Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force

The chief of staff of the Air Force (acronym: CSAF, or AF/CC) is a statutory office (10 U.S.C. § 9033) held by a general in the United States Air Force, and as such is the principal military advisor to the secretary of the Air Force on matter pertaining to the Air Force; and is in a separate capacity (10 U.S.C. § 151), a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and thereby a military adviser to the National Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the President. The chief of staff is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty in the Air Force unless the chairman and/or the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are Air Force officers.

Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Seal of the Chief of Staff
Flag of the Chief of Staff
Incumbent
General Charles Q. Brown Jr.

since 6 August 2020
United States Air Force
Air Staff
TypeChief of Staff
AbbreviationCSAF or AF/CC
Member ofJoint Chiefs of Staff
Reports toSecretary of Defense
Secretary of the Air Force
ResidenceQuarters 7, Fort Myer
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length4 years
Renewable
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 8033
PrecursorCommanding General, United States Army Air Forces
Formation18 September 1947
First holderCarl A. Spaatz
DeputyVice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
WebsiteOfficial Website

The chief of staff of the Air Force is an administrative position based in the Pentagon, and while the chief of staff does not have operational command authority over Air Force forces (that is within the purview of the combatant commanders who report to the secretary of defense), the chief of staff does exercise supervision of Air Force units and organizations as the designee of the secretary of the Air Force.

The current chief of staff of the Air Force is General Charles Q. Brown Jr..

Responsibilities

Department of the Air Force

Under the authority, direction and control of the secretary of the Air Force, the chief of staff presides over the Air Staff, acts as the Secretary's executive agent in carrying out approved plans, and exercises supervision, consistent with authority assigned to the commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands, over organizations and members of the Air Force as determined by the Secretary. The chief of staff may also perform other duties as assigned by either the president, the secretary of defense or the secretary of the Air Force.[1]

The vice chief of staff of the Air Force, also a four-star general, is the chief of staff's principal deputy.[2]

Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The chief of staff of the Air Force is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as prescribed by 10 U.S.C. § 151. When performing his JCS duties the chief of staff is responsible directly to the secretary of defense. Like the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief of staff is an administrative position, with no operational command authority over the United States Air Force.

Appointment and rank

The chief of staff is nominated for appointment by the president and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate.[1] By statute, The chief of staff is appointed as a four-star general.[1]

Special uniform cap

The chief of staff is also authorized to wear a special service cap with clouds and lightning bolts around the band of the hat. This cap is different from those worn by other general officers of the Air Force and it is for use by the Chief of Staff and Air Force officers serving as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

List of chiefs of staff of the Air Force (1947–present)

Prior to the creation of this position, General Henry H. Arnold was designated the first chief of the Army Air Forces and as the commanding general of the Army Air Forces during World War II.

*Symbolizes chiefs that have went on to serve as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is General Nathan F. Twining, General George S. Brown and General David C. Jones.

No. Portrait Chief of Staff of the Air ForceTook officeLeft officeTime in officePrimary BackgroundPrevious officePresident
serving under
1
Spaatz, CarlGeneral
Carl Spaatz
(1891–1974)
September 26, 1947April 29, 1948216 daysFightersCommanding General, United States Army Air ForcesTruman, HarryHarry S. Truman
2
General
Hoyt S. Vandenberg
(1899–1954)
April 30, 1948June 29, 19535 years, 60 daysAttack and FightersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceHarry S. Truman
Dwight Eisenhower
3
General
Nathan F. Twining*
(1897–1982)
June 30, 1953June 30, 19574 years, 0 daysFighters and BombersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceDwight Eisenhower
4
General
Thomas D. White
(1901–1965)
July 1, 1957June 30, 19613 years, 336 daysObservation aircraft and StaffVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceDwight Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
5
General
Curtis E. LeMay
(1906–1990)
June 30, 1961January 31, 19653 years, 215 daysBombersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceJohn F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
6
General
John P. McConnell
(1908–1986)
February 1, 1965July 31, 19694 years, 180 daysFightersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceLyndon B. Johnson
Richard M. Nixon
7
General
John D. Ryan
(1915–1983)
August 1, 1969July 31, 19733 years, 364 daysBombersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceRichard M. Nixon
8
General
George S. Brown*
(1918–1978)
August 1, 1973June 30, 1974333 daysBombersCommander, Air Force Systems CommandRichard M. Nixon
9
General
David C. Jones*
(1921–2013)
July 1, 1974June 20, 19783 years, 354 daysBombersCommander-in-Chief, United States Air Forces in Europe
Commander, Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force
Richard M. Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
10
General
Lew Allen Jr.
(1925–2010)
July 1, 1978June 30, 19823 years, 336 daysBombersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceJimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
11
General
Charles A. Gabriel
(1928–2003)
July 1, 198230 June 19863 years, 364 daysFightersCommander-in-Chief, United States Air Forces in EuropeRonald Reagan
12
General
Larry D. Welch
(born 1934)
July 1,1986June 30, 19903 years, 364 daysFightersCommander-in-Chief, Strategic Air CommandRonald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
13
General
Michael Dugan
(born 1937)
July 1, 1990September 17, 199078 daysFightersCommander-in-Chief, United States Air Forces in EuropeGeorge H. W. Bush
General
John M. Loh
(born 1938)
Acting
September 18, 1990October 29, 199041 daysFightersVice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (1990–1991)George H. W. Bush
14
General
Merrill A. McPeak
(born 1936)
October 30, 1990October 25, 19943 years, 360 daysFightersActing Secretary of the United States Air Force (July 14, 1993 – August 5, 1993)
Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Air Forces
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
15
General
Ronald R. Fogleman
(born 1942)
October 26, 1994September 1, 19972 years, 310 daysFightersCommanding General, United States Transportation CommandBill Clinton
General
Ralph E. Eberhart
(born 1946)
Acting
September 2, 1997October 5, 199733 daysFightersVice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (June 1997 – June 1999)Bill Clinton
16
General
Michael E. Ryan
(born 1941)
October 6, 1997September 5, 20014 years, 31 daysFightersCommander, Allied Air Forces Southern EuropeBill Clinton
George W. Bush
17
General
John P. Jumper
(born 1945)
September 6, 2001September 1, 20053 years, 361 daysFightersCommander, Air Combat CommandGeorge W. Bush
18
General
T. Michael Moseley
(born 1949)
September 2, 2005July 11, 20082 years, 314 daysFightersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceGeorge W. Bush
General
Duncan J. McNabb
(born 1952)
Acting
July 12, 2008August 12, 200830 daysAirliftVice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (September 2007 – September 2008)George W. Bush
19
General
Norton A. Schwartz
(born 1951)
August 12, 2008August 10, 20123 years, 364 daysAirlift and Special Operations aircraftCommander, U.S. Transportation CommandGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
20
General
Mark A. Welsh III
(born 1953)
August 10, 2012June 24, 20163 years, 319 daysAttack and FightersCommander, United States Air Forces in EuropeBarack Obama
21
General
David L. Goldfein
(born 1959)
July 1, 2016August 6, 20204 years, 36 daysFightersVice Chief of Staff of the Air ForceBarack Obama
Donald J. Trump
22
General
Charles Q. Brown Jr.
(born 1962)
August 6, 2020Incumbent186 daysFighters and BombersCommander, Pacific Air ForcesDonald J. Trump
Joe Biden

References

  1. 10 USC 8033. Chief of Staff
  2. 10 USC 8034. Vice Chief of Staff
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