Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Chief of Staff of the Army
Flag of the Chief of Staff
Incumbent General James C. McConville since 9 August 2019
Department of the Army Army Staff
Type	United States Army service chief
Abbreviation	CSA
Member of	Joint Chiefs of Staff
Reports to	Secretary of the Army
Residence	Quarters 1, Fort Myer
Seat	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Term length	4 years Renewable one time, only during war or national emergency
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 3033
Precursor	Commanding General of the Army
Formation	15 August 1903
First holder	LTG Samuel B. M. Young
Deputy	Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
Website	www.army.mil

The chief of staff of the Army (CSA) is the service chief of the United States Army. 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 40th and current Chief of Staff of the Army is General James C. McConville.

Appointment[]

The chief of staff of the Army is nominated by for appointment by the president, for a four-year term of office,^[1] and must be confirmed by the Senate.^[1] The chief can be reappointed to serve one additional term, but only during times of war or national emergency declared by Congress.^[1] By statute, the chief is appointed as a four-star general.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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 $1923.30.

History[]

Prior to 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 (1903–present)[]

The rank listed is the rank when serving in the office.

No.	Portrait	Chief of Staff of the Army	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Notes
1		Nabersberg, KarlLieutenant General Samuel B. M. Young (1840–1924)	15 August 1903	8 January 1904	146 days	Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
2		Chaffee, AdnaLieutenant General Adna Chaffee (1842–1914)	9 January 1904	14 January 1906	2 years, 5 days	Resigned position; retired in February at own request, shortly before reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
3		Bates, JohnLieutenant General John C. Bates (1842–1919)	15 January 1906	13 April 1906	89 days	Last Civil War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired in April 1906 at own request, shortly before reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
4		Bell, JamesMajor General J. Franklin Bell (1856–1919)	14 April 1906	21 April 1910	4 years, 7 days	Commanded several divisions and departments after serving as Chief of Staff. Died while commanding Department of the East shortly after the end of World War I.
5		Wood, LeonardMajor General Leonard Wood (1860–1927)	22 April 1910	21 April 1914	3 years, 364 days	Commanded divisions and departments, including organizing and training two divisions for combat in World War I. Retired in 1921.
6		Wotherspoon, WilliamMajor General William W. Wotherspoon (1850–1921)	22 April 1914	16 November 1914	208 days	Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64.
7		Wotherspoon, WilliamMajor General Hugh L. Scott (1853–1934)	17 November 1914	22 September 1917	2 years, 309 days	Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64. Recalled to active duty for World War I; commanded a division during its organization and training before retiring again in 1919.
8		Bliss, TaskerGeneral Tasker H. Bliss (1853–1930)	23 September 1917	19 May 1918	238 days	Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1917. Continued on active duty to remain Chief of Staff during World War I; served as U.S. representative on Supreme War Council and as U.S. representative during post-war Paris Peace Conference. Retired again in 1920.
9		March, PeytonGeneral Peyton C. March (1864–1953)	20 May 1918	30 June 1921	3 years, 41 days	Retired at own request in 1921.
10		Pershing, JohnGeneral of the Armies John J. Pershing (1860–1948)	1 July 1921	13 September 1924	3 years, 74 days	Last Indian Wars veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired from active military service upon reaching age 64 in 1924.
11		Hines, JohnMajor General John L. Hines (1868–1968)	14 September 1924	20 November 1926	2 years, 68 days	Commanded IX Corps Area and Department of the Philippines; retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1932.
12		Summerall, CharlesGeneral Charles P. Summerall (1867–1955)	21 November 1926	20 November 1930	3 years, 364 days	Placed on extended leave until reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1931.
13		MacArthur, DouglasGeneral Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964)	21 November 1930	1 October 1935	4 years, 315 days	Supervised creation of the Philippine Army. Retired in 1937, and continued to serve in the Philippines as military advisor to the president. Recalled to active duty in 1941; led defense of the Philippines during World War II, and then commanded South West Pacific Area. Promoted to General of the Army on 18 December 1944. Served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in occupied Japan, and led initial U.S. and UNC effort during Korean War. Relieved of command and retired from active military service in 1951.
14		Craig, MalinGeneral Malin Craig (1875–1945)	2 October 1935	31 August 1939	3 years, 333 days	Last Spanish–American War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1939; recalled to active duty for World War II as head of the War Department Personnel Board.
15		Marshall, GeorgeGeneral of the Army George C. Marshall (1880–1959)	1 September 1939	18 November 1945	6 years, 78 days	Last Philippine–American War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Attained mandatory retirement age of 64 in 1944, but continued to serve as Chief of Staff. Relieved from active military duties in November 1945. Implemented the Marshall Plan as Secretary of State following World War II, for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. Later Secretary of Defense during the Korean War.
16		Eisenhower, DwightGeneral of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969)	19 November 1945	6 February 1948	2 years, 79 days	Relieved from active military duties in 1948. Recalled to active duty in 1951 to serve as first Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Retired in May 1952 upon becoming a candidate for President of the United States in the 1952 presidential election. Served two terms as President of the United States from 1953-1961. Returned to the active rolls as a General of the Army in 1961, with no assigned duties.
