What America's most senior military leader does

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In a move that was expected, but still surprising, President Donald Trump recently fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, whose primary role is to give the president clear, factual advice on military issues. Trump’s choice to replace him, retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, would require a waiver of the position’s experience requirements, raising concerns about the quality of his counsel to the president.

Dwight Stirling, a law lecturer at the University of Southern California, examines the historical origin of the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and how it has evolved over time as a key way presidents learn about what the nation’s military can – and can’t – do.

Stirling notes that too much military influence in the White House can cause a president to “veer toward authoritarianism,” while military advice that defers too much to politicians’ desires can result in battlefield disasters.

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Jeff Inglis

Politics + Society Editor

In February 2025, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, center, was fired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by President Donald Trump. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs advises the president on use of America’s military power

Dwight Stirling, University of Southern California

The highest-ranking military officer in the country, the chairman has no direct command authority. His role is as a presidential adviser rather than a decision-maker.

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