List of components of the U.S. Department of Defense

Department of Defense

Seal of the Department of Defense

Commander-in-Chief: President of the United States,
Donald Trump
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: General Dan Caine, USAF
Military budget: $718 billion (2018)[1]
Employees: 700,000 civilian
2.8 million military (2008)

The chain of command leads from the president (as commander-in-chief) through the secretary of defense down to the newest recruits.[2][3] The United States Armed Forces are organized through the United States Department of Defense, which oversees a complex structure of joint command and control functions with many units reporting to various commanding officers. The following is an incomplete list of the various major military units, commands, and DOD offices and agencies, including civilian and military chains of command.

Office of the Secretary of Defense

[edit]

Secretary of Defense

Source: OUSD-C Leadership[4]

Source: OUSD A&S Organizations[5]

Source: Organization: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness[8]

Source: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy[9]

Sources: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security[10] and Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.

Source: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering[11]

Source: Department of Defense Office of Inspector General[12]

Source: Department of Defense General Counsel[13]

Source: About DoD CIO[14]

Source: Defense Media Activity[15]

Source: Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency[16]

  • Office of the Director of Administration and Management (DA&M)
    • Information Management & Technology (IM&T)
      • User Engagement Directorate
      • Digital Strategic Planning Directorate
      • Program Analysis and Asset Planning Directorate
    • Performance Improvement Directorate
      • Strategic Planning & Performance Management
      • Defense Management & Performance Improvement
      • Enterprise Risk Management
      • Audit Management
      • Governance, Policy, & Stakeholder Outreach
      • Defense Management Analysis
    • Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA)
    • Washington Headquarters Services (WHS)

Source: Performance Improvement Officer & Director of Administration & Management[17]

  • Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
    • People, Finance and Management
    • Commercial Operations
    • Strategy, Policy, and National Security Partnerships
    • Military Directorate
    • Technology Platforms and Developer Ecosystem
    • Acquisitions
    • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Portfolio
    • Autonomy Portfolio
    • Cyber and Telecommunications Portfolio
    • Emerging Technology Portfolio
    • Energy Portfolio
    • Human Systems Portfolio
    • Space Portfolio

Source: Defense Innovation Unit[18]

Source for all direct reports above: OSD Organizational Structure[19]

Source: Organization Overview[20]

Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Joint Staff

[edit]

Joint Staff

  • Assistant to the Chairman
  • Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC)
  • Joint Staff Inspector General
  • Director, Joint Staff
    • Manpower and Personnel (J-1)
    • Joint Staff Intelligence (J-2)
    • Operations (J-3)
    • Logistics (J-4)
    • Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5)
    • Command, Control, Communications, & Computers/Cyber (J-6)
    • Joint Force Development (J-7)
    • Force Structure Resources and Assessment (J-8)
    • Directorate of Management

Source: The Joint Staff[21]

Joint Agencies

Military Departments

[edit]

Department of the Army

[edit]

Army Secretariat

[edit]

Source: Army Secretariat[22]

The Army Staff

[edit]

Source: Headquarters, Department of the Army[23]

Army Commands (ACOM)

[edit]

Army Service Component Commands (ASCC)

[edit]

Direct Reporting Units (DRU)

[edit]

Source: Organization: Understanding the Army's Structure[24]

Department of the Navy

[edit]
Basic Organization Chart of the United States Department of the Navy
Basic Organization Chart of the Shore Establishment of the United States Navy
Basic Organization Chart of the Operating Forces of the U.S. Navy
Organization Chart of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Organization Chart of the Office of the Secretary of the Navy

Office of the Secretary of the Navy

[edit]

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

[edit]

Headquarters Marine Corps

[edit]
Organization of HQMC, 2006
Organization of HQMC, 2006

Department of the Air Force

[edit]

Office of the Secretary of the Air Force

[edit]

Air Staff

[edit]
Air Staff Organizational Chart

Space Staff

[edit]
Badge of the Space Staff

Unified combatant commands: Geographic

[edit]

Africa Command (USAFRICOM)

[edit]

Source: United States Africa Command[25]

Central Command (USCENTCOM)

[edit]

Source: Unified Commands, CENTCOM & Components[26]

European Command (USEUCOM)

[edit]

Order of battle

[edit]

Source: Our Forces[27]

Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)

[edit]

Order of battle

[edit]

Initiatives

[edit]
  • Homeland Defense Academic Symposium
  • North American Defense and Security Academic Alliance (NADSAA)
  • Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

Source: Our Story[28]

Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)

[edit]

Order of battle

[edit]

Source: USINDOPACOM Components[29]

Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)

[edit]

Direct Reporting Units

[edit]

Source: About us[30]

Space Command (USSPACECOM)

[edit]

Source: Warfighting Units[31]

Service commands

[edit]

Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)

[edit]

Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) (Langley AFB, VA)

[edit]

Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) (Norfolk NB, VA)

[edit]
  • 2nd Fleet (NB Norfolk, VA)
    • Task Force 20 (2nd Fleet Battle Force)
    • Task Force 21 (2nd Fleet Patrol Reconnaissance Force) / Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Atlantic Fleet (PATRECONFORLANT) (NS Norfolk, VA)
    • Task Force 22 (2nd Fleet Amphibious Force) / Amphibious Group 2 (PHIBGRU 2) (NB Norfolk, VA)
      • Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group / Expeditionary Strike Group 6 / Amphibious Squadron 8 (PHIBRON 8) (USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)) (NB Norfolk, VA (Deployed))
      • Saipan Expeditionary Strike Group / Expeditionary Strike Group 4 / Amphibious Squadron 2 (PHIBRON 2) (USS Saipan (LHA-2)) (NB Norfolk, VA (Deployed))
      • Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group / Expeditionary Strike Group 2 / Amphibious Squadron 4 (PHIBRON 4) (USS Wasp (LHD-1)) (NB Norfolk, VA (Post-Deployment))
      • Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (USS Bataan (LHD-5)) (NAB Little Creek, VA (Intermediate Training))
      • Naval Coastal Warfare Group Two (Williamsburg, VA)
      • Tactical Air Control Group 2 (TACGRU 2) (NAB Little Creek, VA)
      • Naval Beach Group 2 (NAVBEACHGRU 2) (NB Norfolk, VA?)
    • Task Force 23 (2nd Fleet Landing Force)
    • Task Force 24 (2nd Fleet ASW Force)
    • Task Force 25 (2nd Fleet Mobile Logistics Support Force) / Combat Logistics Squadron 2 (LOGRON 2) (NB Norfolk, VA)
    • Task Force 26 (2nd Fleet Patrol Air Force) / Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Atlantic Fleet (PATRECONFORLANT) (NS Norfolk, VA)
    • Task Force 28 (2nd Fleet Caribbean Contingency Force) (NS Mayport, FL)
    • Carrier Group 4 (CARGRU 4) / Carrier Striking Force (Battle Group Training) (NB Norfolk, VA)
  • Task Force 40 / Naval Surface Force Atlantic Fleet (NAVSURFLANT) (NB Norfolk, VA)
    • Combat Logistics Squadron 2 (COMLOGRON 2) (NWS Earle, NJ)
  • Task Force 41 / Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet (NAVAIRLANT) (NAS Oceana, VA)
  • Task Force 42 / Naval Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet (NAVSUBLANT) (NB Norfolk, VA)
    • Submarine Group 2 (SUBGRU 2) (NSB New London, CT)
      • Naval Submarine Support Center (NB Norfolk, VA)
  • Task Force 43 (Training Command Atlantic Fleet?)
  • Task Force 44 (Coast Guard Force Atlantic Fleet) / Coast Guard Atlantic Area (Portsmouth, VA)
  • Task Force 45 / Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic (MARFORLANT) (Norfolk NB, VA)
  • Task Force 46 (Mine Warfare Command Atlantic Fleet (MINEWARCOM)) (USS Inchon (MCS-12)) (NS Ingleside, TX)
  • Task Force 48 (Naval Construction Battalions Atlantic Fleet) (NAB Little Creek, VA)
  • Task Force 80 (Naval Patrol and Protection of Shipping Atlantic Fleet)
  • Task Force 81 (Sea Control and Surveillance Force Atlantic Fleet) / Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Atlantic Fleet (PATRECONFORLANT) (NS Norfolk, VA)
  • Task Force 82 (Amphibious Task Force)
  • Task Force 83 (Landing Force (II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF)) (Camp Lejeune, NC)
  • Task Force 84 (ASW Force Atlantic Fleet) / Naval Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet (NAVSUBLANT) (NB Norfolk, VA)
  • Task Force 85 (Mobile Logistics Support Force Atlantic Fleet) / Combat Logistics Squadron 2 (LOGRON 2) (NB Norfolk, VA)
  • Task Force 86 (Patrol Air Force Atlantic Fleet) / Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Atlantic Fleet (PATRECONFORLANT) (NS Norfolk, VA)
    • Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 5 (PATRECONWING 5) (NAS Brunswick, ME)
    • Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 (PATRECONWING 11) (NAS Jacksonville, FL)
    • Reserve Patrol Wing (RESPATWING) (NAS Oceana, VA)
  • Task Force 87 (Tactical Development and Evaluation and Transit Force Atlantic Fleet)
  • Task Force 88 (Training Force Atlantic Fleet) (NB Norfolk, VA)
  • Task Force 89 (Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic Fleet) (USCGS Portsmouth, VA)
  • Task Force 125 (Naval Surface Group 2 (NAVSURFGRU 2)) (NS Mayport, FL)
  • Task Force 137 (Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic) (Naples, Italy)
  • Task Force 138 (Naval Forces South Atlantic)
  • Task Force 139 (Multilateral Special Operations Force)
  • Task Force 142 (Operational Test and Evaluation Force) (NB Norfolk, VA)