17		Bradley, OmarGeneral Omar Bradley (1893–1981)	7 February 1948	15 August 1949	1 year, 189 days	Appointed as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 19 August 1949. Promoted to General of the Army on 22 September 1950. Relieved as CJCS on 15 August 1953.
18		Collins, JosephGeneral J. Lawton Collins (1896–1987)	16 August 1949	14 August 1953	3 years, 363 days	US Representative to NATO from 1953 to 1954. Special representative of the United States in Vietnam from 1954 to 1955. US representative to NATO from 1955 until reaching mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1956.
19		Ridgway, MatthewGeneral Matthew B. Ridgway (1895–1993)	15 August 1953	29 June 1955	1 year, 319 days	Last World War I veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired in June 1955, declining age waiver that would have allowed him to complete full term.
20		Taylor, MaxwellGeneral Maxwell D. Taylor (1901–1987)	30 June 1955	30 June 1959	4 years, 0 days	Retired in 1959. Recalled to active duty in 1961 to serve as Military Representative to the President. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1962 to 1964. Retired in 1964 to become United States Ambassador to South Vietnam.
21		Lemnitzer, LymanGeneral Lyman L. Lemnitzer (1899–1988)	1 July 1959	30 September 1960	1 year, 91 days	Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1960 to 1962. Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, 1963 to 1969. Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1969.
22		Decker, GeorgeGeneral George H. Decker (1902–1980)	1 October 1960	30 September 1962	1 year, 364 days	Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1962.
23		Decker, GeorgeGeneral Earle G. Wheeler (1908–1975)	1 October 1962	2 July 1964	1 year, 275 days	Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1964 to 1970, including waiver to serve beyond mandatory retirement age of 60. Retired in 1970.
24		Johnson, HaroldGeneral Harold K. Johnson (1912–1983)	3 July 1964	2 July 1968	3 years, 365 days	Retired at end of term.
25		Westmoreland, WilliamGeneral William C. Westmoreland (1914–2005)	3 July 1968	30 June 1972	3 years, 363 days	Retired at end of term.
–		Westmoreland, WilliamGeneral Bruce Palmer Jr. (1913–2000) Acting	1 July 1972	11 October 1972	102 days	Resumed duties as Vice Chief of Staff upon appointment of Creighton W. Abrams as Chief of Staff. Commander, United States Readiness Command, 1973 to 1974. Retired in 1974.
26		Abrams, CreightonGeneral Creighton W. Abrams (1914–1974)	12 October 1972	4 September 1974 †	1 year, 328 days	Died in office.
27		Weyand, FrederickGeneral Frederick C. Weyand (1916–2010)	3 October 1974	30 September 1976	1 year, 363 days	Retired upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 60.
28		Rogers, BernardGeneral Bernard W. Rogers (1921–2008)	1 October 1976	21 June 1979	2 years, 263 days	Last World War II veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Supreme Allied Commander Europe, 1979 to 1987, including waiver to continue service past age 60. Retired in 1987.
29		Meyer, EdwardGeneral Edward C. Meyer (1928–2020)	22 June 1979	21 June 1983	3 years, 364 days	Last Korean War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired at end of term.
30		Wickham, JohnGeneral John A. Wickham Jr. (born 1928)	23 July 1983	23 June 1987	4 years, 0 days	Retired at end of term.
31		Vuono, CarlGeneral Carl E. Vuono (born 1934)	23 June 1987	21 June 1991	3 years, 363 days	Retired at end of term.
32		Sullivan, GordonGeneral Gordon R. Sullivan (born 1937)	21 June 1991	20 June 1995	3 years, 364 days	Retired at end of term.
33		Reimer, DennisGeneral Dennis J. Reimer (born 1939)	20 June 1995	21 June 1999	4 years, 1 day	Retired at end of term.
34		Shinseki, EricGeneral Eric K. Shinseki (born 1942)	21 June 1999	11 July 2004	5 years, 20 days	Last Vietnam War veteran to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired at end of term. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009-2014).
35		Schoomaker, PeterGeneral Peter J. Schoomaker (born 1946)	1 August 2004	10 April 2007	2 years, 252 days	Retired in 2000. Recalled to active duty to serve as Chief of Staff. Retired again at end of term.
36		Casey, GeorgeGeneral George W. Casey Jr. (born 1948)	10 April 2007	10 April 2011	4 years, 0 days	Retired at end of term.
37		Dempsey, MartinGeneral Martin E. Dempsey (born 1952)	11 April 2011	7 September 2011	149 days	Term shortened due to appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[4]
38		Odierno, RaymondGeneral Raymond T. Odierno (1954–2021)	7 September 2011	14 August 2015	3 years, 341 days	Retired at end of term.
39		Milley, MarkGeneral Mark A. Milley (born 1958)	14 August 2015	9 August 2019	3 years, 360 days	Appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
40		McConville, JamesGeneral James C. McConville (born 1959)	9 August 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 139 days	–

Timeline[]

See also[]

• Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
• Army Staff Senior Warrant Officer
• Sergeant Major of the Army

References[]

Citations[]

Sources[]

Further reading[]

• Bell, William Gardner (2005). Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff 1775-2005:Portraits & Biographical Sketches of the United States Army's Senior Officer. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. ISBN 0-16-072376-0. CMH Pub 70–14.

• Hewes, Jr., James E. From Root to McNamara: Army Organization and Administration, 1900–1963 (1975) .

• Semsch, Philip L. "Elihu Root and the General Staff." Military Affairs (1963): 16-27.
• Skowronek, Stephen. Building a New American State: The Expansion of National Administrative Capacities, 1877–1920 (Cambridge University Press, 1982) pp 212-247.
• Watson, Mark Skinner. Chief of Staff: Prewar Plans and Preparations. United States Army in World War II. Washington D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. - full text
• White, Richard D. "Civilian management of the military: Elihu Root and the 1903 reorganization of the army general staff." Journal of Management History (1998) 4#1 (1998), pp. 43-59.

External links[]

• The short film Big Picture: Top Soldier is available for free download at the Internet Archive.