Joint Chiefs of Staff

American  

noun

U.S. Military.

1. the chiefs of staff of the army and the air force, the commandant of the marine corps, and the chief of naval operations, together with a chairman selected from one of the branches of the armed forces, serving as the principal military advisory body to the president, the National Security Council, and the secretary of defense.

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Joint Chiefs of Staff Cultural  

1. A high-level military advisory board in the Department of Defense, composed of high-ranking representatives of the army, navy, air force, and marines. The Joint Chiefs are responsible for formulating military policy and recommending action regarding issues of national security and international relations.

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Example Sentences

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dismissed the attacks by Iran on ships in the Strait of Hormuz this week as “low harassing fire.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Hegseth appeared before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine and the defence department's chief financial officer Jules Hurst.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, said the US blockade would be enforced further east, at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is one such man.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

“The Joint Chiefs of Staff should develop such an intelligence system,” Bull grumbled.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy