The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the
armed forces
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporting
staff or a primary
aide-de-camp to an important individual, such as a
president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
, or a senior military officer, or leader of a large organization.
In general, a chief of staff provides a buffer between a chief executive and that executive's direct-reporting team. The chief of staff generally works behind the scenes to solve problems, mediate disputes, and deal with issues before they are brought to the chief executive. Often chiefs of staff act as a confidant and advisor to the chief executive, acting as a sounding board for ideas. Ultimately the actual duties depend on the position and the people involved.
Civilian
Government
Brazil
*
Chief of Staff of the Presidency
The Minister Head of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic ( pt, Ministro Chefe da Casa Civil da Presidência da República) is the chief of staff of the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), o ...
Canada
*
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
*
Principal Secretary The Principal Secretary is a senior government official in various Commonwealth countries.
* Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
* Principal Secretary to the President of Pakistan
* Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Ind ...
India
*
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India
The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India (PS to the PM) is the senior-most bureaucrat in, and the administrative head of, the Prime Minister's Office. The officeholder is generally a civil servant, commonly from the Indian Adminis ...
Nigeria
*
Chief of Staff to the President
Pakistan
*
Principal Secretary to the President
*
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
Philippines
*
Chief of Staff (Philippines)
The Malacañang Chief of Staff, named after Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the president of the Philippines, also referred to as the "presidential chief of staff," was an official position under the Office of the President of the ...
, a former position in the
Cabinet of the Philippines
The Cabinet of the Philippines ( fil, Gabinete ng Pilipinas, usually referred to as the Cabinet or Gabinete) consists of the heads of the largest part of the executive branch of the national government of the Philippines. Currently, it includes ...
, serving under the
President of the Philippines
The president of the Philippines ( fil, Pangulo ng Pilipinas, sometimes referred to as ''Presidente ng Pilipinas'') is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of t ...
South Korea
*
Chief Presidential Secretary, chief of staff to the
President of South Korea
The president of the Republic of Korea (), also known as the president of South Korea (often abbreviated to POTROK or POSK; ), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Korea. The president leads the State Council, and is ...
Spain
*
Moncloa Chief of Staff
The Moncloa Chief of Staff, officially called Director of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, is the most senior political appointee in the Office of the Prime Minister of Spain. The Chief of Staff is appointed by the Prime Minister as its senior ...
United Kingdom
*
Private Secretary to the Sovereign
*
Downing Street Chief of Staff
The office of Downing Street Chief of Staff is the most senior political appointee in the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, acting as a senior aide to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The holder of the office retains ...
*
Cabinet Secretary
*
Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
*
United States
*
Chief of staff, the most senior staff member in the office of a member of the United States Congress
*
White House Chief of Staff
Military
In general, the positions listed below are not "chiefs of staff" as defined at the top of this page; they are the heads of the various forces/commands and tend to have subordinates that fulfill the "chief of staff" roles.
In general
*
Chief of the Defence
*
Chief of the Defence Staff
*
Chief of the General Staff The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is a post in many armed forces (militaries), the head of the military staff.
List
* Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( United States)
* Chief of the General Staff (Abkhazia)
* Chief of General Staff (Af ...
*
Chief of the Army Staff
*
Chief of the Air Staff
*
Chief of the Naval Staff
*
:Vice chiefs of staff
Azerbaijan
*
Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic ( az, Azərbaycan Respublikası Silahlı Qüvvələri Baş Qərargahı) is the military staff of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. It is the central organ of the Armed Forces Administration ...
- head of General Staff of
Azerbaijani Armed Forces
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces ( az, Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri) were re-established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) had originally formed ...
Canada
*
Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
The chief of the Defence Staff (CDS; french: chef d'état-major de la Défense; french: CEMD, label=none) is the professional head of the Canadian Armed Forces. As the senior military position, the chief of the Defence Staff advises the Cabine ...
**
Chief of the Air Staff (Canada)
The Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (French: ''commandant de l'Aviation royale canadienne'') is the institutional head of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This appointment also includes the title Chief of the Air Force Staff and is based a ...
France
*
Chief of the Defence Staff (French: , CEMA)
**
Chief of Staff of the French Air Force (French: , CEMAA)
**
Chief of Staff of the French Army (French: , CEMAT)
**
Chief of Staff of the French Navy
The Chief of the Naval Staff (French: Chef d’état-major de la Marine, acronym: CEMM) is a French general officer, adviser to the Chief of the Defence Staff for the French Navy and responsible to the Minister of the Armed Forces for preparin ...
