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Chief of Staff of the United States Army
CSA
Flag US Army Chief of Staff
Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Army
Mark Miley Army Chief of Staff
Incumbent
General Mark A. Milley
since 14 August 2015
Department of the Army
The Army Staff
Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Reports to Secretary of Defense
Secretary of the Army
Seat The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Appointer The President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length 4 years
Renewable
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C. § 3033
Precursor Commanding General of the Army
Formation 15 August 1903
First holder LTG Samuel B. M. Young
Deputy Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
Website Official Website

The Chief of Staff of the Army (abbreviated as CSA) is a statutory office (10 U.S.C. § 3033) held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is, in a separate capacity, 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. The Chief of Staff is typically the highest-ranking officer on active-duty in the U.S. Army unless the Chairman and/or the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are Army officers. The Chief of Staff of the Army is an administrative position based in the Pentagon, and while the Chief of Staff does not have operational command authority over Army forces proper (that is within the purview of the Combatant Commanders who reports to the Secretary of Defense), the Chief of Staff does exercise supervision of army units and organizations as the designee of the Secretary of the Army.

The current Chief of Staff of the Army is General Raymond T. Odierno.

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 of Staff 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 of Staff also directs the Inspector General of the Army to perform inspections and investigations as required. The Chief of Staff also presides over the Army Staff and represents army capabilities, requirements, policy, plans, and programs in Joint fora.[1] Under delegation of authority made by the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff also designates army personnel and army resources to the Commanders of the Combatant Commands.[2] He also 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 of Staff has no operational command authority over army forces, dating back to the passage of the Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958. The Chief of Staff is served by a number of Deputy Chiefs of Staff of the Army, such as G-1, Personnel. The Chief of Staff of the Army base pay is $19,326.60 per month.

The Chief of Staff is nominated by the President and must be confirmed by majority vote from the Senate.[3] By statute, the CSA is appointed as a four-star general.[3]

The Chief of Staff holds an annual future study program called Unified Quest.[4][5][6]

History[]

Prior to 1903, the senior military officer in the army was the Commanding General, who reported to the Secretary of War. From 1864 to 1865, Major General Henry Wager 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.[Clarification needed]

List of Chiefs of Staff of the Army (1903–present)[]

