)
15 August 195329 June 19551 year, 319 daysInfantry and airborneRobert T. StevensCharles Erwin Wilson[4]
20
Taylor, MaxwellGeneral
Maxwell D. Taylor
(1901–1987)
30 June 195530 June 1959[lower-alpha 3]4 years, 0 daysAirborne and field artilleryRobert T. Stevens
Wilber M. Brucker
Charles Erwin Wilson
Neil H. McElroy
[4]
21
Lemnitzer, LymanGeneral
Lyman L. Lemnitzer
(1899–1988)
1 July 1959[lower-alpha 2]30 September 1960[lower-alpha 1]1 year, 91 daysInfantry and coast artilleryWilber M. BruckerNeil H. McElroy
Thomas S. Gates Jr.
[4]
22
Decker, GeorgeGeneral
George H. Decker
(1902–1980)
1 October 1960[lower-alpha 2]30 September 19621 year, 364 daysInfantryWilber M. Brucker
Elvis Stahr Jr.
Cyrus Vance
Thomas S. Gates Jr.
Robert McNamara
[4]
23
Decker, GeorgeGeneral
Earle G. Wheeler
(1908–1975)
1 October 19622 July 1964[lower-alpha 1]1 year, 275 daysInfantry and armorCyrus Vance
Stephen Ailes
Robert McNamara[4]
24
Johnson, HaroldGeneral
Harold K. Johnson
(1912–1983)
3 July 19642 July 19683 years, 365 daysInfantry and cavalryStephen Ailes
Stanley Rogers Resor
Robert McNamara
Clark Clifford
[4]
25
Westmoreland, WilliamGeneral
William C. Westmoreland
(1914–2005)
3 July 196830 June 19723 years, 363 daysAirborne and field artilleryStanley Rogers Resor
Robert Froehlke
Clark Clifford
Melvin Laird
[4]
Palmer, BruceGeneral
Bruce Palmer Jr.
(1913–2000)
Acting
[lower-alpha 4]
1 July 197211 October 1972102 daysInfantry and cavalryRobert FroehlkeMelvin Laird[4]
26
Abrams, CreightonGeneral
Creighton W. Abrams Jr.
(1914–1974)
12 October 19724 September 1974 1 year, 327 daysArmorRobert Froehlke
Bo Callaway
Melvin Laird
Elliot Richardson
James R. Schlesinger
[4]
Vacant
(4 September 1974 – 3 October 1974)
27
Weyand, FrederickGeneral
Frederick C. Weyand
(1916–2010)
3 October 197430 September 19761 year, 363 daysInfantry and intelligenceBo Callaway
Martin R. Hoffmann
James R. Schlesinger
Donald Rumsfeld
[4]
28
Rogers, BernardGeneral
Bernard W. Rogers
(1921–2008)
[lower-alpha 5]
1 October 197621 June 19792 years, 263 daysInfantryMartin R. Hoffmann
Clifford Alexander Jr.
Donald Rumsfeld
Harold Brown
[4]
29
Meyer, EdwardGeneral
Edward C. Meyer
(1928–2020)
22 June 197921 June 19833 years, 364 daysInfantry and airborneClifford Alexander Jr.
John O. Marsh Jr.
Harold Brown
Caspar Weinberger
[4]
30
Wickham, JohnGeneral
John A. Wickham Jr.
(born 1928)
23 June 1983[lower-alpha 2]23 June 19874 years, 0 daysInfantry and cavalryJohn O. Marsh Jr.Caspar Weinberger[4]
31
Vuono, CarlGeneral
Carl E. Vuono
(born 1934)
23 June 198721 June 19913 years, 363 daysField artilleryJohn O. Marsh Jr.
Michael P. W. Stone
Caspar Weinberger
Frank Carlucci
Dick Cheney
[4]
32
Sullivan, GordonGeneral
Gordon R. Sullivan
(born 1937)
21 June 1991[lower-alpha 2]20 June 19953 years, 364 daysArmor and mechanized infantryMichael P. W. Stone
Togo D. West Jr.
Dick Cheney
Les Aspin
William Perry
[4]
33
Reimer, DennisGeneral
Dennis J. Reimer
(born 1939)
20 June 199521 June 19994 years, 1 dayArtillery and mechanized infantryTogo D. West Jr.
Louis Caldera
William Perry
William Cohen
[4]
34
Shinseki, EricGeneral
Eric K. Shinseki
(born 1942)
[lower-alpha 6]
21 June 1999[lower-alpha 2]11 June 20033 years, 355 daysCavalryLouis Caldera
Thomas E. White
William Cohen
Donald Rumsfeld
[4]
35
Schoomaker, PeterGeneral
Peter J. Schoomaker
(born 1946)
[lower-alpha 7]
1 August 200310 April 20073 years, 252 daysSpecial operationsFrancis J. Harvey
Pete Geren
Donald Rumsfeld
Robert Gates
[4]
36
Casey, GeorgeGeneral
George W. Casey Jr.
(born 1948)
10 April 200711 April 20114 years, 1 dayArmor and mechanized infantryPete Geren
John M. McHugh
Robert Gates[5]
37
Dempsey, MartinGeneral
Martin E. Dempsey
(born 1952)
11 April 20117 September 2011[lower-alpha 1]149 daysArmor and armored
cavalry
John M. McHughRobert Gates
Leon Panetta
[6]
38
Odierno, RaymondGeneral
Raymond T. Odierno
(1954–2021)
7 September 201114 August 20153 years, 341 daysArmor and field artilleryJohn M. McHughLeon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter
[7]
39
Milley, MarkGeneral
Mark A. Milley
(born 1958)
14 August 20159 August 2019[lower-alpha 1]3 years, 360 daysArmor and light infantryJohn M. McHugh
Eric Fanning
Mark Esper
Ryan D. McCarthy
Ash Carter
Jim Mattis
Mark Esper
[8]
40
McConville, JamesGeneral
James C. McConville
(born 1959)
9 August 2019[lower-alpha 2]Incumbent3 years, 77 daysAviation and cavalryRyan D. McCarthy
Christine Wormuth
Mark Esper
Lloyd Austin
[9]

