Top U.S. Military Leaders in the Department of Defense
- Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) – Highest-ranking officer; principal military advisor to President, SecDef, NSC.
- Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs (VCJCS) – Deputy to CJCS; acts when CJCS unavailable.
- Service Chiefs – Army Chief of Staff, Marine Commandant, CNO, Air Force Chief of Staff, Coast Guard Commandant.
- Combatant Commanders (11) – Geographic/functional: NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM, EUCOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM, INDOPACOM, SOCOM, CYBERCOM, TRANSCOM, STRATCOM, SPACECOM.