Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
Army Staff Identification Badge
Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
Incumbent
General James J. Mingus
since January 5, 2024
Department of the Army
Army Staff
AbbreviationVCSA
Member ofArmy Staff
Joint Requirements Oversight Council
Reports toChief of Staff of the Army
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNot fixed
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 7034
PrecursorDeputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army
FormationNovember 1, 1948
First holderGEN J. Lawton Collins
SuccessionFirst in Chief of Staff succession
DeputyDirector of the Army Staff
Websitewww.army.mil/

The vice chief of staff of the Army (VCSA) is the principal deputy to the chief of staff of the Army, and is the second-highest-ranking officer on active duty in the Department of the Army.

The vice chief of staff generally handles the day-to-day administration of the Army Staff, freeing the chief of staff to attend to the interservice responsibilities of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. By statute, the vice chief of staff is appointed as a four-star general in the United States Army while so serving.

The 39th and current vice chief of staff of the Army is General James J. Mingus.

Role

Gen. Eric Shinseki, chief of staff of the Army, swears in Gen. Jack Keane as the 29th vice chief of staff of the Army on June 22, 1999.

The senior leadership of the U.S. Department of the Army consists of two civilians, the secretary of the Army and the under secretary of the Army, as well as two commissioned officers, the Army Chief of Staff and the Army Vice Chief of Staff.

Under the supervision and direction of the secretary of the Army (who in turn is under the authority, direction and control of the secretary of defense) the vice chief of staff assists the chief of staff on missions and functions related to their duties. The vice chief of staff also assists the chief of staff in the management/oversight of U.S. Army installations and facilities.

Furthermore, the vice chief of staff may also represent the Army at the Office of the Secretary of Defense/Joint Staff level in areas relating to the chief of staff's responsibility and U.S. Army capabilities, requirements, policy, plans, and programs. The vice chief of staff is the designated Army representative to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC).

If the chief of staff is incapacitated or otherwise relieved of duty, the vice chief of staff serves as the acting chief of staff. If both the chief of staff and the vice chief of staff were to be incapacitated, the senior-most general on the Army Staff would become the acting chief of staff of the Army until someone else is appointed.

Appointment

The vice chief of staff of the Army is appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among the general officers of the Army.

Unlike the chief of staff of the Army, there is no fixed term nor term limit to the position of the vice chief of staff, although most of those appointed to the office have typically served for two or three year tenures.