Timeline

Eric ShinsekiWilliam WestmorelandMaxwell D. TaylorMatthew RidgwayOmar BradleyGeorge C. MarshallDouglas MacArthurJohn J. PershingLeonard Wood

See also

  • Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
  • Army Staff Senior Warrant Officer
  • Sergeant Major of the Army

References

Citations

  1. Law.cornell.edu, 10 USC 3033. Chief of Staff
  2. "General George Casey - Chief of Staff Army". Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  3. Law.cornell.edu, 10 USC 165. Combatant commands: administration and support
  4. Bell 2005, p. 186-187.
  5. Leopold, J.D. (10 April 2007). "Gen. George W. Casey Jr. Becomes Army Chief of Staff". U.S. Army. Army News Service. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. Garamone, Jim (12 April 2011). "Dempsey lays out themes for tenure as Army chief". U.S. Army. American Forces Press Service. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. Smith, Derek (9 September 2011). "Familiar face accepts new role: Gen. Odierno becomes Army Chief of Staff". U.S. Army. 362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. Callahan, Guv (20 August 2015). "The new boss: Army welcomes Milley on JBM-HH and says goodbye to a 'moral giant'". U.S. Army. Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. Dickstein, Corey (9 August 2019). "McConville, Grinston sworn in as Army's top uniformed soldiers". Stars & Stripes. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

Notes

  1. Appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  2. Served prior as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
  3. Appointed Military Representative of the President from 1959 to 1962; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1962 to 1964.
  4. In capacity as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
  5. Last World War II veteran to serve as Chief of Staff.
  6. Last Vietnam War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff.
  7. Recalled to active duty to serve as Chief of Staff. Schoomaker previously served as Commander in Chief, United States Special Operations Command from 1997 to 2000.

Sources

Further reading

  • Hewes, Jr., James E. From Root to McNamara: Army Organization and Administration, 1900–1963 (1975) .
  • Semsch, Philip L. "Elihu Root and the General Staff." Military Affairs (1963): 16-27.
  • Skowronek, Stephen. Building a New American State: The Expansion of National Administrative Capacities, 1877–1920 (Cambridge University Press, 1982) pp 212-247.
  • Watson, Mark Skinner. Chief of Staff: Prewar Plans and Preparations. United States Army in World War II. Washington D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. - full text
  • White, Richard D. "Civilian management of the military: Elihu Root and the 1903 reorganization of the army general staff." Journal of Management History (1998) 4#1 (1998), pp. 43-59.
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