Leader of The Joint Staff Past and Present

Chairman

Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy	From	To
*Fleet ADM William D. Leahy	20 Jul 42	21 Mar 49
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
*GENERAL of the ARMY Omar N. Bradley, USA	16 Aug 49	15 Aug 53
*ADM Arthur W. Radford, USN	15 Aug 53	15 Aug 57
*GEN Nathan F. Twining, USAF	15 Aug 57	30 Sep 60
*GEN Lyman L. Lemnitzer, USA	01 Oct 60	30 Sep 62
*GEN Maxwell D. Taylor, USA	01 Oct 62	01 Jul 64
*GEN Earle G. Wheeler, USA	03 Jul 64	02 Jul 70
ADM Thomas H. Moorer, USN	02 Jul 70	01 Jul 74
*GEN George S. Brown, USAF	01 Jul 74	20 Jun 78
GEN David C. Jones, USAF	21 Jun 78	18 Jun 82
GEN John W. Vessey, Jr., USA	18 Jun 82	30 Sep 85
ADM William J. Crowe, Jr., USN	01 Oct 85	30 Sep 89
GEN Colin L. Powell, USA	01 Oct 89	30 Sep 93
ADM David E. Jeremiah, USN (acting)	01 Oct 93	24 Oct 93
GEN John M. Shalikashvili, USA	25 Oct 93	30 Sep 97
GEN Henry H. Shelton, USA	1 Oct 97	30 Sep 2001
GEN Richard B. Myers, USAF	1 October 2001	present

* Deceased

The position of Chairman was created by the 1949 Amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 approved 10 August 1949. The Chairman is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Originally, the Chairman served a two-year term with eligibility for a second two-year term, except in time of war when there would have been no limit on the number of reappointments. Since 1 October 1986, the Chairman is appointed for a two-year term beginning on 1 October of odd-numbered years. He may be reappointed for two additional terms, except in time of war when there is no limit on the number of reappointments. An officer may not serve as Chairman or Vice Chairman if his combined service in such positions exceeds six years.

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