Superintendent of the United States Military Academy

The officer appointed is, by tradition, a graduate of the United States Military Academy, commonly known as "West Point".

Four superintendents became Chief of Staff of the Army: Hugh Lenox Scott, Douglas MacArthur, Maxwell Davenport Taylor, and William Westmoreland.

The post is now a terminal assignment in the Army; as a condition for detail to the position, officers are required by law to acknowledge that they will retire at the end of their appointment.

[2] Since 2010, the army has considered reverting to the previous system or recalling a retired officer to fill the post.

[2] The mandatory retirement precedent was not followed when Darryl A. Williams was nominated in June 2022 to serve as Commanding General, United States Army Europe and Africa.