Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Chief of Staff of the Army
Army Staff Identification Badge
Flag of the Chief of Staff
Incumbent
General Randy A. George
since 21 September 2023
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 (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.

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 current Chief of Staff of the Army is General Randy George, who was sworn in on 21 September 2023, having previously served as acting CSA from 4 August.

Appointment

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

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. 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. 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 $1,923.30.

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.[clarification needed]

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
Samuel B. M. Young
Young, Samuel Baldwin MarksLieutenant General
Samuel B. M. Young
(1840–1924)
15 August 19038 January 1904146 daysCavalryElihu Root
2
Adna R. Chaffee
Chaffee, AdnaLieutenant General
Adna R. Chaffee
(1842–1914)
9 January 190414 January 19062 years, 5 daysCavalryElihu Root
William Howard Taft
3
John C. Bates
Bates, JohnLieutenant General
John C. Bates
(1842–1919)
15 January 190613 April 190689 daysInfantryWilliam Howard Taft
4
J. Franklin Bell
Bell, JamesMajor General
J. Franklin Bell
(1856–1919)
14 April 190621 April 19104 years, 7 daysCavalryWilliam Howard Taft
Luke Edward Wright
Jacob M. Dickinson
5
Leonard Wood
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
6
William W. Wotherspoon
Wotherspoon, WilliamMajor General
William W. Wotherspoon
(1850–1921)
22 April 191416 November 1914208 daysInfantryLindley Miller Garrison
7
Hugh L. Scott
Scott, HughMajor General
Hugh L. Scott
(1853–1934)
17 November 191422 September 19172 years, 309 daysCavalryLindley Miller Garrison
Newton D. Baker
8
Tasker H. Bliss
Bliss, TaskerGeneral
Tasker H. Bliss
(1853–1930)
23 September 191719 May 1918238 daysField artilleryNewton D. Baker
9
Peyton C. March
March, PeytonGeneral
Peyton C. March
(1864–1955)
20 May 191830 June 19213 years, 41 daysField artilleryNewton D. Baker
John W. Weeks
10
John J. Pershing
Pershing, JohnGeneral of the Armies
John J. Pershing
(1860–1948)
1 July 192113 September 19243 years, 74 daysCavalryJohn W. Weeks
11
John L. Hines
Hines, JohnMajor General
John L. Hines
(1868–1968)
14 September 192420 November 19262 years, 68 daysInfantryJohn W. Weeks
Dwight F. Davis
12
Charles P. Summerall
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
13
Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur, DouglasGeneral
Douglas MacArthur
(1880–1964)
21 November 19301 October 19354 years, 315 daysInfantry and engineersPatrick J. Hurley
George Dern
14
Malin Craig
Craig, MalinGeneral
Malin Craig
(1875–1945)
2 October 193531 August 19393 years, 333 daysInfantry and cavalryGeorge Dern
Harry Hines Woodring
15
George C. Marshall
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
16
Dwight D. Eisenhower
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)
17
Omar Bradley
Bradley, OmarGeneral
Omar Bradley
(1893–1981)
7 February 194815 August 19491 year, 189 daysInfantryKenneth Claiborne Royall
Gordon Gray
James Forrestal
Louis A. Johnson
18
J. Lawton Collins
Collins, JosephGeneral
J. Lawton Collins
(1896–1987)
16 August 194914 August 19533 years, 363 daysInfantryGordon Gray
Frank Pace
Robert T. Stevens
Louis A. Johnson
George C. Marshall
Robert A. Lovett
Charles Erwin Wilson
19
Matthew B. Ridgway
Ridgway, MatthewGeneral
Matthew B. Ridgway
(1895–1993)
15 August 195329 June 19551 year, 319 daysInfantry and airborneRobert T. StevensCharles Erwin Wilson
20
Maxwell D. Taylor
Taylor, MaxwellGeneral
Maxwell D. Taylor
(1901–1987)
30 June 195530 June 19594 years, 0 daysAirborne and field artilleryRobert T. Stevens
Wilber M. Brucker
Charles Erwin Wilson
Neil H. McElroy
21
Lyman L. Lemnitzer
Lemnitzer, LymanGeneral
Lyman L. Lemnitzer
(1899–1988)
1 July 195930 September 19601 year, 91 daysInfantry and coast artilleryWilber M. BruckerNeil H. McElroy
Thomas S. Gates Jr.
