<P> Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, USN, served as the Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief from July 20, 1942 to March 21, 1949 . He presided over meetings of what was called the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Leahy's office was the precursor to the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, created in 1942 . </P> <P> The Chairman is nominated by the President for appointment and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate . The Chairman and Vice Chairman may not be members of the same armed force service branch . However, the President may waive that restriction for a limited period of time in order to provide for the orderly transition of officers appointed to serve in those positions . The Chairman serves a two - year term of office at the pleasure of the President, but can be reappointed to serve two additional terms for a total of six years, as long as the Chairman has not previously served a term as Vice Chairman, in which case the Chairman would be limited to serving up to two terms . However, in a time of war or national emergency, there is no limit to how many times an officer can be reappointed to serve as Chairman . Historically, the Chairman has served two terms . By statute, the Chairman is appointed as a four - star general or admiral while holding office and assumes office on October 1 of odd - numbered years . </P> <P> Although the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Omar Bradley, was eventually awarded a fifth star, the CJCS does not receive one by right, and Bradley's award was so that his subordinate, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, would not outrank him . </P> <P> In the 1990s, there were proposals in Department of Defense academic circles to bestow on the office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff a five - star rank . </P>

Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff responsibilities