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Director of the Joint Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal (2)
Seal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
James J. Mingus (2)
Incumbent
LTG James J. Mingus, USA
since 2 June 2022
Joint Staff
Abbreviation DJS
Reports to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Seat The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Appointer Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C. § 155
Inaugural holder MG Alfred M. Gruenther, USA
Formation 19 September 1949
Deputy Vice Director of the Joint Staff
Website www.jcs.mil

The Director of the Joint Staff (DJS) is a three-star officer who assists the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the management of the Joint Staff, an organization composed of approximately equal numbers of officers contributed by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, who have been assigned to assist the Chairman with the unified strategic direction, operation, and integration of the combatant land, naval, and air forces. 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 level of the four-star 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 Senate confirmation. The position of Director is considered one of the most desirable three-star billets in the United States military establishment,[2] for the position has historically served as a large stepping stone for an officer to be considered for a four-star billet.

The current Director of the Joint Staff is Lieutenant General David L. Goldfein, USAF.[3]

List of Directors of the Joint Staff[]

This is a complete list of the Directors of the Joint Staff.[4] 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
Major General Alfred M. Gruenther17 September 194719 September 19492 years, 2 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 1951.
2
Arthur C
Rear Admiral Arthur C. Davis20 September 19491 November 19512 years, 42 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral on retirement, 1955.
3
Charles P
Lieutenant General Charles P. Cabell2 November 195123 April 19531 year, 172 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1958.
4
Frank F
Lieutenant General Frank F. Everest24 April 195318 March 1954328 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1957.
5
Lemuel Mathewson
Lieutenant General Lemuel Mathewson19 March 195414 March 19561 year, 361 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Retired, 1958.
6
Bernard L
Vice Admiral Bernard L. Austin15 March 195631 March 19582 years, 16 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 1968.
7
Oliver S
Lieutenant General Oliver S. Picher1 April 195831 March 19601 year, 365 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Retired, 1960.
8
Earle Wheeler
Lieutenant General Earle Wheeler1 April 196024 February 19621 year, 329 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 1962.
9
Herbert D
Vice Admiral Herbert D. Riley25 February 196223 February 19641 year, 363 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 1964.
10
David A
Lieutenant General David A. Burchinal24 February 196431 July 19662 years, 157 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1966.
11
Andrew J
Lieutenant General Andrew J. Goodpaster1 August 196631 March 1967242 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 1968.
12
Berton E
Lieutenant General Berton E. Spivy1 April 196731 July 19681 year, 121 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 1968.
13
Nels C
Vice Admiral Nels C. Johnson1 August 196819 July 19701 year, 352 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 1970.
14
John W
Lieutenant General John W. Vogt20 July 19707 April 19721 year, 262 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1972.
Mason B
Rear Admiral Mason B. Freeman (Acting)8 April 197211 June 197264 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 1979.
15
George M
Lieutenant General George M. Seignious II12 June 197231 May 19741 year, 353 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Retired, 1974.
16
Harry D
Vice Admiral Harry D. Train II1 June 197430 June 19762 years, 29 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 1978.
17
Ray B
Lieutenant General Ray B. Sitton1 July 197630 June 1977364 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Retired, 1977.
18
Patrick J
Vice Admiral Patrick J. Hannifin1 July 197720 June 1978354 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 1978.
John A. Wickham Jr.
Major General John A. Wickham Jr. (Acting)1 July 197821 August 197851 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Appointed as 19th director.
19
John A. Wickham Jr.
Lieutenant General John A. Wickham Jr.22 August 197822 June 1979304 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 1979.
20
C
Vice Admiral C. Thor Hanson22 June 197930 June 19812 years, 8 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 1982.
21
James E
Lieutenant General James E. Dalton1 July 198130 June 19831 year, 364 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1983.
22
Jack N
Lieutenant General Jack N. Merritt1 July 198330 June 19851 year, 364 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
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 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 1987.
24
Robert W