22
George H. Decker
Decker, GeorgeGeneral
George H. Decker
(1902–1980)
1 October 196030 September 19621 year, 364 daysInfantryWilber M. Brucker
Elvis Stahr Jr.
Cyrus Vance
Thomas S. Gates Jr.
Robert McNamara
23
Earle G. Wheeler
Wheeler, EarleGeneral
Earle G. Wheeler
(1908–1975)
1 October 19622 July 19641 year, 275 daysInfantry and armorCyrus Vance
Stephen Ailes
Robert McNamara
24
Harold K. Johnson
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
25
William C. Westmoreland
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
Bruce Palmer Jr.
Palmer, BruceGeneral
Bruce Palmer Jr.
(1913–2000)
Acting
1 July 197211 October 1972102 daysInfantry and cavalryRobert FroehlkeMelvin Laird
26
Creighton W. Abrams Jr.
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
General
Frederick C. Weyand
(1916–2010)
5 September 1974 4 October 1974 29 days Infantry and intelligence Bo Callaway
Martin R. Hoffmann
James R. Schlesinger
Donald Rumsfeld
27 4 October 1974 30 September 1976 1 year, 362 days
28
Bernard W. Rogers
Rogers, BernardGeneral
Bernard W. Rogers
(1921–2008)
1 October 197621 June 19792 years, 263 daysInfantryMartin R. Hoffmann
Clifford Alexander Jr.
Donald Rumsfeld
Harold Brown
29
Edward C. Meyer
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
30
John A. Wickham Jr.
Wickham, JohnGeneral
John A. Wickham Jr.
(born 1928)
23 June 198323 June 19874 years, 0 daysInfantry and cavalryJohn O. Marsh Jr.Caspar Weinberger
31
Carl E. Vuono
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
32
Gordon R. Sullivan
Sullivan, GordonGeneral
Gordon R. Sullivan
(1937–2024)
21 June 199120 June 19953 years, 364 daysArmor and mechanized infantryMichael P. W. Stone
Togo D. West Jr.
Dick Cheney
Les Aspin
William J. Perry
33
Dennis J. Reimer
Reimer, DennisGeneral
Dennis J. Reimer
(born 1939)
20 June 199521 June 19994 years, 1 dayArtillery and mechanized infantryTogo D. West Jr.
Louis Caldera
William J. Perry
William Cohen
34
Eric K. Shinseki
Shinseki, EricGeneral
Eric K. Shinseki
(born 1942)
21 June 199911 June 20033 years, 355 daysCavalryLouis Caldera
Thomas E. White
William Cohen
Donald Rumsfeld
John M. Keane
Keane, JohnGeneral
John M. Keane
(born 1943)
Acting
11 June 20031 August 200351 daysInfantry and airborneNoneDonald Rumsfeld
35
Peter J. Schoomaker
Schoomaker, PeterGeneral
Peter J. Schoomaker
(born 1946)
1 August 200310 April 20073 years, 252 daysSpecial operationsFrancis J. Harvey
Pete Geren
Donald Rumsfeld
Robert Gates
36
George W. Casey Jr.
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
37
Martin E. Dempsey
Dempsey, MartinGeneral
Martin E. Dempsey
(born 1952)
11 April 20117 September 2011149 daysArmor and armored
cavalry
John M. McHughRobert Gates
Leon Panetta
38
Raymond T. Odierno
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
39
Mark A. Milley
Milley, MarkGeneral
Mark A. Milley
(born 1958)
14 August 20159 August 20193 years, 360 daysArmor and light infantryJohn M. McHugh
Eric Fanning
Mark Esper
Ryan D. McCarthy
Ash Carter
Jim Mattis
Mark Esper
40
James C. McConville
McConville, JamesGeneral
James C. McConville
(born 1959)
9 August 20194 August 20233 years, 360 daysAviation and cavalryRyan D. McCarthy
Christine Wormuth
Mark Esper
Lloyd Austin
General
Randy A. George
(born 1964)
4 August 2023 21 September 2023 48 days Infantry and airborne Christine Wormuth Lloyd Austin
41 21 September 2023 Incumbent 116 days

Timeline

Randy GeorgeJames C. McConvilleMark MilleyRaymond T. OdiernoMartin DempseyGeorge W. Casey Jr.Peter SchoomakerEric ShinsekiDennis ReimerGordon R. SullivanCarl E. VuonoJohn A. Wickham Jr.Edward C. MeyerBernard W. RogersFrederick C. WeyandCreighton AbramsWilliam WestmorelandHarold Keith JohnsonEarle WheelerGeorge DeckerLyman LemnitzerMaxwell D. TaylorMatthew RidgwayJ. Lawton CollinsOmar BradleyDwight D. EisenhowerGeorge C. MarshallMalin CraigDouglas MacArthurCharles Pelot SummerallJohn L. HinesJohn J. PershingPeyton C. MarchTasker H. BlissHugh L. ScottWilliam Wallace WotherspoonLeonard WoodJ. Franklin BellJohn C. BatesAdna ChaffeeSamuel Baldwin Marks Young

See also


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