Director of the Joint Staff
| Director of the Joint Staff | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | |
 | |
| Formation | 19 September 1949 |
| First holder | MG Alfred M. Gruenther, USA |
| Website | www |
The Director of the Joint Staff (DJS) is a three-star officer who assists the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a cabinet of senior military officers within the United States Armed Forces who advise the Secretary of Defense and President on military matters. The Director assists the Chairman in managing the Joint Staff and with the management and organization of the staff's members. The Director also chairs meetings of the Operations Deputies, a subsidiary body comprising the Director and a three-star delegate from each service who preview or resolve issues before they are escalated to the four-star level of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[1]
The Director of the Joint Staff is selected by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in consultation with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense.[1] As with all three- and four-star positions, the Director's appointment is subject to presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.
The position of Director is considered one of the most desirable three-star positions in the United States military establishment, for the position has historically served as a stepping stone to a four-star position.[2] As of February 2019, 35 of the 47 past directors and one past, short-term, acting director, have been promoted to four-star rank. Many of them have been promoted to four-star rank within a year of leaving the position of Director of the Joint Staff.
The current Director of the Joint Staff is Lieutenant General Glen D. VanHerck.
List of Directors of the Joint Staff
This is a complete list of the Directors of the Joint Staff.[3]
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Vice Director
| No. | Director | Term | Service branch | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| - | Major General Stephen M. Goldfein | February 2007 | 28 July 2008 | ~ 1 year, 178 days |  U.S. Air Force | |
| - | Major General Walter E. Gaskin | 28 July 2008 | May 2009 | ~ 277 days |  U.S. Marine Corps | |
| - | Rear Admiral Bruce A. Grooms | May 2009 | November 2010 | ~ 1 year, 184 days |  U.S. Navy | |
| - | Major General Craig A. Franklin | November 2010 | March 2012 | ~ 1 year, 121 days | U.S. Air Force | |
| - | Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson | March 2012 | July 2013 | ~ 1 year, 122 days | U.S. Navy | |
| - | Major General Frederick S. Rudesheim | ~ July 2013 | February 2015 | ~ 1 year, 215 days |  U.S. Army | |
| - | Major General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost | February 2015 | August 2017 | ~ 2 years, 181 days | U.S. Air Force | |
| - | Rear Admiral Michael J. Dumont | ~ July 2017 | August 2018 | ~ 1 year, 31 days | U.S. Navy | |
| - | Major General Glen D. VanHerck | August 2018 | September 2019 | ~ 1 year, 31 days | U.S. Air Force | |
| - | Rear Admiral William D. Byrne Jr. | September 2019 | Incumbent | ~ 5 years, 43 days | U.S. Navy | |
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See also
- List of active duty United States four-star officers
- List of United States Army four-star generals
- List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals
- List of United States Navy four-star admirals
- List of United States Air Force four-star generals
References
- ^ a b Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Director Responsibility Statement". Joint Chiefs of Staff. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
- ^ Woodward, Bob (2006). State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III. Simon and Schuster. pp. 22, 40. ISBN 978-0-7432-7223-0.
scott fry joint staff.
- ^ Historical Office (2004). "Department of Defense Key Officials, 1947–2004". Office of the Secretary of Defense. p. 61. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009.