Department of Defense Chain of Command

The Department of Defense (DoD) is structured to ensure that the United States Armed Forces operate efficiently and effectively. The leadership hierarchy within the DoD encompasses various key positions, each with specific responsibilities and authority. This guide provides an overview of the top leadership roles within the DoD, including the President, Secretary of Defense, and various undersecretaries, as well as the chain of command within each branch of the military.

Overall DOD Leadership

  • President
    • Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
  • Secretary of Defense
    • Principal defense policy advisor to the President.
  • Deputy Secretary of Defense
    • Second-highest-ranking official in the Department of Defense.

Department of Defense Under Secretaries

  • Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
    • Advises on national security and defense policy.
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
    • Responsible for acquisition and logistics.
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
    • Oversees technological advancements and innovations.
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
    • Manages intelligence activities and security.
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
    • Handles personnel policies and readiness of the forces.
  • Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
    • Chief financial officer of the Department of Defense.

 

 

U.S. Army Chain of Command

  • Secretary of the Army
    • Civilian head of the Department of the Army.
    • Responsible for all matters relating to the Army, including manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems, and equipment acquisition.
  • Chief of Staff of the Army
    • Senior uniformed officer in the Department of the Army.
    • Principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army.
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
    • Assists the Chief of Staff and acts as the principal deputy.
  • Sergeant Major of the Army
    • Senior enlisted advisor to the Army leadership.
    • Provides the enlisted perspective on all matters pertaining to the Army.
  • Chief of Army Reserve
    • Oversees the Army Reserve, responsible for mobilization readiness and operational support.
  • Surgeon General of the Army
    • Senior medical officer in the Army, oversees Army Medical Command (MEDCOM).

 

 

U.S. Navy Chain of Command

  • Secretary of the Navy
    • Civilian head of the Department of the Navy.
    • Oversees both the Navy and the Marine Corps.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
    • Senior uniformed officer in the Navy.
    • Principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Navy.
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO)
    • Assists the CNO and acts as the principal deputy.
  • Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)
    • Senior enlisted advisor to the Navy leadership.
    • Provides the enlisted perspective on all matters pertaining to the Navy.
  • Chief of Navy Reserve
    • Oversees the Navy Reserve, responsible for mobilization readiness and operational support.
  • Surgeon General of the Navy
    • Senior medical officer in the Navy, oversees Navy Medicine.

 

 

U.S. Marine Corps Chain of Command

  • Commandant of the Marine Corps
    • Senior uniformed officer in the Marine Corps.
    • Principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Navy.
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
    • Assists the Commandant and acts as the principal deputy.
  • Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
    • Senior enlisted advisor to the Marine Corps leadership.
    • Provides the enlisted perspective on all matters pertaining to the Marine Corps.
  • Commander of Marine Forces Reserve
    • Oversees the Marine Corps Reserve, responsible for mobilization readiness and operational support.

 

 

U.S. Air Force Chain of Command

  • Secretary of the Air Force
    • Civilian head of the Department of the Air Force.
    • Oversees both the Air Force and the Space Force.
  • Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF)
    • Senior uniformed officer in the Air Force.
    • Principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force.
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
    • Assists the CSAF and acts as the principal deputy.
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF)
    • Senior enlisted advisor to the Air Force leadership.
    • Provides the enlisted perspective on all matters pertaining to the Air Force.
  • Chief of Air Force Reserve
    • Oversees the Air Force Reserve, responsible for mobilization readiness and operational support.
  • Surgeon General of the Air Force
    • Senior medical officer in the Air Force, oversees Air Force Medical Service (AFMS).

 

 

U.S. Space Force Chain of Command

  • Secretary of the Air Force
    • Civilian head overseeing the Space Force.
  • Chief of Space Operations (CSO)
    • Senior uniformed officer in the Space Force.
    • Principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force.
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Vice Chief of Space Operations
    • Assists the CSO and acts as the principal deputy.
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF)
    • Senior enlisted advisor to the Space Force leadership.
    • Provides the enlisted perspective on all matters pertaining to the Space Force.
  • Commander of Space Operations Command Reserve
    • Oversees the Space Force Reserve component, responsible for mobilization readiness and operational support.

 

 

U.S. Coast Guard Chain of Command

  • Secretary of Homeland Security
    • Civilian head overseeing the Coast Guard in peacetime.
  • Commandant of the Coast Guard
    • Senior uniformed officer in the Coast Guard.
    • Principal military advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security.
  • Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
    • Assists the Commandant and acts as the principal deputy.
  • Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG)
    • Senior enlisted advisor to the Coast Guard leadership.
    • Provides the enlisted perspective on all matters pertaining to the Coast Guard.
  • Commander of the Coast Guard Reserve
    • Oversees the Coast Guard Reserve, responsible for mobilization readiness and operational support.

 

 

Joint Chiefs of Staff

  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
    • Principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.
  • Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
    • Assists the Chairman and acts as the principal deputy.
  • Chief of Staff of the Army
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Chief of Naval Operations
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Chief of Staff of the Air Force
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Commandant of the Marine Corps
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Chief of Space Operations
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Chief of the National Guard Bureau
    • Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

 

 

Unified Combatant Commands

These commands report directly to the Secretary of Defense and have responsibility for specific geographical or functional missions:

  • U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)
  • U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
  • U.S. European Command (EUCOM)
  • U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)
  • U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM)
  • U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)
  • U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM)
  • U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM)
  • U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
  • U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM)
  • U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)

 

 

Military Medicine and the Defense Health Agency

  • Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
    • Oversees health policies and programs within the Department of Defense.
  • Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA)
    • Manages the integrated healthcare delivery system for military members, retirees, and their families.
  • Surgeon General of the Army
    • Senior medical officer in the Army, oversees Army Medical Command (MEDCOM).
  • Surgeon General of the Navy
    • Senior medical officer in the Navy, oversees Navy Medicine.
  • Surgeon General of the Air Force
    • Senior medical officer in the Air Force, oversees Air Force Medical Service (AFMS).
  • Surgeon General of the Public Health Service (USPHS)
    • Provides guidance on public health issues and works closely with the military medical departments during joint operations and emergencies.