Who establishes unified combatant commands?

• A. The U.S. Congress
• B. The Secretary of Defense
• C. The U.S. President, assisted by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense.
• D. The United Nations Security Council

Answer: (C)

In this area, the President has the authority to establish unified combatant commands, and does so with the guidance and support of the top military and civilian leadership. The President, as Commander in Chief, directs the creation, modification, or disestablishment of unified commands, while the Secretary of Defense implements these decisions and coordinates the forces and resources across the services. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff provides military advice to inform these decisions and helps shape the force structure. The United Nations Security Council has no role in U.S. military command organization, and Congress does not directly establish these commands. So the arrangement—the President assisted by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—best captures who establishes unified combatant commands.