Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force

Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Seal of the Chief of Staff[1]
Flag of the Chief of Staff[2]
since 2 November 2023
United States Air Force
Air Staff
TypeService chief
AbbreviationCSAF
AF/CC
Member ofJoint Chiefs of Staff
Reports toSecretary of Defense
Secretary of the Air Force
ResidenceQuarters 7, Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall[3]
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length4 years
Renewable once, only during war or national emergency
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 9033
PrecursorCommanding General, United States Army Air Forces
Formation18 September 1947
First holderGen Carl A. Spaatz
DeputyVice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
WebsiteOfficial Website

The chief of staff of the Air Force (acronym: CSAF, or AF/CC) is the service chief of the United States Air Force. They are the principal military advisor to the secretary of the Air Force on matter pertaining to the Air Force. They are a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and thereby a military adviser to the National Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the president. The chief of staff is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty in the Air Force, unless the chairman and/or the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are Air Force officers.

The chief of staff of the Air Force is an administrative position based in the Pentagon. The chief of staff does not have operational command authority over Air Force forces. That is within the purview of the combatant commanders who report to the secretary of defense. The chief of staff exercises supervision of Air Force units and organizations as the designee of the secretary of the Air Force.

The 23rd and current chief of staff of the Air Force is General David W. Allvin.

  1. ^ "Air Force Chief of Staff". www.af.mil. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 30 October 2024. Air Force Chief of Staff Seal.
  2. ^ Weckerlein, Julie (12 August 2008). "General Schwartz in as 19th chief of staff". www.af.mil. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Air House: A History". U.S. Air Force.