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Director of the Joint Staff
Seal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Incumbent
LTG Douglas A. Sims II, USA
since 3 January 2024
Joint Staff
AbbreviationDJS
Reports toChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
AppointerChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 155
Inaugural holderMG Alfred M. Gruenther, USA
Formation19 September 1949
DeputyVice Director of the Joint Staff
Websitewww.jcs.mil

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 the president on military matters. The director assists the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 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 January 2024, 38 of the 49 past directors and one past 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.

The current director of the Joint Staff is Lieutenant General Douglas A. Sims II.

List of Directors of the Joint Staff

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This is a complete list of the Directors of the Joint Staff.[3] An asterisk (*) indicates an acting Director.

Of the 41 Directors of the Joint Staff as of 2012, 30 have been promoted to four-star rank while on active duty, as has one acting Director; and a 31st former Director was promoted to that rank upon retirement. Moreover, 22 of the last 23 Directors have been promoted to four-star rank within a year of leaving the Joint Staff.

No. Director Term Service branch Notes
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Alfred M. Gruenther
Major General
Alfred M. Gruenther		17 September 194719 September 19492 years, 2 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 1951.
2
Arthur C. Davis
Rear Admiral
Arthur C. Davis		20 September 19491 November 19512 years, 42 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral on retirement, 1955.
3
Charles P. Cabell
Lieutenant General
Charles P. Cabell		2 November 195123 April 19531 year, 172 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1958.
4
Frank F. Everest
Lieutenant General
Frank F. Everest		24 April 195318 March 1954328 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1957.
5
Lemuel Mathewson
Lieutenant General
Lemuel Mathewson		19 March 195414 March 19561 year, 361 days
U.S. Army		Retired, 1958.
6
Bernard L. Austin
Vice Admiral
Bernard L. Austin		15 March 195631 March 19582 years, 16 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 1968.
7
Oliver S. Picher
Lieutenant General
Oliver S. Picher		1 April 195831 March 19601 year, 365 days
U.S. Air Force		Retired, 1960.
8
Earle Wheeler
Lieutenant General
Earle Wheeler		1 April 196024 February 19621 year, 329 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 1962.
9
Herbert D. Riley
Vice Admiral
Herbert D. Riley		25 February 196223 February 19641 year, 363 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 1964.
10
David A. Burchinal
Lieutenant General
David A. Burchinal		24 February 196431 July 19662 years, 157 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1966.
11
Andrew J. Goodpaster
Lieutenant General
Andrew J. Goodpaster		1 August 196631 March 1967242 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 1968.
12
Berton E. Spivy
Lieutenant General
Berton E. Spivy		1 April 196731 July 19681 year, 121 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 1968.
13
Nels C. Johnson
Vice Admiral
Nels C. Johnson		1 August 196819 July 19701 year, 352 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 1970.
14
John W. Vogt
Lieutenant General
John W. Vogt		20 July 19707 April 19721 year, 262 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1972.
–
Mason B. Freeman
Rear Admiral
Mason B. Freeman
Acting		8 April 197211 June 197264 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 1979.
15
George M. Seignious II
Lieutenant General
George M. Seignious II		12 June 197231 May 19741 year, 353 days
U.S. Army		Retired, 1974.
16
Harry D. Train II
Vice Admiral
Harry D. Train II		1 June 197430 June 19762 years, 29 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 1978.
17
Ray B. Sitton
Lieutenant General
Ray B. Sitton		1 July 197630 June 1977364 days
U.S. Air Force		Retired, 1977.
18
Patrick J. Hannifin
Vice Admiral
Patrick J. Hannifin		1 July 197720 June 1978354 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 1978.
–
John A. Wickham Jr.
Major General
John A. Wickham Jr.
Acting		1 July 197821 August 197851 days
U.S. Army		Appointed as 19th director.
19
John A. Wickham Jr.
Lieutenant General
John A. Wickham Jr.		22 August 197822 June 1979304 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 1979.
20
C. Thor Hanson
Vice Admiral
C. Thor Hanson		22 June 197930 June 19812 years, 8 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 1982.
21
James E. Dalton
Lieutenant General
James E. Dalton		1 July 198130 June 19831 year, 364 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1983.
22
Jack N. Merritt
Lieutenant General
Jack N. Merritt		1 July 198330 June 19851 year, 364 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 1985.
23
Powell F. Carter Jr.
Vice Admiral
Powell F. Carter Jr.		1 July 198514 August 19872 years, 44 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 1987.
24
Robert W. RisCassi
Lieutenant General
Robert W. RisCassi		15 August 198730 November 19881 year, 107 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 1988.
25
Hansford T. Johnson
Lieutenant General
