Goldwater–Nichols Act
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The Goldwater–Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of October 4, 1986 made the most sweeping changes to the United States Department of Defense since the department was established in the
Sen. Barry Goldwater (R—AZ) and Rep. Bill Nichols (D—AL-4), the co-sponsors of the Goldwater–Nichols Act of 1986
Unified combatant command
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A unified combatant command, also referred to as a combatant command, is a joint military command of the United States Department of Defense that is composed of units from two or more service branches
Goldwater–Nichols Act
…changes, Goldwater–Nichols streamlined the military chain of command, which now runs from the president through the secretary of defense directly to combatant commanders (CCDRs, all four-star generals or admirals), bypassing the service chiefs. The service chiefs were assigned to an advisory role to the president and…
Commanders of unified and specified combatant command during an annual meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at The Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff Room (also known as "The Tank") on 15 January 1981.
President George W. Bush (sitting third from the right) and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (sitting second from the left) meeting with the joint chiefs and combatant commanders
Gen Dagvin R. M. Anderson
ADM Charles B. Cooper II