Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Department of Defense in 2024

Chief of staff (or head of staff) is a leadership title with different meanings in civilian and military organizations. In civilian government organizations and businesses, a chief of staff is a primary aide-de-camp to an important individual, such as a president or leader of a large organization.[1][2] In military organizations, a chief of staff is the leader of a complex organization, such as one of a country's armed forces, while the role that coordinates supporting staff for a senior military officer may be titled a principal staff officer (PSO).

Civilian

White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, with President Donald Trump in 2025

In civilian organizations, a chief of staff provides a buffer between a chief executive and that executive's direct-reporting team. The chief of staff generally works behind the scenes to solve problems, mediate disputes, and deal with issues before they are brought to the chief executive.[1] Often a chief of staff acts as a confidant and advisor to the chief executive, acting as a sounding board for ideas. Ultimately the actual duties depend on the position and the people involved.[1] In an organization, the chief of staff may play a role that is metaphorically akin to an "air traffic controller" for the leader and the senior team;[3] as an integrator connecting work streams that would otherwise remain siloed; as a communicator linking the leadership team and the broader organization; as an honest broker and truth teller when the leader needs a wide-ranging view; and as a confidant without an organizational agenda. An organization may also hire an associate chief of staff (ACoS), a senior operational role that serves as a partner to the chief of staff (CoS).

Government

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Colombia

France

In France, a distinction is made between a politician's directeur de cabinet and chef de cabinet. The directeur de cabinet is tasked with organising the work of the staff and is authorised to make certain decisions or speak on behalf of the politician. It is thus the more political role. The chef de cabinet is under the authority of the directeur de cabinet and is tasked with organising the politician's agenda.[4]

At the Élysée, a third function exists: the Secrétaire général de la présidence de la République (Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic). The officeholder is the de facto chief of staff to the President of France, above the directeur de cabinet and chef de cabinet. The secretary-general is the president's closest advisor, coordinating with the government and taking part in the weekly Council of Ministers.[5][6]

Germany

India

Nigeria

Pakistan

Philippines

South Korea

Spain

United Kingdom

Scotland

United States

Military

One example of an institution with chiefs of staff is the US armed forces. This organization chart shows the hierarchy of joint chiefs of staff and service-specific chiefs of staff in 2012.

In general, the positions listed below are not "chiefs of staff" as defined at the top of this page; they are the heads of the various forces/commands and tend to have subordinates that fulfill the "chief of staff" roles – the most senior staff officer managing the overall commander's staff.

In general

Aserbaidschan

Kanada

Frankreich

Ghana

Griechenland

Indien

Indonesien

Irland

Israel

Italien

Pakistan

Philippinen

Portugal

Spanien

Sri Lanka

United Kingdom

The Sovereign is the Commander-in-Chief. The CDS heads the Chiefs of Staff Committee and is assisted by the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.

United States

See also

References

  1. Bromwich , Jonah Engel (07.11.2019). „ Hoch lebe der Stabschef“ . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Abgerufen am 28.01.2024 . 
  2. ^ a b Whipple, Chris (06.03.2018). Die Gatekeeper: Wie die Stabschefs des Weißen Hauses jede Präsidentschaft prägen . Crown. ISBN 978-0-8041-3826-0Die
  3. ^ Ciampa, Dan (Mai 2020). „The Case for a Chief of Staff“ . Harvard Business Review . Abgerufen am 10. Juli 2025 .
  4. ^ „Wo liegt der Unterschied zwischen den Funktionen des Kabinettsdirektors und des Kabinettschefs?“ . Befreiung (auf Französisch). 5. Juni 2018.
  5. ^ „Generalsekretär des Élysées und Direktor des Kabinetts von Macron: Qui fait quoi?“ . Befreiung (auf Französisch). 24. Juli 2018.
  6. ^ Philippe Rioux (14. April 2025). „Im Elysée, eine Seite, die auf Tour ist: ein Ministerrat ohne Alexis Kohler, Ex-Doktor von Emmanuel Macron“ . La Dépêche (auf Französisch).