Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Although the office of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is considered to be very important and highly prestigious, neither the vice chairman nor the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a body have any command authority over combatant forces. The operational chain of command runs from the president to the secretary of defense directly to the commanders of the unified combatant commands.{{USC|10|162}} - Combatant commands: assigned forces; chain of command The vice chairman's primary duties include: "overseeing joint military requirements, representing the military in National Security Council deputies meetings, and performing other duties as directed by the chairman."{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Vice-Chairman-of-the-Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff/|title=Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff}}

The vice chairman is nominated by the president for appointment from any of the regular components of the armed forces, and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. The chairman and vice chairman may not be members of the same armed force service branch. However, the president may waive that restriction for a limited period of time in order to provide for the orderly transition of officers appointed to serve in those positions. The vice chairman serves a single four-year term of office at the pleasure of the president, and cannot be reappointed to serve additional terms unless in times of war or national emergency, in which case there is no limit to how many times an officer can be reappointed.

The vice chairman is also not eligible to be appointed for promotion to chairman, or any other four-star position in the armed forces, unless the president determines that it is necessary in the interest of the nation. The vice chairman assumes office on October 1 of every odd-number year, except the assumption of that term may not begin in the same year as the term of the chairman.[https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2943 Public Law 114–328] - The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 increased the term length Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from two years to four years and the Vice Chairman is no longer eligible to become Chairman. By statute, the vice chairman is appointed as a four-star general or admiral.

The position of vice chairman was created by the Goldwater–Nichols Act of 1986 in order to centralize the military advisory chain of command to the president, the secretary of defense, and to the National Security Council. Originally the vice chairman was not included as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, until the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1992 made him a full voting member.{{Cite web|title=Joint Chiefs of Staff > About > The Joint Staff > Vice Chairman|url=https://www.jcs.mil/About/The-Joint-Staff/Vice-Chairman/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=www.jcs.mil}} Historically, the vice chairman has served two, two-year terms before the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 amended the vice chairman's term length, beginning on January 1, 2021. The same act also set a statutory beginning term date. Prior to that, the position was filled whenever the previous holder left office.

General Richard B. Myers and General Peter Pace were later appointed to serve as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001 to 2005 and from 2005 to 2007, respectively.

{{Officeholder table start

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| officeholder_title = Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

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{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = Gen Robert T. Herres, VJCS portrait.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Robert T. Herres

| officeholder_sort = Herres, Robert

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1932

| died_year = 2008

| term_start = February 6, 1987

| term_end = February 28, 1990
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1987|02|06|1990|02|28}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Air Force

| alt_officeholder = William J. Crowe

| alt_officeholder2 = Colin Powell

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = ADM David E Jeremiah.JPG

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = David E. Jeremiah

| officeholder_sort = Jeremiah, David

| officeholder_note = {{efn|Served as acting chairman from October 1 to October 24, 1993.}}

| born_year = 1934

| died_year = 2013

| term_start = March 1, 1990

| term_end = February 28, 1994
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1990|03|01|1994|02|28}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Navy

| alt_officeholder = Colin Powell

| alt_officeholder2 = John Shalikashvili

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Adm. William A. Owens VJCS.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = William A. Owens

| officeholder_sort = Owens, William

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1940

| died_year =

| term_start = March 1, 1994

| term_end = February 27, 1996
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|03|01|1996|02|27}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Navy

| alt_officeholder = John Shalikashvili

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = Gen Joseph W. Ralston as VJCS.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Joseph Ralston

| officeholder_sort = Ralston, Joseph

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1943

| died_year =

| term_start = March 1, 1996

| term_end = February 29, 2000
{{small|(appointed SACEUR)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1996|03|01|2000|02|29}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Air Force

| alt_officeholder = John Shalikashvili

| alt_officeholder2 = Hugh Shelton

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = Richard Myers official portrait.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Richard Myers