Hansford T. Johnson		1 December 198820 September 1989293 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1989.
–
Gene A. Deegan
Major General
Gene A. Deegan
Acting		21 September 198926 September 19895 days
U.S. Marine Corps		Retired, 1991.
26
Michael P.C. Carns
Lieutenant General
Michael P.C. Carns		27 September 198916 May 19911 year, 231 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1991.
27
Henry Viccellio Jr.
Lieutenant General
Henry Viccellio Jr.		17 May 19911 December 19921 year, 198 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1992.
28
Richard C. Macke
Vice Admiral
Richard C. Macke		1 December 199217 July 19941 year, 228 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 1994.
–
Charles T. Robertson Jr.
Major General
Charles T. Robertson Jr.
Acting		18 July 199424 July 19946 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1998.
29
Walter Kross
Lieutenant General
Walter Kross		25 July 199412 July 19961 year, 353 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 1996.
–
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.
Major General
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.
Acting		13 July 199613 September 199662 days
U.S. Marine Corps		Retired, 2002.
30
Dennis C. Blair
Vice Admiral
Dennis C. Blair		14 September 199612 December 19982 years, 89 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 1999.
31
Vern Clark
Vice Admiral
Vern Clark		13 December 199826 July 1999225 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 1999.
32
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.
Lieutenant General
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.		27 July 199914 July 2000353 days
U.S. Marine Corps		Promoted to general, 2000.
33
Scott Fry
Vice Admiral
Scott Fry		15 July 200015 October 20011 year, 92 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 2003.
34
John P. Abizaid
Lieutenant General
John P. Abizaid		16 October 200123 January 20031 year, 99 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2003.
35
George W. Casey Jr.
Lieutenant General
George W. Casey Jr.		24 January 200315 October 2003287 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2003.
36
Timothy J. Keating
Vice Admiral
Timothy J. Keating		16 October 200320 October 20041 year, 4 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 2004.
37
Norton A. Schwartz
Lieutenant General
Norton A. Schwartz		21 October 200429 August 2005312 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 2005.
38
Walter L. Sharp
Lieutenant General
Walter L. Sharp		30 August 200522 June 20082 years, 326 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2008.
–
Stephen M. Goldfein
Major General
Stephen M. Goldfein
Acting		23 June 200810 August 200848 days
U.S. Air Force		Brother of the 43rd director, David L. Goldfein.
39
Stanley A. McChrystal
Lieutenant General
Stanley A. McChrystal		11 August 200811 June 2009304 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2009.
-
Bruce E. Grooms
Rear Admiral
Bruce E. Grooms
Acting		12 June 20098 August 200957 days
U.S. Navy		Retired, 2015.
40
Lloyd Austin
Lieutenant General
Lloyd Austin		9 August 200913 July 2010338 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2010.
41
William E. Gortney
Vice Admiral
William E. Gortney		14 July 20108 August 20122 years, 25 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 2012.
42
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
Lieutenant General
Curtis M. Scaparrotti		9 August 201211 August 20131 year, 2 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2013.
43
David L. Goldfein
Lieutenant General
David L. Goldfein		12 August 201331 July 20151 year, 353 days
U.S. Air Force		Brother of acting director, Stephen M. Goldfein.
Promoted to general, 2015.
44
William C. Mayville Jr.
Lieutenant General
William C. Mayville Jr.		1 August 201530 July 20171 year, 363 days
U.S. Army		Retired, 2018.
45
Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.
Lieutenant General
Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.		31 July 201728 February 20191 year, 212 days
U.S. Marine Corps		Promoted to general, 2019.
46
Michael M. Gilday
Vice Admiral
Michael M. Gilday		1 March 201917 July 2019138 days
U.S. Navy		Promoted to admiral, 2019.
–
Glen D. VanHerck
Major General
Glen D. VanHerck
Acting		18 July 201926 September 201970 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to director.
47
Glen D. VanHerck
Lieutenant General
Glen D. VanHerck		27 September 20193 August 2020311 days
U.S. Air Force		Promoted to general, 2020.
–
William D. Byrne Jr.
Rear Admiral
William D. Byrne Jr.
Acting		3 August 202030 September 202058 days
U.S. Navy		Vice director of the Joint Staff from September 2019 to May 2021.
48
Andrew P. Poppas
Lieutenant General
Andrew P. Poppas		1 October 20202 June 20221 year, 244 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2022.
49
James J. Mingus
Lieutenant General
James J. Mingus		2 June 20223 January 20241 year, 215 days
U.S. Army		Promoted to general, 2024.
50
Douglas A. Sims II
Lieutenant General
Douglas A. Sims II		3 January 2024Incumbent293 days
U.S. Army		Served as Director for Operations (J3), the Joint Staff.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Director Responsibility Statement". Joint Chiefs of Staff. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Historical Office (2004), Department of Defense Key Officials, 1947–2004, Office of the Secretary of Defense, p. 61
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