View source for Unified Combatant Commands

{{Short description|United States Department of Defense command}}
{{Organization 
|OrganizationName= Unified Combatant Commands
|OrganizationType= Executive Departments (Sub-organization)
|Mission= To provide operational command and control of military forces, enabling coordination across different branches of the military for strategic, operational, and tactical missions globally or within designated areas of responsibility.
|OrganizationExecutive= Combatant Commander (for each command)
|Employees= 
|Budget=
|Website=
|Services= Military operations; Strategic planning; Force allocation; Command and control; Joint and combined military exercises
|ParentOrganization= United States Department of Defense
|CreationLegislation= Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986
|Regulations=
|HeadquartersLocation= 
|HeadquartersAddress=
}}
{{United States Armed Forces sidebar}}
A '''unified combatant command''', also referred to as a '''combatant command''' ('''CCMD'''), is a joint [[command (military formation)|military command]] of the [[United States Department of Defense]] that is composed of units from two or more [[service branch]]es of the [[United States Armed Forces]], and conducts broad and continuing missions.<ref>''Joint Pub 1'', p. GL-11.</ref> There are currently 11 unified combatant commands, and each is established as the highest echelon of military commands, in order to provide effective [[command and control]] of all [[U.S. military]] forces, regardless of branch of service, during peace or during war time.<ref>Story, p. 2</ref> Unified combatant commands are organized either on a geographical basis (known as an "[[area of responsibility]]", AOR) or on a functional basis, e.g., [[special operations]], [[force projection]], [[military supply-chain management|transport]], and [[United States Cyber Command|cybersecurity]]. Currently, seven combatant commands are designated as geographical, and four are designated as functional. Unified combatant commands are "joint" commands and have specific badges denoting their affiliation.

The Unified Command Plan (UCP) establishes the missions, command responsibilities, and geographic areas of responsibility of the combatant commands.{{efn|name= ucp|1= Unified Command Plan (UCP): "The UCP is a classified executive branch document that
articulates how DOD assigns responsibility for different missions and areas of the world".<ref name= IF10542 >Kathleen J. McInnis, Analyst in International Security, Congressional research service [https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10542/8 (Updated February 18, 2020) Defense Primer: Commanding U.S. Military Operations] Report IF10542, version 8</ref>}} Each time the Unified Command Plan is updated, the organization of the combatant commands is reviewed for military efficiency and efficacy, as well as alignment with national policy.<ref name= ucp2020,andUpdateToCJCSI6250,01F >[https://breakingdefense.com/2020/08/exclusive-milley-to-sign-new-unified-command-plan-defines-spacecoms-roles/ Theresa Hitchens (26 Aug 2020) Exclusive: Milley To Sign New Unified Command Plan; Defines SPACECOM’s Roles]</ref><ref>[https://warontherocks.com/2021/08/a-better-approach-to-organizing-combatant-commands/ MARGAUX HOAR, JEREMY SEPINSKY, AND PETER M. SWARTZ (27 Aug 2021)  A BETTER APPROACH TO ORGANIZING COMBATANT COMMANDS]</ref>

Each unified combatant command is led by a combatant commander (CCDR),<ref>''Joint Pub 1-02'', p. 37.</ref> who is a [[four-star rank|four-star]] [[General (United States)|general]] or [[Admiral (United States)|admiral]]. The combatant commanders are entrusted with a specific type of nontransferable operational command authority over assigned forces, regardless of branch of service.<ref>''Joint Pub 1'', p. IV-4.</ref> The [[command hierarchy|chain of command]] for operational purposes (per the [[Goldwater–Nichols Act]]) goes from the [[president of the United States]] through the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]] to the combatant commanders.

== Command authority ==
The Department of Defense defines at least four types of command authority:<ref name=Paparone >[http://www.alu.army.mil/alog/issues/novdec07/cmmd_relat_difference.html Dr. Christopher R. Paparone ''Army Logistician'' COCOM, ADCON, OPCON, TACON Support —Do You Know the Difference?]</ref><ref>[https://www.doctrine.af.mil/Portals/61/documents/Annex_3-30/3-30-D60-C2-Appendix-ComRels-Overview.pdf (JP-1) Air Force Doctrine, Annex 3-30 - Command and Control (7 January 2020) APPENDIX A: COMMAND AUTHORITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS]</ref>
 		