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

Chief of Staff
of the Army
Took office Left office Time in office Notes
1
Samuel B. M
Nabersberg, KarlLieutenant General Samuel B. M. Young
(1840–1924)
15 August 19038 January 1904146 daysRetired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
2
Adna Chaffee
Chaffee, AdnaLieutenant General Adna Chaffee
(1842–1914)
9 January 190414 January 19062 years, 5 daysResigned position; retired in February at own request, shortly before reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
3
John C
Bates, JohnLieutenant General John C. Bates
(1842–1919)
15 January 190613 April 190689 daysLast Civil War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired in April 1906 at own request, shortly before reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
4
J
Bell, JamesMajor General J. Franklin Bell
(1856–1919)
14 April 190621 April 19104 years, 7 daysCommanded several divisions and departments after serving as Chief of Staff. Died while commanding Department of the East shortly after the end of World War I.
5
Leonard Wood
Wood, LeonardMajor General Leonard Wood
(1860–1927)
22 April 191021 April 19143 years, 364 daysCommanded divisions and departments, including organizing and training two divisions for combat in World War I. Retired in 1921.
6
William W
Wotherspoon, WilliamMajor General William W. Wotherspoon
(1850–1921)
22 April 191416 November 1914208 daysRetired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
7
Hugh L
Wotherspoon, WilliamMajor General Hugh L. Scott
(1853–1934)
17 November 191422 September 19172 years, 309 daysRetired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64. Recalled to active duty for World War I; commanded a division during its organization and training before retiring again in 1919.
8
Tasker H
Bliss, TaskerGeneral Tasker H. Bliss
(1853–1930)
23 September 191719 May 1918238 daysRetired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1917. Continued on active duty to remain Chief of Staff during World War I; served as U.S. representative on Supreme War Council and as U.S. representative during post-war Paris Peace Conference. Retired again in 1920.
9
Peyton C
March, PeytonGeneral Peyton C. March
(1864–1953)
20 May 191830 June 19213 years, 41 daysRetired at own request in 1921.
10
John J
Pershing, JohnGeneral of the Armies John J. Pershing
(1860–1948)
1 July 192113 September 19243 years, 74 daysLast Indian Wars veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired from active military service upon reaching age 64 in 1924.
11
John L
Hines, JohnMajor General John L. Hines
(1868–1968)
14 September 192420 November 19262 years, 68 daysCommanded IX Corps Area and Department of the Philippines; retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1932.
12
Charles P
Summerall, CharlesGeneral Charles P. Summerall
(1867–1955)
21 November 192620 November 19303 years, 364 daysLast Spanish–American War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Placed on extended leave until reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1931.
13
Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur, DouglasGeneral Douglas MacArthur
(1880–1964)
21 November 19301 October 19354 years, 315 daysSupervised creation of the Philippine Army. Retired in 1937, and continued to serve in the Philippines as military advisor to the president. Recalled to active duty in 1941; led defense of the Philippines during World War II, and then commanded South West Pacific Area. Served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in occupied Japan, and led initial U.S. and UNC effort during Korean War. Relieved of command and retired from active military service in 1951.
14
Malin Craig
Craig, MalinGeneral Malin Craig
(1875–1945)
2 October 193531 August 19393 years, 333 daysRetired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1939; recalled to active duty for World War II as head of the War Department Personnel Board.
15
George C
Marshall, GeorgeGeneral of the Army George C. Marshall
(1880–1959)
1 September 193918 November 19456 years, 78 daysAttained mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1944, but continued to serve as Chief of Staff. Relieved from active military duties in November 1945. Later served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under President Truman.
16
Dwight D
Eisenhower, DwightGeneral of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1890–1969)
19 November 19456 February 19482 years, 79 daysRelieved from active military duties in 1948. Recalled to active duty in 1951 to serve as first Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Retired in May 1952 upon becoming a candidate for President of the United States in the 1952 presidential election. Served two terms as President of the United States from 1953-1961. Returned to the active rolls as a General of the Army in 1961, with no assigned duties.
17
Omar Bradley
Bradley, OmarGeneral Omar Bradley
(1893–1981)
7 February 194815 August 19491 year, 189 daysAppointed as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 19 August 1949. Promoted to General of the Army on 22 September 1950. Relieved as CJCS on 15 August 1953.
18
J
Collins, JosephGeneral J. Lawton Collins
(1896–1987)
16 August 194914 August 19533 years, 363 daysUS Representative to NATO from 1953 to 1954. Special representative of the United States in Vietnam from 1954 to 1955. US representative to NATO from 1955 until reaching mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1956.
19
Matthew B
Ridgway, MatthewGeneral Matthew B. Ridgway
(1895–1993)
15 August 195329 June 19551 year, 319 daysLast World War I veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired in June 1955, declining age waiver that would have allowed him to complete full term.
20
Maxwell D
Taylor, MaxwellGeneral Maxwell D. Taylor
(1901–1987)
30 June 195530 June 19594 years, 0 daysRetired in 1959. Recalled to active duty in 1961 to serve as Military Representative to the President. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1962 to 1964. Retired in 1964 to become United States Ambassador to South Vietnam.
21
Lyman L
Lemnitzer, LymanGeneral Lyman L. Lemnitzer
(1899–1988)
1 July 195930 September 19601 year, 91 daysChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1960 to 1962. Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, 1963 to 1969. Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1969.
22
George H
Decker, GeorgeGeneral George H. Decker
(1902–1980)
1 October 196030 September 19621 year, 364 daysRetired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1962.
23
Earle G
Decker, GeorgeGeneral Earle G. Wheeler
(1908–1975)
1 October 19622 July 19641 year, 275 daysChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1964 to 1970, including waiver to serve beyond mandatory retirement age of 60. Retired in 1970.
24
Harold K
Johnson, HaroldGeneral Harold K. Johnson
(1912–1983)
3 July 19642 July 19683 years, 365 daysRetired at end of term.
25
William C
Westmoreland, WilliamGeneral William C. Westmoreland
(1914–2005)
3 July 196830 June 19723 years, 363 daysRetired at end of term.
Bruce Palmer Jr.
Westmoreland, WilliamGeneral Bruce Palmer Jr. (Acting)
(1913–2000)
1 July 197211 October 1972102 daysResumed duties as Vice Chief of Staff upon appointment of Creighton W. Abrams as Chief of Staff. Commander, United States Readiness Command, 1973 to 1974. Retired in 1974.
26
Creighton W
Abrams, CreightonGeneral Creighton W. Abrams
(1914–1974)
12 October 19724 September 1974 †1 year, 328 daysDied in office.
27
Frederick C
Weyand, FrederickGeneral Frederick C. Weyand
(1916–2010)
3 October 197430 September 19761 year, 363 daysRetired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 60.
28
Bernard W
Rogers, BernardGeneral Bernard W. Rogers
(1921–2008)
1 October 197621 June 19792 years, 263 daysLast World War II veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Supreme Allied Commander Europe, 1979 to 1987, including waiver to continue service past age 60. Retired in 1987.
29
Edward C
Meyer, EdwardGeneral Edward C. Meyer
(1928–2020)
22 June 197921 June 19833 years, 364 daysLast Korean War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired at end of term.
30
John A. Wickham Jr.
Wickham, JohnGeneral John A. Wickham Jr.
(born 1928)
23 July 198323 June 19874 years, 0 daysRetired at end of term.
31
Carl E
Vuono, CarlGeneral Carl E. Vuono
(born 1934)
23 June 198721 June 19913 years, 363 daysRetired at end of term.
32
Gordon R
Sullivan, GordonGeneral Gordon R. Sullivan
(born 1937)
21 June 199120 June 19953 years, 364 daysRetired at end of term.
33
Dennis J
Reimer, DennisGeneral Dennis J. Reimer
(born 1939)
20 June 199521 June 19994 years, 1 dayRetired at end of term.
34
Eric K
Shinseki, EricGeneral Eric K. Shinseki
(born 1942)
21 June 199911 June 20033 years, 355 daysLast Vietnam War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired at end of term.
35
Peter J
Schoomaker, PeterGeneral Peter J. Schoomaker
(born 1946)
1 August 200310 April 20073 years, 252 daysRetired in 2000. Recalled to active duty to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired again at end of term.
36
George W. Casey Jr.
Casey, GeorgeGeneral George W. Casey Jr.
(born 1948)
10 April 200710 April 20114 years, 0 daysRetired at end of term.
37
Martin E
Dempsey, MartinGeneral Martin E. Dempsey
(born 1952)
11 April 20117 September 2011149 daysTerm shortened due to appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[7]
38
Raymond T
Odierno, RaymondGeneral Raymond T. Odierno
(born 1954)
7 September 201114 August 20153 years, 341 daysRetired at end of term.
39
Mark A
Milley, MarkGeneral Mark A. Milley
(born 1958)
14 August 20159 August 20193 years, 360 daysAppointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
40
James C
McConville, JamesGeneral James C. McConville
(born 1959)
9 August 2019Incumbent4 years, 221 days

See also[]

References[]

Further reading[]

External links[]



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The original article can be found at Chief of Staff of the United States Army and the edit history here.
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