Who directs the Joint Staff?

• A. The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• B. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• C. The Secretary of Defense
• D. The President

Answer: (B)

Direct leadership of the Joint Staff comes from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Chairman is the senior uniformed officer and serves as the principal military adviser to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council, guiding the Joint Staff to provide integrated, unified military advice and planning. The Vice Chairman acts as the deputy and advisor but does not direct the Joint Staff. The Secretary of Defense oversees the Department of Defense as a whole, and the President, while in command, does not run the Joint Staff on a day-to-day basis.