[3] The post of a statutory and permanent Joint Chiefs of Staff chair was created by the 1949 amendments to the National Security Act of 1947.

The Joint Staff, managed by the director of the Joint Staff and consisting of military personnel from all the services, assists the chairman in fulfilling his duties to the president and secretary of defense, and functions as a conduit and collector of information between the chairman and the combatant commanders.

The National Military Command Center (NMCC) is part of the Joint Staff operations directorate (J-3).

The National Military Command Center (NMCC) is part of the Joint Staff operations directorate (J-3).

This act formalized the advisory body consisting of the senior military leaders of the Army, Navy, and later the Air Force, to assist the president and the secretary of war (later the secretary of defense) with coordinating military strategy during World War II.

The JCS existed as a body of senior military leaders, but no single officer held the position of chairman.

In this role, he presided over meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,[13] helping to unify military strategy during World War II.

Leahy's office is considered a precursor to the position of CJCS, as it began to centralize military leadership and coordination.

The chairman is nominated by the president for appointment from any of the regular components of the armed forces, and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate.

§ 414, the CJCS receives an additional $4,000 a year to cover expenses related to performing official duties.