Directly answerable to the president of Indonesia (the supreme commander), the position is held by any four-star officer who previously served as Chief of Staff of the Army (KSAD), Chief of Staff of the Navy (KSAL) or Chief of Staff of the Air Force (KSAU).

Per the president's decree 66/2019, a four-star officer acting as Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces deputises for the Commander, but as of 2024, the office is still vacant.

[2] The name of the office has evolved over the years, with the present name being finalized once the Indonesian National Police was separated from the Armed Forces in 1999.

[a] The present Commander is General Agus Subiyanto, an Indonesian Army officer, who was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 22 November 2023.

66 of 2019, the responsibilities of the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces are to: [2]