List of Vice Chiefs of Staff of the Army

No. Portrait Vice Chief of Staff Took office Left office Time in office Chief of Staff
1
J. Lawton Collins
Collins, Joseph LawtonGeneral
J. Lawton Collins
(1896–1987)
November 1, 1948August 15, 1949
(became CSA)
287 daysOmar Bradley
2
Wade H. Haislip
Haislip, Wade HamptonGeneral
Wade H. Haislip
(1889–1971)
August 16, 1949July 29, 1951
(retired)
1 year, 347 daysJ. Lawton Collins
3
John E. Hull
Hull, John EdwinGeneral
John E. Hull
(1895–1975)
July 30, 1951August 14, 1953
(reassigned)
2 years, 15 daysJ. Lawton Collins
4
Charles L. Bolte
Bolte, Charles LawrenceGeneral
Charles L. Bolte
(1895–1989)
August 15, 1953June 29, 1955
(retired)
1 year, 318 daysMatthew Ridgway
5
Williston B. Palmer
Palmer, Williston BirkhimerGeneral
Williston B. Palmer
(1899–1973)
June 30, 1955May 31, 1957
(reassigned)
1 year, 335 daysMaxwell D. Taylor
6
Lyman L. Lemnitzer
Lemnitzer, Lyman LouisGeneral
Lyman L. Lemnitzer
(1899–1988)
June 1, 1957June 30, 1959
(became CSA)
2 years, 29 daysMaxwell D. Taylor
7
George H. Decker
Decker, George HenryGeneral
George H. Decker
(1902–1980)
July 1, 1959September 29, 1960
(became CSA)
1 year, 90 daysLyman Lemnitzer
8
Clyde D. Eddleman
Eddleman, Clyde DavisGeneral
Clyde D. Eddleman
(1902–1992)
September 30, 1960March 31, 1962
(retired)
1 year, 181 daysGeorge Decker
9
Barksdale Hamlett
Hamlett, BarksdaleGeneral
Barksdale Hamlett
(1908–1979)
April 1, 1962September 3, 1964
(retired)
2 years, 155 daysGeorge Decker
Earle Wheeler
Harold K. Johnson
10
Creighton W. Abrams Jr.
Abrams, Creighton Williams Jr.General
Creighton W. Abrams Jr.
(1914–1974)
September 4, 1964April 30, 1967
(reassigned)
2 years, 238 daysHarold K. Johnson
11
Ralph E. Haines Jr.
Haines, Ralph Edward Jr.General
Ralph E. Haines Jr.
(1913–2011)
May 1, 1967July 2, 1968
(reassigned)
1 year, 62 daysHarold K. Johnson
12
Bruce Palmer Jr.
Palmer, Bruce Jr.General
Bruce Palmer Jr.
(1913–2000)
July 3, 1968January 4, 1973
(reassigned)
4 years, 185 daysWilliam Westmoreland
Creighton Abrams
13
Alexander M. Haig Jr.
Haig, AlexanderGeneral
Alexander M. Haig Jr.
(1924–2010)
January 4, 1973May 4, 1973
(reassigned)
120 daysCreighton Abrams
14
Frederick C. Weyand
Weyand, Frederick CarltonGeneral
Frederick C. Weyand
(1916–2010)
May 4, 1973October 20, 1974
(became CSA)
1 year, 169 daysCreighton Abrams
Himself (acting)
15
Walter T. Kerwin Jr.
Kerwin, Walter Thomas Jr.General
Walter T. Kerwin Jr.
(1917–2008)
October 21, 1974September 23, 1978
(retired)
3 years, 337 daysFrederick C. Weyand
Bernard W. Rogers
16
Frederick J. Kroesen
Kroesen, Frederick James Jr.General
Frederick J. Kroesen
(1923–2020)
October 26, 1978October 7, 1979
(reassigned)
346 daysBernard W. Rogers
Edward C. Meyer
17
John W. Vessey Jr.
Vessey, John William Jr.General
John W. Vessey Jr.
(1922–2016)
October 10, 1979January 19, 1982
(became JCS chairman)
2 years, 101 daysEdward C. Meyer
18
John A. Wickham Jr.
Wickham, John Adams Jr.General
John A. Wickham Jr.
(born 1928)
January 27, 1982June 22, 1983
(became CSA)
1 year, 146 daysEdward C. Meyer
19
Maxwell R. Thurman
Thurman, Maxwell ReidGeneral
Maxwell R. Thurman
(1931–1995)
August 26, 1983February 4, 1987
(reassigned)
3 years, 162 daysJohn A. Wickham Jr.
20
Arthur E. Brown Jr.
Brown, Arthur Edmon Jr.General
Arthur E. Brown Jr.
(born 1929)
February 15, 1987January 20, 1989
(retired)
1 year, 340 daysJohn A. Wickham Jr.
Carl E. Vuono
21
Robert W. RisCassi
RisCassi, Robert WilliamGeneral
Robert W. RisCassi
(born 1936)
January 21, 1989December 10, 1990
(reassigned)
1 year, 323 daysCarl E. Vuono
22
Gordon R. Sullivan
Sullivan, Gordon RussellGeneral
Gordon R. Sullivan
