The organization has three key leadership positions: CEO Max Siegel,[1] Board of Directors Chair Steve Miller,[2] and elected president Vin Lananna.

[3] U.S. citizens and permanent residents can be USATF members (annual individual membership fee: $30 for 18-year-old members and younger, $55 for the rest), but permanent residents can only participate in masters events in the country, and they cannot win USATF medals, prize money, or score points for a team, per World Athletics regulations.

USA Track & Field is involved in many aspects of the sport at the local, national, and international level, providing the rules, officials, coaching education, sports science and athlete development, youth programs, masters (age 25+) competition, the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, and an annual meeting.

Through its sanctioning program, the national body provides the insurance coverage necessary for members to rent facilities, thus allowing for competitive opportunities for all athletes to happen.

In 1992, TAC changed its name to USA Track & Field (USATF) to increase recognition for the organization and for the sport in the United States.

However, USATF inherited from AAU the 57 regional associations that are responsible for promoting the sport in a particular state or locality.

In addition, in some areas, the AAU continues to organize track and field events, including youth running programs.

[7] The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the TrackTown USA Local Organizing Committee announced the release of the updated competition schedule for the postponed 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field, that took place in June 18–27, 2021, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

[10] At the 2014 annual meeting, the member delegates voted 392–70 to re-nominate Robert Hersh as the USATF's nominee to the IAAF council.

At the time, Hersh was the sitting senior vice-president of the IAAF council and by virtue of that position, a USATF board member.

[14] On February 18, 2018, Lananna was place on "temporary administrative leave" pending a federal investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service into possible criminal conflict of interest in regards to the awarding of the 2021 World Championships in Athletics to Eugene, Oregon.

Lamine Diack was the IAAF president in April 2015 at the time of the award and is under house arrest in France on charges of corruption.

USATF also has membership in, or close affiliations with, the NCAA, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), Running USA, and many community-based and disabled sports organizations.

Individual members may also attend the meetings, though voting is carefully controlled by the by-laws, based on the participation of various constituent groups.

The National Meeting is the only time political business, rule changes and record ratification can be transacted by most wings of the organization.

Both AAU and USATF operate 57 state or local Associations, although the boundaries of their service areas are no longer exactly the same.

In 1999, the USATF established the Golden Spike Tour – later the Visa Championship Series (VCS) – to showcase track and field in America and to facilitate the broadcast of key events on national television networks.

Using innovative meet formats, the VCS helps repackage the sport, draws new fans and new sponsors, and provides increased financial incentives for USATF athletes.