The Department of DefenseThe Department of Defense(DoD)(DoD)& the & the

National Command AuthorityNational Command Authority

The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military iaw the U.S. Constitution.

The current command structure of the Department of Defense is defined by the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 , signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on 1 October 1986.

The Act reworked the command structure of the United States military, introducing the most sweeping changes to the Department since it was established in the National Security Act of 1947.

National Command Authority (Chain of Command)National Command Authority (Chain of Command)

National Command Authority (continued)National Command Authority (continued)

Under the act, the chain of command runs from the President of the United States, through the Secretary of Defense, to the combatant commanders (COCOM) who command all military forces within their area of responsibility.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) & the military service Chiefs of Staff (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) are responsible for readiness of the U.S. military and serve as the President's military advisers, but are NOT in the chain of command. The CJCS is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States.

Each military service is responsible for organizing, training & equipping military units for the commanders of the various Unified Combatant Commands (combatant commanders; COCOM).

National Command Authority (Chain of Command)National Command Authority (Chain of Command)

National Security Council (Presidents Advisors)National Security Council (Presidents Advisors)

The National Security Council was created in 1947 by the National Security Act.

The White House National Security Council (NSC) is the principal forum used by the President for considering national security & foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors & Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States.

Since its inception under Harry S. Truman, the function of the Council has been to advise and assist the president on national security and foreign policies.

The Council also serves as the president's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies.

The U.S. Council has counterparts in the national security councils of many other nations.

National Security Council (Presidents Advisors)National Security Council (Presidents Advisors)

TITLE POSITION WHO

Chairman President Barack Obama

Statutory Attendees

Vice PresidentSecretary of StateSecretary of DefenseSecretary of Energy

Joe BidenJohn KerryChuck HagelErnest Moniz

Military Advisor Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) General Martin Dempsey, USA

Intelligence Advisor

Director of National IntelligenceDirector of CIA

Lt. Gen (R) James ClapperJohn O. Brennan

Regular Attendees

National Security AdvisorWhite House Chief of StaffDeputy National Security AdvisorAttorney General

Susan RiceDenis McDonoughTony BlinkenEric Holder

Additional Participants

Secretary of the TreasurySecretary of Homeland SecurityCounsel to the PresidentAsst. to the President for Economic PolicyAmbassador to the United NationsDirector of Office of Management & BudgetHomeland Security Advisor

Jack LewJeh JohnsonW. Neil EgglestonJeffery ZientsSamantha PowerShaun DonovanLisa Monaco

National Command Authority (Chain of Command)National Command Authority (Chain of Command)

Run by “Civilians”with some military

Secretary of DefenseSecretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense by statute also exercises authority, direction & control over the three (3) Service Secretaries (civilian) of the Military Departments

The HonorableJohn M. McHugh

since: September 21, 2009 Deborah Lee James

since: December 20, 2013 Ray Mabus

since: June 18, 2009

Chuck Hagelsince Feb 27, 2013

National Command Authority (Chain of Command)National Command Authority (Chain of Command)

Military Service Chiefs (of Staff)Military Service Chiefs (of Staff)

GEN Raymond T. Odierno Gen Mark A. Welsh III ADM Jonathan W. Greenert Gen Joseph F. Dunford, Jr.

National Command Authority (Chain of Command)National Command Authority (Chain of Command)

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)

* The Military Service Chiefs (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) report to the Service Secretaries,

NOT the CJCS!

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS)Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS)

General Martin E. DempseySince: October 1, 2011

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr.since: August 4, 2011

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

GEN Amos ADM Greenert ADM Winnefeld GEN Dempsey GEN Odierno GEN Welsh GEN GrassUSMC USN VCJCS CJCS USA USAF

NGB

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)

Top Guard officer joins Joint Chiefs of Staff (Jan 2012)

The National Guard Bureau’s top officer is now a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A provision in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, (NDAA) signed into law Dec. 31 by President Obama, adds the Guard leader to the nation’s highest military advisory group.

The first Chief of NGB to serve as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was Air Force General Craig McKinley.

The addition of the top Guard officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been hailed by Guard historians as the “most significant development” since the Militia Act of 1903 codified the modern day dual-status structure of the Guard, according to a statement from the Guard Bureau.

Chief, National Guard Bureau (NGB) - JCSChief, National Guard Bureau (NGB) - JCS

During the hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the six (6) 4-star generals voiced opposition to the proposal, saying it would create needless confusion and reduce their authority.

“There is no compelling military need for this change,” Army GEN Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said at the time.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also opposed the measure, telling reporters in October that membership on the Joint Chiefs should “be reserved for those who have direct command and direct budgets that deal with the military.”

Traditionally, the Guard chief attended Joint Chiefs of Staff meetings but was not a voting member. However, “voting” is not a central role for the Joint Chiefs, which typically seeks to reach consensus and make unanimous recommendations.

NOTE: NGB is ONLY Army & Air Force National Guard.

Chief, NGB – JCS DebateChief, NGB – JCS Debate

National Command Authority (Chain of Command)National Command Authority (Chain of Command)

COMBAT

“JOINT” Unified Combatant Commands“JOINT” Unified Combatant Commands

A Unified Combatant Command (UCC) is a US joint military command that is composed of forces from 2 or more services and has a broad and continuing mission.

These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of branch of service, in peace and war.

GEN Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., USA

Gen John F. Kelly, USMC GEN David Rodriquez, USA

ADM Samuel J. Locklear, USN

GEN Lloyd Austin, USA

GEN Phillip Breedlove, USAF