Marine Corps Forces Command (COMMARFORCOM) (Norfolk NB, VA)

[edit]

U.S. Forces Azores (USAFORAZ) (Lajes Field, Azores)

[edit]


Unified combatant commands: Functional

[edit]

Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)

[edit]

Source: Our Service Cyber Partners[35]

Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

[edit]

Source: Enterprise[36]

Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)

[edit]

Order of battle

[edit]

Source: About USSTRATCOM[37]

Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)

[edit]

Order of battle

[edit]

Source: USTRANSCOM[40]

Source: Combatant Commands[41]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Functions of the Department of Defense and Its Major Components" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2011.
  3. ^ "U.S. Department of Defense Organization Chart". DoD Public Website. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010.
  4. ^ "OUSD-C Leadership". About OUSD-C. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "OUSD A&S Organizations" (PDF). Acquisition & Sustainment. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  6. ^ "tricare.mil". Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  7. ^ "Organizational Chart". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Organization". Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "OUSD Offices". Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  10. ^ "Organization". Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  11. ^ "Enterprise". Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "Organization". Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  13. ^ "DoD General Counsel". Office of General Counsel. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  14. ^ "About DoD CIO". Chief Information Officer. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  15. ^ "Services and Products". Defense Media Activity. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  16. ^ "Organization". Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025.
  17. ^ "About PIO/DA&M". Performance Improvement Officer & Director of Administration & Management. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  18. ^ "Our Team/Leadership". Defense Innovation Unit. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  19. ^ "OSD Organizational Structure". Office of the Secretary of Defense. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  20. ^ "Organization Overview". Office of Military Commissions Website. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "The Joint Staff". The Joint Chiefs of Staff. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  22. ^ "Army Secretariat" (PDF). Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. United States Army. August 18, 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  23. ^ "Headquarters, United States Army" (PDF). Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. United States Army. August 4, 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 12, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  24. ^ "Understanding the Army's Structure". Organization. United States Army. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  25. ^ "United States Africa Command". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  26. ^ "Unified Commands, CENTCOM & Components". U.S. Central Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  27. ^ "Our Forces". United States European Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  28. ^ "Our Story". U.S. Northern Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 26, 2025. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  29. ^ "USINDOPACOM Components". About USINDOPACOM. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 18, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  30. ^ "About us". U.S. Southern Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  31. ^ "Warfighting Units". U.S. Space Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  32. ^ First Army Division East Archived 2011-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ "First Army Division West". army.mil. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  34. ^ army.mil[dead link]
  35. ^ "Our Service Cyber Partners". U.S. Cyber Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  36. ^ "Enterprise". United States Special Operations Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  37. ^ "About USSTRATCOM". U.S. Strategic Command. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  38. ^ navy.mil [bare URL PDF]
  39. ^ a b c d e "SDDC Homepage". army.mil. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  40. ^ "USTRANSCOM". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 12, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  41. ^ "Combatant Commands". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on July 11, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
[edit]