Lieutenant General Robert W. RisCassi15 August 198730 November 19881 year, 107 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 1988.
25
Hansford T
Lieutenant General Hansford T. Johnson1 December 198820 September 1989293 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1989.
Major General Gene A. Deegan (Acting)21 September 198926 September 19895 daysEmblem of the United States Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps
Retired, 1991.
26
Michael P. C
Lieutenant General Michael P. C. Carns27 September 198916 May 19911 year, 231 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1991.
27
Henry Viccellio Jr.
Lieutenant General Henry Viccellio Jr.17 May 19911 December 19921 year, 198 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1992.
28
Richard C
Vice Admiral Richard C. Macke1 December 199217 July 19941 year, 228 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 1994.
Charles T. Robertson Jr.
Major General Charles T. Robertson Jr. (Acting)18 July 199424 July 19946 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1998.
29
Walter Kross
Lieutenant General Walter Kross25 July 199412 July 19961 year, 353 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 1996.
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.
Major General Carlton W. Fulford Jr. (Acting)13 July 199613 September 199662 daysEmblem of the United States Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps
Retired, 2002.
30
Dennis C
Vice Admiral Dennis C. Blair14 September 199612 December 19982 years, 89 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 1999.
31
Vern Clark
Vice Admiral Vern Clark13 December 199826 July 1999225 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 1999.
32
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.
Lieutenant General Carlton W. Fulford Jr.27 July 199914 July 2000353 daysEmblem of the United States Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps
Promoted to general, 2000.
33
Scott Fry
Vice Admiral Scott Fry15 July 200015 October 20011 year, 92 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 2003.
34
John P
Lieutenant General John P. Abizaid16 October 200123 January 20031 year, 99 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 2003.
35
George W. Casey Jr.
Lieutenant General George W. Casey Jr.24 January 200315 October 2003287 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 2003.
36
Timothy J
Vice Admiral Timothy J. Keating16 October 200320 October 20041 year, 4 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 2004.
37
Norton A
Lieutenant General Norton A. Schwartz21 October 200429 August 2005312 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 2005.
38
Walter L
Lieutenant General Walter L. Sharp30 August 200522 June 20082 years, 326 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 2008.
Stephen M
Major General Stephen M. Goldfein (Acting)23 June 200810 August 200848 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Brother of the 43rd director, David L. Goldfein.
39
Stanley A
Lieutenant General Stanley A. McChrystal11 August 200811 June 2009304 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 2009.
-
Bruce E
Rear Admiral Bruce E. Grooms (Acting)12 June 20098 August 200957 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Retired, 2015.
40
Lloyd Austin
Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin9 August 200913 July 2010338 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 2010.
41
William E
Vice Admiral William E. Gortney14 July 20108 August 20122 years, 25 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 2012.
42
Curtis M
Lieutenant General Curtis M. Scaparrotti9 August 201211 August 20131 year, 2 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 2013.
43
David L
Lieutenant General David L. Goldfein12 August 201331 July 20151 year, 353 daysMark of the United States Air Force
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 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Retired, 2018.
45
Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.
Lieutenant General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.31 July 201728 February 20191 year, 212 daysEmblem of the United States Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps
Promoted to general, 2019.
46
Michael M
Vice Admiral Michael M. Gilday1 March 201917 July 2019138 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Promoted to admiral, 2019.
Glen D
Major General Glen D. VanHerck (Acting)18 July 201926 September 201970 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to director.
47
Glen D
Lieutenant General Glen D. VanHerck27 September 20193 August 2020311 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
Promoted to general, 2020.
William D. Byrne Jr.
Rear Admiral William D. Byrne Jr. (Acting)3 August 202030 September 202058 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
Vice director of the Joint Staff from September 2019 to May 2021.
48
Andrew P
Lieutenant General Andrew P. Poppas1 October 20202 June 20221 year, 244 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Promoted to general, 2022.
49
James J
Lieutenant General James J. Mingus2 June 2022Incumbent2 years, 132 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
Served as Director for Operations (J3), the Joint Staff.

See also[]

References[]

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