Who is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?

• A. Admiral Smith
• B. General Brown
• C. General Neller
• D. General Milley

Answer: (D)

The main idea is knowing who holds the top uniformed position in the U.S. military's advisory structure. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the senior military officer and serves as the principal military adviser to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council, while also chairing the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This role is filled by a general or admiral who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, typically for a multi-year term.

General Milley is the officer who held that chairmanship during the period many study materials target, serving from 2019 to 2023. Because of that timing, he is the best answer for identifying who has chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the common exam context. The other names listed are high-ranking officers who did not serve as Chair during that period.