National Command Authority
Encyclopedia
National Command Authority (NCA) is a term used by the Department of Defense
of the United States of America to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. The NCA comprises the President of the United States
(as commander-in-chief) and the Secretary of Defense
(as the deputy to the commander-in-chief) jointly, or their duly deputized successors, i.e. the Vice President
and the Deputy Secretary of Defense
.
After the 1986 reorganization of the military undertaken by the Goldwater-Nichols Act
, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
does not have operational command of U.S. military forces. Responsibility for conducting military operations goes from the President to the Secretary of Defense directly to the commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands and thus bypasses the Joint Chiefs of Staff completely.
The use of the term dates from the Cold War
, when the United States
and Soviet Union
both had nuclear missiles
on constant alert, and a responsible official had to be available to authorize a retaliatory strike to an attack within minutes. Detailed Continuity of Operations Plan
s provided for monitoring the whereabouts of certain key government officials who would assume the National Command Authority if the President were killed in an enemy attack.
Only the President can direct the use of nuclear weapon
s, including the Single Integrated Operational Plan
(SIOP). While the President does have unilateral authority as commander-in-chief to order that strategic nuclear weapon
s be used for any reason at any time, the actual procedures and technical systems in place for authorizing the execution of a launch order does require a secondary confirmation under a two-man rule
, thus the system does in effect serve as a self-imposed restriction upon the President's powers and cannot simply be set aside by whim. The President can directly order the Secretary of Defense to confirm such an order and, if necessary, can fire him for refusal to do so. Secondly, the President can fire and replace until he gains that second. Thus, the two-man rule primarily serves to ensure that it is a genuine order. Once the NCA has authorized a launch order under the proper procedures, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
or the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
, will in turn direct a general officer on duty in the National Military Command Center
(NMCC) at The Pentagon
to execute the SIOP.
The term also refers to communications with the commanding officer
s of the Unified Combatant Command
s to put U.S. forces into action.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
of the United States of America to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. The NCA comprises the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
(as commander-in-chief) and the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
(as the deputy to the commander-in-chief) jointly, or their duly deputized successors, i.e. the Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
and the Deputy Secretary of Defense
United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of Defense is the second-highest ranking official in the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Deputy Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate...
.
After the 1986 reorganization of the military undertaken by the Goldwater-Nichols Act
Goldwater-Nichols Act
The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 , , made the most sweeping changes to the United States Department of Defense since the department was established in the National Security Act of 1947 by reworking the command structure of the United States military...
, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The 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...
does not have operational command of U.S. military forces. Responsibility for conducting military operations goes from the President to the Secretary of Defense directly to the commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands and thus bypasses the Joint Chiefs of Staff completely.
The use of the term dates from the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, when the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
both had nuclear missiles
Nuclear weapons delivery
Nuclear weapons delivery is the technology and systems used to place a nuclear weapon at the position of detonation, on or near its target. Several methods have been developed to carry out this task....
on constant alert, and a responsible official had to be available to authorize a retaliatory strike to an attack within minutes. Detailed Continuity of Operations Plan
Continuity of Operations Plan
Continuity of Operations is a United States Federal initiative, required by Presidential directive, to ensure that agencies are able to continue performance of essential functions under a broad range of circumstances....
s provided for monitoring the whereabouts of certain key government officials who would assume the National Command Authority if the President were killed in an enemy attack.
Only the President can direct the use of nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s, including the Single Integrated Operational Plan
Single Integrated Operational Plan
The Single Integrated Operational Plan was the United States' general plan for nuclear war from 1961 to 2003. The SIOP gave the President of the United States a range of targeting options, and described launch procedures and target sets against which nuclear weapons would be launched...
(SIOP). While the President does have unilateral authority as commander-in-chief to order that strategic nuclear weapon
Strategic nuclear weapon
A strategic nuclear weapon refers to a nuclear weapon which is designed to be used on targets as part of a strategic plan, such as nuclear missile bases, military command centers and heavily populated civilian areas such as large towns and cities....
s be used for any reason at any time, the actual procedures and technical systems in place for authorizing the execution of a launch order does require a secondary confirmation under a two-man rule
Two-man rule
The two-man rule is a control mechanism designed to achieve a high level of security for especially critical material or operations. Under this rule all access and actions requires the presence of two authorized people at all times.-Nuclear weapons:...
, thus the system does in effect serve as a self-imposed restriction upon the President's powers and cannot simply be set aside by whim. The President can directly order the Secretary of Defense to confirm such an order and, if necessary, can fire him for refusal to do so. Secondly, the President can fire and replace until he gains that second. Thus, the two-man rule primarily serves to ensure that it is a genuine order. Once the NCA has authorized a launch order under the proper procedures, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The 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...
or the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces ranking just below the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
, will in turn direct a general officer on duty in the National Military Command Center
National Military Command Center
Located in the Pentagon, the National Military Command Center houses the logistical and communications center for the National Command Authority of the United States of America. The facility, which is composed of several war rooms, is the principal command and control center of the Department of...
(NMCC) at The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
to execute the SIOP.
The term also refers to communications with the commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
s of the Unified Combatant Command
Unified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
s to put U.S. forces into action.