The VCJCS is appointed by which authority?

• A. The President, with advice and consent of the Senate
• B. The Secretary of Defense
• C. The Chairman
• D. The Joint Chiefs of Staff

Answer: (A)

The Vice Chairman is chosen through the President’s nomination with Senate confirmation. This constitutional process applies to senior DoD appointments, ensuring that the second-highest ranking officer who sits on the Joint Chiefs of Staff is vetted and approved by the Senate. The Secretary of Defense does not appoint the Vice Chairman, and neither the Chairman nor the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a group has the authority to appoint him. The Vice Chairman serves as the principal deputy to the Chairman and a key military advisor at the highest levels of government.