(born 1937)
December 17, 1990June 20, 1991
(became CSA)
185 daysCarl E. Vuono
23
Dennis J. Reimer
Reimer, Dennis JoeGeneral
Dennis J. Reimer
(born 1939)
June 21, 1991January 20, 1993
(reassigned)
1 year, 213 daysGordon R. Sullivan
24
J. H. Binford Peay III
Peay, James Henry Binford IIIGeneral
J. H. Binford Peay III
(born 1940)
January 23, 1993January 15, 1994
(reassigned)
357 daysGordon R. Sullivan
25
John H. Tilelli Jr.
Tilelli, John Harold Jr.General
John H. Tilelli Jr.
(born 1941)
January 20, 1994January 2, 1995
(reassigned)
347 daysGordon R. Sullivan
26
Ronald H. Griffith
Griffith, Ronald HoustonGeneral
Ronald H. Griffith
(1936–2018)
January 26, 1995July 20, 1997
(retired)
2 years, 175 daysGordon R. Sullivan
Dennis Reimer
27
William W. Crouch
Crouch, William WrightGeneral
William W. Crouch
(born 1941)
August 6, 1997November 22, 1998
(retired)
1 year, 108 daysDennis Reimer
28
Eric K. Shinseki
Shinseki, Eric KenGeneral
Eric K. Shinseki
(born 1942)
November 24, 1998June 21, 1999
(became CSA)
209 daysDennis Reimer
29
John M. Keane
Keane, John M.General
John M. Keane
(born 1943)
June 22, 1999October 16, 2003
(retired)
4 years, 116 daysEric Shinseki
Peter Schoomaker
30
George W. Casey Jr.
Casey, George William Jr.General
George W. Casey Jr.
(born 1948)
October 17, 2003July 23, 2004
(reassigned)
280 daysPeter Schoomaker
31
Richard A. Cody
Cody, Richard ArthurGeneral
Richard A. Cody
(born 1950)
July 24, 2004July 31, 2008
(retired)
4 years, 7 daysPeter Schoomaker
George W. Casey Jr.
32
Peter W. Chiarelli
Chiarelli, Peter WilliamGeneral
Peter W. Chiarelli
(born 1950)
August 4, 2008January 31, 2012
(retired)
3 years, 180 daysGeorge W. Casey Jr.
Martin Dempsey
Raymond T. Odierno
33
Lloyd J. Austin III
Austin, Lloyd James IIIGeneral
Lloyd J. Austin III
(born 1953)
January 31, 2012March 8, 2013
(reassigned)
1 year, 36 daysRaymond T. Odierno
34
John F. Campbell
Campbell, John FrancisGeneral
John F. Campbell
(born 1957)
March 8, 2013August 8, 2014
(reassigned)
1 year, 153 daysRaymond T. Odierno
35
Daniel B. Allyn
Allyn, Daniel BartlettGeneral
Daniel B. Allyn
(born 1959)
August 15, 2014June 16, 2017
(retired)
2 years, 305 daysRaymond T. Odierno
Mark A. Milley
36
James C. McConville
McConville, James CharlesGeneral
James C. McConville
(born 1959)
June 16, 2017July 26, 2019
(became CSA)
2 years, 40 daysMark A. Milley
37
Joseph M. Martin
Martin, Joseph MatthewGeneral
Joseph M. Martin
(born 1962)
July 26, 2019August 5, 2022
(retired)
3 years, 10 daysMark A. Milley
James C. McConville
38
Randy A. George
George, Randy AlanGeneral
Randy A. George
(born 1964)
August 5, 2022September 21, 2023
(became CSA)
1 year, 47 daysJames C. McConville
39
James J. Mingus
Mingus, JamesGeneral
James J. Mingus
(born 1964)
January 5, 2024Incumbent78 daysRandy A. George

Timeline

James J. MingusRandy GeorgeJoseph M. MartinJames C. McConvilleDaniel B. AllynJohn F. Campbell (general)Lloyd AustinPeter W. ChiarelliRichard A. CodyGeorge W. Casey Jr.Jack KeaneEric ShinsekiWilliam W. CrouchRonald H. GriffithJohn H. Tilelli Jr.J. H. Binford Peay IIIDennis ReimerGordon R. SullivanRobert W. RisCassiArthur E. Brown Jr.Maxwell R. ThurmanJohn A. Wickham Jr.John William Vessey Jr.Frederick KroesenWalter T. Kerwin Jr.Frederick C. WeyandAlexander HaigBruce Palmer Jr.Ralph E. Haines Jr.Creighton AbramsBarksdale HamlettClyde D. EddlemanGeorge DeckerLyman LemnitzerWilliston B. PalmerCharles L. BolteJohn E. HullWade H. HaislipJ. Lawton Collins

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-03-26 06:53 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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