The Joint Staff 🇺🇸

A message from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine: It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of six American heroes from the 103rd Sustainment Command U.S. Army Reserves out of Des Moines, Iowa: Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien, Captain Cody A. Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens, and Sergeant Declan J. Coady.   These quiet professionals represented the very best of our Nation and we are filled with deep gratitude for their selfless service, valor, and sacrifice. They stood the watch to carry our Nation's burden, and we are forever in their debt.   To their families, we grieve with you and pledge our unwavering support. We will never forget what they, and you, have given for our country.

Our nation mourns the loss of six extraordinary American heroes. These brave warriors gave everything in service to our country, supporting Operation Epic Fury. Major Jeffrey R. O’Brien. Captain Cody A. Khork. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan. Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor. Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens. Sergeant Declan J. Coady. Our service members bear a responsibility and a duty most civilians will never come close to understanding. They know that the day might come when they are asked to risk their life in defense of their country. As Secretary of War, I stand with an unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied. To their families, loved ones, and fellow warfighters: We lift you up in prayer and pledge our unwavering support. Their deaths will not be in vain. We will honor them with action. We will hunt down the Iranians radicals responsible, dismantle their military capabilities, and ensure that justice is swift and absolute. We stand stronger than ever, ready to avenge these fallen heroes and crush the threats in Iran that dare to challenge us. America does not yield; we advance, we prevail, and this we'll defend. God bless our warfighters, their families, and the United States of America.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine visited Air National Guardsmen of the @140Wg at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, where he met with service members and completed an F-16 flight. The 140th Wing delivers combat‑ready Airmen, F‑16 airpower, and critical space, support, and medical capabilities for the Nation. Gen. Caine also joined @af_academy cadets, faculty, and senior leaders at the National Character and Leadership Symposium. In a discussion with Lt. Gen. (ret) Marc Sasseville, moderated by Cadet 1st Class Elizabeth Canfield, he underscored that future leaders in the Joint Force must be equipped with the right capabilities at scale, globally integrated across services and agencies, rigorously trained, and anchored by the 2.8 million service members and families who remain the Nation’s greatest strategic advantage. Gen. Caine thanked the cadets and ROTC students in attendance for their decision to serve the Nation and their leadership now and in the future.

The U.S. Coast Guard Reserve has defended our Nation’s waterways and strengthened homeland security for 85 years. Thank you for your service and dedication. @USCG #SemperParatus

On #PresidentsDay, we honor 250 years of presidential leadership and their vital role as Commander in Chief. Since 1949, it has been the role of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide military advice to America's Presidents to protect our people, our nation, and our way of life.

Readout of the Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference jcs.mil/Media/News/New…

Chiefs of defense and senior military representatives from 34 nations met this evening at a reception in Washington, DC, prior to tomorrow's Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference. During the conference, participating defense leaders will explore the importance of strong partnerships, continued cooperation, and united efforts to counter transnational criminal and terrorist organizations, as well as external actors undermining regional security and stability.

Wherever Americans serve and for the last 85 years, @The_USO connects communities to the Joint Force and their families. Today, we honor the commitment of the USO to stand by America’s service members and strengthen morale. As General Dwight D. Eisenhower once wrote, “The people at home occupy a strategic place in a nation at war. One of their major responsibilities is to convince the armed forces that the country is behind them.” (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) #USOBirthday

As we welcome the new year, we are grateful for the men and women of the Joint Force who serve our Nation with quiet professionalism, courage, and integrity—at home and around the world. We are equally thankful for the families and teammates whose support makes such service possible. We also pause to remember the fallen and the families who carry their legacy with strength, resilience, and grit. We enter 2026 grounded in gratitude, committed to one another, and focused on the mission of keeping our Nation secure.

A holiday message from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the SEAC.

Happy 6th birthday to the @USSpaceForce! Guardians protect our Nation's interests in, from, and to space - advancing innovation, security, and the future of the Joint Force. #SemperSupra

Yesterday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine had the distinct honor of joining the Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen at the Army–Navy Game in Baltimore, Md. Reflecting on the men and women who choose to serve, the Chairman shared: “It’s really about gratitude, and it’s about having a passion and purpose in your life. The chance to serve our country and do something greater than yourself is an investment that lasts a lifetime.” We’re proud of the cadets and midshipmen who took the field and who cheered on their teams, and we are grateful to all service members and families around the world who continue to serve with dedication and honor.

Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus has assumed duties as the acting Commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) following today’s relinquishment‑of‑command ceremony. SOUTHCOM protects the U.S. homeland while strengthening partnerships across Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and regional stability. During the ceremony, Adm. Alvin Holsey relinquished command after 37 years of distinguished Navy service. A native of Fort Valley, Georgia, he exemplified the highest standards of leadership since commissioning through the NROTC program at Morehouse College in 1988. His career included commanding helicopter squadrons, leading Carrier Strike Group One, and standing up the International Maritime Security Construct. At SOUTHCOM, he oversaw major achievements from disrupting over one million pounds of cocaine to expanding cooperation with Panama and supporting multinational security in Haiti. A grateful Joint Force congratulates Adm. Holsey on his retirement, honors his extraordinary contributions to our Nation, and wishes him fair winds and following seas. Lt. Gen. Pettus, with more than three decades of Air Force service, has commanded at every level, including Air Forces Southern, and has deployed multiple times in support of combat operations. Most recently, he served as SOUTHCOM’s Military Deputy Commander, where he helped shape regional security cooperation and operational readiness.

Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus has assumed duties as the acting Commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) following today’s relinquishment‑of‑command ceremony. SOUTHCOM protects the U.S. homeland while strengthening partnerships across Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and regional stability. During the ceremony, Adm. Alvin Holsey relinquished command after 37 years of distinguished Navy service. A native of Fort Valley, Georgia, he exemplified the highest standards of leadership since commissioning through the NROTC program at Morehouse College in 1988. His career included commanding helicopter squadrons, leading Carrier Strike Group One, and standing up the International Maritime Security Construct. At SOUTHCOM, he oversaw major achievements from disrupting over one million pounds of cocaine to expanding cooperation with Panama and supporting multinational security in Haiti. A grateful Joint Force congratulates Adm. Holsey on his retirement, honors his extraordinary contributions to our Nation, and wishes him fair winds and following seas. Lt. Gen. Pettus, with more than three decades of Air Force service, has commanded at every level, including Air Forces Southern, and has deployed multiple times in support of combat operations. Most recently, he served as SOUTHCOM’s Military Deputy Commander, where he helped shape regional security cooperation and operational readiness.

A message from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the 84th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET Today, on the 84th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, we honor the Americans who stood their ground on one of our darkest mornings, and we recommit—together—to the strength, vigilance, and unity that ensure our nation is always ready. #PearlHarborRemembranceDay #HonorandRemember #StrengthThroughService

Adm. Richard Correll is officially the new Commander, @US_STRATCOM, the combatant command responsible for strategic deterrence, the bedrock of national defense. The command enables Joint Force operations and is responsible for Strategic Deterrence; Nuclear Operations; Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Enterprise Operations; Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations; Global Strike; and Missile Threat Assessment. Its outgoing commander, Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, is retiring after nearly four decades of distinguished service in the U.S. Air Force. His tenure at #USSTRATCOM was marked by steadfast leadership, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to deterrence and the ethos of service. As his military career comes to an end, Gen. Cotton’s hard work and sacrifices leave our grateful nation with the enduring gift of a perfect example. USSTRATCOM’s new commander brings four decades of operational and strategic experience. A career submariner, Adm. Correll has commanded both ballistic missile and attack submarines, including USS Topeka (SSN 754), later leading Submarine Squadron 11 in San Diego and Submarine Group 7 in Japan. His staff assignments include serving as Director of Plans and Policy (J5) at USSTRATCOM, Director of Joint Maritime Operations at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and senior roles in the Office of the Secretary of War. Most recently, Adm. Correll served as USSTRATCOM’s Deputy Commander, where he helped shape global deterrence and operational readiness. This breadth of leadership, combined with his deep expertise in nuclear operations and global security, uniquely qualifies him to lead USSTRATCOM as a global warfighting command.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine oversaw the #USSTRATCOM change of command at Offutt AFB, Neb., where Adm. Richard Correll assumed leadership of @US_STRATCOM. He succeeds Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, who is ‘graduating’ to the next chapter after nearly four decades of distinguished service to our Nation, for which we are so grateful. USSTRATCOM’s mission is to deter strategic attack through a safe, secure, effective, and credible global combat capability — the bedrock of our national defense. Adm. Correll brings extensive operational and strategic experience; we look forward to seeing him in his new leadership role continuing to advance USSTRATCOM’s mission. Gen. Caine also visited the @162ndWG at Morrison ANGB, Ariz., meeting with the outstanding Airmen who train pilots, build critical international partnerships, and stand ready for both federal and state missions. He joined a training flight to see their work firsthand, underscoring the unmatched excellence of the Wing’s premier fighter training program. The Joint Force remains ready anytime, anywhere.

A message of gratitude on Thanksgiving from the Chairman and SEAC.

Aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) David L. Isom met with Sailors underway in the Caribbean Sea to thank them for their professionalism and continued, outstanding service during the Thanksgiving holiday season. The Chairman underscored his deep gratitude for their dedication and sacrifice—and for their families who serve alongside them. Gen. Caine received updates from leadership and toured key spaces to gain a firsthand understanding of what the crew is accomplishing while underway. The Chairman and SEAC recognized several Sailors for exceptional performance and thanked the entire crew for their continued commitment to the mission.