[For the Department of Defense statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 32, Chapter I, Subchapter R] The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country. The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, consisting of about 1.4 million men and women on active duty. They are backed, in case of emergency, by the 1.3 million members of the Reserve and National Guard. In addition, there are about 700,000 civilian employees in the Defense Department. Under the President, who is also Commander in Chief, the Secretary of Defense exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department, which includes the separately organized military departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff providing military advice, the combatant commands, and defense agencies and field activities established for specific purposes. 201-944 D-6 The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 redesignated the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense and established it as an executive department (10 U.S.C. 111), headed by the Secretary of Defense. Structure The Department of Defense is composed Each military department is separately organized under its own Secretary and functions under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of each military department is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for the operation and efficiency of his department. Orders to the military departments are issued through the Secretaries of these departments or their designees, by the Secretary of Defense, or under authority specifically delegated in writing by the Secretary of Defense or provided by law. The commanders of the combatant commands are responsible to the President and the Secretary of Defense for accomplishing the military missions assigned to them and exercising command authority over forces assigned to them. The operational chain of command runs from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the commanders of the combatant commands. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff functions within the chain of command by transmitting the orders of the President or the Secretary of Defense to the commanders of the combatant commands. Office of the Secretary of Defense Secretary of Defense The Secretary of Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics staff assistant and adviser to the Personnel and Readiness The Under structure and readiness of the total force. Functional areas include readiness; civilian and military personnel policies, programs, and systems; civilian and military equal opportunity programs; health policies, programs, and activities; Reserve component programs, policies, and activities; family policy, dependents' education, and personnel support programs; mobilization planning and requirements; language capabilities and programs; and the Federal Voting Assistance Program. The Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) also serves as the Chief Human Capital Officer. Policy The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the principal staff assistant and adviser to the Secretary of Defense for policy matters relating to overall international security policy and political-military affairs and represents the Department at the National Security Council and other external agencies regarding national security policy. Functional areas include homeland defense; NATO affairs; foreign military sales; arms limitation agreements; international trade and technology security; regional security affairs; special Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Chiefs of Staff The Joint Chiefs of Staff consist of the Chairman; the Vice Chairman; the Chief of Staff of the Army; the Chief of Naval Operations; the Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military adviser to the President, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. The other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are military advisers who may provide additional information upon request from the President, the National Security Council, or the Secretary of Defense. They may also submit their advice when it does not agree with that of the Chairman. Subject to the authority of the President and the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is responsible for: operations and low-intensity conflict; stability operations; integration of departmental plans and policies with overall national security objectives; drug control policy, requirements, priorities, systems, resources, and programs; and issuance of policy guidance affecting departmental programs. Additional Staff In addition, the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense are assisted by a special staff of assistants, including the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs; the General Counsel; the Inspector General; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs; the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Intelligence Oversight); the Director of Administration and Management; the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer; the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation; Director, Force Transformation; Director, Net Assessment; Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation; and such other officers as the Secretary of Defense establishes to assist him in carrying out his duties and responsibilities. -assisting the President and the Secretary of Defense in providing for the strategic direction and planning of the Armed Forces; -allocating resources to fulfill strategic plans; -making recommendations for the assignment of responsibilities within the Armed Forces in accordance with and in support of those logistic and mobility plans; -comparing the capabilities of American and allied Armed Forces with those of potential adversaries; -preparing and reviewing contingency plans that conform to policy guidance from the President and the Secretary of Defense; -preparing joint logistic and mobility plans to support contingency plans; and -recommending assignment of logistic and mobility responsibilities to the Armed Forces to fulfill logistic and mobility plans. The Chairman, while so serving, holds the grade of general or admiral and outranks all other officers of the Armed Forces. The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs performs duties assigned by the Chairman, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. The Vice Chairman acts as Chairman when there is a vacancy in the office of the Chairman, or in the absence or disability of the Chairman. The Vice Chairman, while so serving, holds the grade of general or admiral and outranks all other officers of the Armed Forces except the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Staff The Joint Staff, under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, assists the Chairman and the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out their responsibilities. The Joint Staff is headed by a Director who is selected by the Chairman in consultation with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. Officers assigned to serve on the Joint Staff are selected by the Chairman in approximate equal numbers from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Combatant Commands The combatant commands are military commands with broad continuing missions maintaining the security and defense of the United States against attack; supporting and advancing the national policies and interests of the United States and discharging U.S. military responsibilities in their assigned areas; and preparing plans, conducting operations, and coordinating activities of the forces assigned to them in accordance with the directives of higher authority. The operational chain of command runs from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the commanders of the combatant commands. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as the spokesman for the commanders of the combatant commands, especially on the operational requirements of their commands. Combatant Commands Command Central European Joint Forces USCENTCOM, 7115 S. Boundary Blvd., MacDill AFB, FL Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA 33621-5101. USEUCOM, APO AE 09705 Gen. James L. Jones, Jr., USMC USJFCOM, Suite 200, 1562 Mitscher Ave., Norfolk, VA Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., 23551-2488. USN Pacific Southern Northern USPACCOM, Box 64028, Camp H.M. Smith, HI 96861- Adm. William J. Fallon, USN 4028. USSOUTHCOM, 3511 NW. 91st Ave., Miami, FL 33172 USNORTHCOM, Suite 116, 250 S. Peterson Blvd., Peterson AFB, CO 80914-3010. Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, USA Adm. Timothy J. Keating, USN Special Operations Strategic Transportation USSOCOM, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd., MacDill AFB, FL 33621-5323. USSTRATCOM, Suite 2A1, 901 SAC Blvd., Offutt AFB, NE Gen. James E. Cartwright, USMC 68113-6000. USTRANSCOM, Rm. 339, 508 Scott Dr., Scott AFB, IL Gen. John W. Handy, USAF 62225-5357. Gen. Charles R. Holland, USAF |