(French: , CEMM)
**
Chief of Staff of the French Gendarmerie
Chief may refer to:
Title or rank
Military and law enforcement
* Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force
* Chief of police, the head of a police department
* Chief of the boa ...
(French: , DGGN)
Ghana
*
Chief of Defence Staff
**
Chief of the Army Staff
**
Chief of the Navy Staff
**
Chief of the Air Staff
Greece
*
Chief of the Defence Staff (Greece)
**
Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Air Force
Chief may refer to:
Title or rank
Military and law enforcement
* Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force
* Chief of police, the head of a police department
* Chief of the boa ...
**Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Army
**Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Navy
India
*Chief of Defence Staff (India), Chief of Defence Staff (Indian Armed Forces)
**Chief of the Army Staff (India), Chief of the Army Staff (Indian Army)
**Chief of the Naval Staff (India), Chief of the Naval Staff (Indian Navy)
**Chief of the Air Staff (India), Chief of the Air Staff (Indian Air Force)
Indonesia
*Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army
*Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy
*Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force
Ireland
*Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces
Israel
*Chief of the General Staff (Israel), Chief of the Israeli General Staff
Italy
*Chief of the Defence Staff
**Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Chief of the Army Staff
**Chief of the Navy Staff
**Chief of the Air Force Staff
Pakistan
*Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
**Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan), Chief of Army Staff
***Chief of General Staff (Pakistan), CGS
**Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan), Chief of Naval Staff
***Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (Pakistan), Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
**Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)
Philippines
*Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, later renamed to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (Philippines), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, AFP - exercises command and control over all elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Portugal
* General Staff of the Armed Forces of Portugal, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (Portuguese language, Portuguese: , CEMGFA) - operational commander of the Portuguese Armed Forces
** Chief of Staff of the Navy (Portuguese: , CEMA) - commander of the Portuguese Navy
** Chief of Staff of the Army (Portuguese: , CEME) - commander of the Portuguese Army
** Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Portuguese: , CEMFA) - commander of the Portuguese Air Force
Spain
* Chief of the Defence Staff (Spain), Chief of the Defence Staff
** Chief of Staff of the Army (Spain), Chief of Staff of the Army
** Chief of Staff of the Navy (Spain), Chief of Staff of the Navy
** Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Spain), Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Sri Lanka
*Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka), Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka) - the most senior appointment in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
** Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka), Chief of Staff of the Army - deputy commander of the Sri Lankan Army
** Chief of Staff of the Navy - deputy commander of the Sri Lankan Navy
** Chief of Staff of the Air Force - deputy commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force
United Kingdom
*Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom), Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) - the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
**Chief of the Naval Staff, more commonly called the First Sea Lord
**Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom), Chief of the General Staff, formerly the Chief of the Imperial General Staff
**Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom), Chief of the Air Staff
The Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Sovereign is the Commander-in-Chief. The CDS heads the Chiefs of Staff Committee and is assisted by the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom), Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.
United States
* Joint Chiefs of Staff, headed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS)
** Chief of Staff of the United States Army
*** An Army General (United States), general (O-10) serving as the senior ranking officer within the United States Army, but subordinate to any Army O-10 serving as CJCS or Vice CJCS
** Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
*** An Air Force General (United States), general (O-10) serving as the senior ranking officer within the United States Air Force, but subordinate to any USAF O-10 serving as CJCS or Vice CJCS
* In unified combatant commands, headed by a General (United States), general (O-10) or Navy Admiral (United States), admiral (O-10)
** A Major general (United States), major general (O-8) or Navy or Coast Guard Rear admiral (United States), rear admiral (O-8) overseeing the command's directorates
* In military commands headed by a Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general (O-9), Vice admiral (United States), vice admiral (O-9), Major general (United States), major general (O-8) or Rear admiral (United States), rear admiral (O-8), or Brigadier general (United States), brigadier general (O-7) or Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half), rear admiral, lower half (O-7)
** A Colonel (United States), colonel (O-6) or Navy or Coast Guard Captain (United States O-6), captain (O-6) overseeing the entire general officer's/flag officer's command staff; in some cases may also be referred to as an ''executive assistant'' or ''executive officer''
*** In some commands and organizations, two officers in pay grade O-6 may be assigned as chief of staff and executive assistant, respectively.
See also
* Chief of Defence
* Chief Secretary (disambiguation)
* General secretary
*Permanent secretary
* Principal Private Secretary
* Provincial secretary
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chief Of Staff
Chiefs of staff,
Military chiefs of staff, *
Political chiefs of staff, *