| officeholder_sort = Myers, Richard

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1942

| died_year =

| term_start = February 29, 2000

| term_end = October 1, 2001
{{small|(appointed JCS chairman)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2000|02|29|2001|10|01}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Air Force

| alt_officeholder = Hugh Shelton

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = VJCS Peter Pace.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Peter Pace

| officeholder_sort = Pace, Peter

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1945

| died_year =

| term_start = October 1, 2001

| term_end = August 12, 2005
{{small|(appointed JCS chairman)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2001|10|01|2005|08|12}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Marine Corps

| alt_officeholder = Richard Myers

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = Giambastiani - 27 Feb 07.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Edmund Giambastiani

| officeholder_sort = Giambastiani, Edmund

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1948

| died_year =

| term_start = August 12, 2005

| term_end = July 27, 2007
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|08|12|2007|07|27}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Navy

| alt_officeholder = Richard Myers

| alt_officeholder2 = Peter Pace

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image = GEN Cartwright VJCS.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = James E. Cartwright

| officeholder_sort = Cartwright, James

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1949

| died_year =

| term_start = August 31, 2007

| term_end = August 3, 2011
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2007|08|31|2011|08|03}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Marine Corps

| alt_officeholder = Peter Pace

| alt_officeholder2 = Michael Mullen

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr.jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = James A. Winnefeld Jr.

| officeholder_sort = Winnefeld, James

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1956

| died_year =

| term_start = August 4, 2011

| term_end = July 31, 2015
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|08|04|2015|07|31}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Navy

| alt_officeholder = Michael Mullen

| alt_officeholder2 = Martin Dempsey

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = General Paul J. Selva, USAF (VJCS).jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Paul J. Selva

| officeholder_sort = Selva, Paul

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1958

| died_year =

| term_start = July 31, 2015

| term_end = July 31, 2019
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2015|07|31|2019|07|31}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Air Force

| alt_officeholder = Martin Dempsey

| alt_officeholder2 = Joseph Dunford

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = Gen John E. Hyten (5).jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = John E. Hyten

| officeholder_sort = Hyten, John

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1959

| died_year =

| term_start = November 21, 2019

| term_end = November 19, 2021
{{small|(retired)}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|11|21|2021|11|19}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Air Force

| alt_officeholder = Mark Milley

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image = ADM Christopher W. Grady (2).jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Christopher W. Grady

| officeholder_sort = Grady, Christopher

| officeholder_note = {{efn|Serving as acting chairman since February 21, 2025.}}

| born_year = 1962

| died_year =

| term_start = December 20, 2021

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|12|20}}

| defence_branch = 75px
U.S. Navy

| alt_officeholder = Mark Milley

| alt_officeholder2 = CQ Brown Jr.

| alt_officeholder3 = Dan Caine

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

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• Army: 0
• Marine Corps: 2
• Navy: 5
• Air Force: 5
• Space Force: 0

File:Vice_Chairman_of_the_Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff_flag.jpg

The positional color (flag) of the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is white with a diagonal medium blue strip from upper hoist to lower fly. Centered on the flag is an American bald eagle with wings spread horizontally, in proper colors. The talons grasp three crossed arrows. A shield with blue chief and thirteen red and white stripes is on the eagle's breast. Diagonally, from upper fly to lower hoist are four five-pointed stars, medium blue on the white, two above the eagle, and two below. The fringe is yellow; the cord and tassels are medium blue and white. The design was approved by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger on 20 January 1987.Army Regulation 840-10, paragraph 3-14 (2 Apr. 1992).

• Defense Acquisition Board
• Deputy's Advisory Working Group, a policy review panel co-chaired by DEPSECDEF and VJCS
• Joint Requirements Oversight Council

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.jcs.mil/About/The-Joint-Staff/Vice-Chairman/ Official site]

{{VCJCS}}

{{Current US Department of Defense Secretaries}}

{{Current JCS members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vice Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff}}

Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff