Chief of Staff
Encyclopedia
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, 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
to an important individual, such as a president
.
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 bubble up to the Chief Executive. Often Chiefs of Staff act as a confidante and advisor to the Chief Executive, acting as a sounding board for ideas. Ultimately the actual duties depend on the actual position and the people involved.
Coordinator
Coordinator may refer to:*In academics: one who administers the research and teaching activities of the other professors.*Coordinators , genetically engineered humans in the Gundam SEED series...
of the supporting staff
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
or a primary aide
Aide
Aide may refer to:* A person who assists another; an assistant. In military contexts; an officer who acts as assistant to a more senior one; an aide-de-camp.* Aide , a purported Basque deity....
to an important individual, such as a president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
.
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 bubble up to the Chief Executive. Often Chiefs of Staff act as a confidante and advisor to the Chief Executive, acting as a sounding board for ideas. Ultimately the actual duties depend on the actual position and the people involved.
Civilian
- Chief of staff in a hospitalHospitalA hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
is the primary leader of all divisions and staff, including divisions that have chiefs as well, such as, leadership over chief of surgery, chief of obstetrics, chief of orthopedics, etc. as divisions that each are headed by a leader in that specialty - Chief of Staff to the President of BrazilChief of Staff of BrazilThe Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of Brazil, and a senior aide to the President.In Brazil, the Chief of Staff is a member of the president's cabinet, with the rank of Minister....
- Chief of Staff to the Prime MinisterChief of Staff (Canada)The Chief of Staff of Canada's Prime Minister's Office is the top official of the office. It was created in 1987 to head the Prime Minister's Office or PMO....
(Canada) - Chief of Staff (Philippines)Chief of Staff (Philippines)The Chief of Staff of the Philippines, also known as Malacañang Chief of Staff, was an official position under the Office of the President of the Philippines. President Joseph Estrada created the position in February 2000, but described it as only being a "temporary" position...
, a former position in the Cabinet of the PhilippinesCabinet of the PhilippinesThe Cabinet of the Philippines consists of the heads of the largest part of the executive branch of the national government of the Philippines...
, serving under the President of the PhilippinesPresident of the PhilippinesThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines... - Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (United Kingdom)
- White House Chief of StaffWhite House Chief of StaffThe White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President.The current White House Chief of Staff is Bill Daley.-History:...
(United States) - Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United StatesChief of Staff to the Vice President of the United StatesThe Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United States is the Chief of Staff position within the Office of the Vice President, part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States...
- Chief of staff (United States Congress), the most senior staff member in the office of a member of the United States Congress
- Principal Staff Officer to the Prime Minister (Pakistan)
In general
- Chief of the Defence StaffChief of the Defence StaffThe Chief of the Defence Staff can refer to:*Chief of the Defence Force *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff...
- Chief of the General Staff
- Chief of the Army StaffChief of Army StaffThe Chief of Army Staff or Chief of Staff of the Army is the most senior officer in the command structure of many armies. The title comes from the fact that the officer is the chief army aide to the Commander-in-Chief, who is usually the head of state...
- Chief of the Air StaffChief of the Air StaffThe Chief of the Air Staff is the professional head of the Royal Air Force and a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Air Force Board. The current Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton...
- Chief of the Naval StaffChief of the Naval StaffChief of the Naval Staff is the formal title for the office of:* Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy* Chief of the Naval Staff, Pakistan NavyNavies of other countries have similar titles:* Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy...
- :Category:Vice chiefs of staff
In Australia
- Chief of the Defence ForceChief of the Defence Force (Australia)Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
- the professional head of the Australian Defence ForceAustralian Defence ForceThe Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
In Azerbaijan
- Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed ForcesGeneral Staff of Azerbaijani Armed ForcesThe General Staff of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic is the military staff of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. It is the central organ of the Armed Forces Administration and oversees operational management of the armed forces under the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan Republic.The Chief of...
- head of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed ForcesAzerbaijani Armed ForcesThe Azerbaijani Armed Forces were re-established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic had originally formed its own armed forces from 26 June 1918...
In France
- Chief of the Defence StaffChief of the Defence Staff (France)The Chief of the Defence Staff is the chief of staff of the Military of France. The position is currently held by Admiral Édouard Guillaud.- Functions :The Chief of the Defence Staff has two roles:...
(French: Chef d'État-Major des Armées, CEMA) - Chief of Staff of the French Air ForceChief of Staff of the French Air ForceThe Chief of the Staff of the French Air Force is the head of the French Air Force, under the French President and the Chief of the Defence Staff.- Chefs d'état-major général des forces aériennes :...
(French: Chef d'État-Major de l'Armée de l'Air, CEMAA) - Chief of Staff of the French ArmyChief of Staff of the French ArmyThe Chief of the Staff of the French Army is the professional head of the French Army. The current Chief of Staff of the French Army has been General Elrick Irastorza since 2 July 2008.-French Army Chiefs of Staff:*Raoul Le Mouton De Boisdeffre...
(French: Chef d'État-Major de l'Armée de Terre, CEMAT) - Chief of Staff of the French NavyChief of Staff of the French Navythumb|Admiral Pierre-François Forissier, CEMMThe Chief of the Staff of the French Navy is the head of the French Navy and responsible to the Minister of Defence for its preparation and deployment.As a naval expert, he assists:...
(French: Chef d'État-Major de la Marine, CEMM)
Pakistan
- Joint Chiefs of Staff CommitteeJoint Chiefs of Staff Committee, PakistanThe Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
, headed by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee- Chief of Army Staff
- Chief of Air StaffChief of Air Staff (Pakistan)The Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, abbreviated as CAS, is typically the highest ranking 4-star rank officer in the Pakistan Air Force, unless a four-star officer is appointed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The CAS is a senior and permanent member of the...
- Chief of Naval StaffChief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
- Commandant of Pakistan MarinesPakistan NavyThe Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
- Commandant of Pakistan Coast GuardPakistan Coast GuardThe Pakistan Coast Guards is an important branch of the Pakistan Civil Armed Forces and one of the six paramilitary services operating under the administrative control of Minisrty of Interior, Government of Pakistan. Pakistan Coast Guards, headquartered in Karachi, is unique in that it has...
In the Philippines
- Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines - exercises command and control over all elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In the United Kingdom
- Chief of the Defence StaffChief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...
(United Kingdom) - the professional head of the British Armed Forces. The SovereignMonarchy of the United KingdomThe monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
is the Commander-in-Chief. The CDS heads the Chiefs of Staff CommitteeChiefs of Staff CommitteeThe Chiefs of Staff Committee is composed of the most senior military personnel in the British Armed Forces.-History:The Chiefs of Staff Committee was initially established as a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1923. It remained as such until the abolition of the CID upon the...
and is assisted by the Vice-Chief of the Defence StaffVice-Chief of the Defence StaffThe Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff is the deputy to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces.-List of Vice Chiefs of the Defence Staff:*1964 to 1966 - Air Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle...
. The Queen is not the ceremonial head of each branch of the British Armed Forces. The professional service heads are as follows: - Chief of the Naval Staff, more commonly called the First Sea LordFirst Sea LordThe First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
- Chief of the General StaffChief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
, formerly the Chief of the Imperial General Staff - Chief of the Air Staff
In the United States
- Joint Chiefs of StaffJoint Chiefs of StaffThe Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
, headed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
- Chief of Staff of the United States ArmyChief of Staff of the United States ArmyThe Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
- Commandant of the Marine CorpsCommandant of the Marine CorpsThe Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
- Chief of Naval OperationsChief of Naval OperationsThe Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
- Chief of Staff of the United States Air ForceChief of Staff of the United States Air ForceThe Chief of Staff of the Air Force is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Air Force, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Air Force, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the...
- Commandant of the Coast GuardCommandant of the Coast GuardThe Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
- Chief of Staff of the United States Army
- Chief of the National Guard BureauChief of the National Guard BureauThe Chief of the National Guard Bureau is the head of the National Guard Bureau, which is a joint activity of the Department of Defense , and is the highest ranking officer in the National Guard and the National Guard of the United States ; the latter of which is a joint reserve component of the...
In former states
- Chef des StabesLeadership ranks of the SturmabteilungLeadership ranks of the Sturmabteilung were the titles and positions held by the commanders of the Sturmabteilung of the Nazi Party between the years of 1920 and 1945....
, commander of the Nazi Sturmabteilung