# COCOM – combatant command (legal authority): unitary control not further delegatable by the combatant commander (CCDR) within their geographic or functional combatant command (CCMD).
# ADCON - administrative control of the command function of "obtaining resources, direction for training, methods of morale and discipline"<ref name=Paparone />	
# OPCON - operational control of a command function, e.g. sustainment. In that case, OPCON is embodied in the Army Field Support Brigades ([[Reorganization plan of United States Army#Army Field Support Brigades|AFSBs]])	
# TACON - tactical control of sustainment, for example as embodied in a Contracting Support Brigade

==List of combatant commands==
[[File:GCCMAP 2019.png |thumb|770px|Geographic areas of responsibility for the unified combatant commands]]

{| class="wikitable center"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:120px;" | Emblem
! rowspan="2" | Combatant command<br>(Acronym)
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="date" | Establishment as<br/>a unified command
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | Headquarters
! colspan="3" | Commander
|-
! style="width:90px;" | Portrait
! Name
|-

! colspan="6" | 
<big><big>Geographic combatant commands</big></big>
|-

| [[File:Seal of the United States Africa Command.svg|75px]]
| '''[[United States Africa Command|Africa Command]]'''<br>(USAFRICOM)
| {{dts|2008|10|01|format=my|nowrap=on}}{{efn|U.S. Africa Command was established on 1 October 2007 as a sub-unified command under U.S. European Command. It separated from U.S. European Command and was elevated to full unified command status on 1 October 2008.}}
| [[Kelley Barracks]], Stuttgart,<br>Germany<sup>‡</sup>
| [[File:Gen Michael E. Langley.jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Michael E. Langley]]<br>[[United States Marine Corps|USMC]]
|-
| [[File:Seal of United States Central Command.svg|90px]]
| '''[[United States Central Command|Central Command]]'''<br>(USCENTCOM)
| {{dts|1983|01|01|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[MacDill Air Force Base]],<br>Florida<sup>‡</sup>
| [[File:Michael E. Kurilla (4).jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Michael E. Kurilla]]<br>[[United States Army|USA]]
|-
| [[File:USEUCOM.svg|105px]]
| '''[[United States European Command|European Command]]'''<br>(USEUCOM)
| {{dts|1952|08|1|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[Patch Barracks]], Stuttgart,<br>Germany
| [[File:Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli (3).jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Christopher G. Cavoli]]<br>[[United States Army|USA]]
|-
| [[File:US Indo-Pacific Command Seal.svg|90px]]
| '''[[United States Indo-Pacific Command|Indo-Pacific Command]]'''<br>(USINDOPACOM)
| {{dts|1947|01|01|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[Camp H. M. Smith]],<br>Hawaii
| [[File:ADM Samuel J. Paparo Jr. (3).jpg|80px]]
| [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]]<br>[[Samuel J. Paparo Jr.]]<br>[[United States Navy|USN]]
|-
| [[File:Seal of the United States Northern Command.png|90px]]
| '''[[United States Northern Command|Northern Command]]'''<br>(USNORTHCOM)
| {{dts|2002|10|01|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[Peterson Space Force Base]],<br>Colorado
| [[File:Gen Gregory M. Guillot (2).jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Gregory M. Guillot]]<br>[[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|-
| [[File:Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg|70px]]
| '''[[United States Southern Command|Southern Command]]'''<br>(USSOUTHCOM)
| {{dts|1963|06|06|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[Doral, Florida|Doral]],<br>Florida<sup>‡</sup>
| [[File:ADM Alvin Holsey.jpg|80px]]
| [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]]<br>[[Alvin Holsey]]<br>[[United States Navy|USN]]
|-
| [[File:United States Space Command emblem 2019.svg|90px]]
| '''[[United States Space Command|Space Command]]'''<br>(USSPACECOM)
| {{dts|2019|08|29|format=my|nowrap=on}}{{efn|The first U.S. Space Command was originally established as a unified combatant command in {{dts|1985|09|format=dmy|nowrap=on}}. It was disestablished in {{dts|2002|10|format=dmy|nowrap=on}}. The second U.S. Space Command, which is considered separate from the first, was established on {{dts|2019|08|29|format=dmy|nowrap=on}}.}}
| [[Peterson Space Force Base]],<br>Colorado<sup>‡</sup><ref name= CoNotAl >Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp, AP [https://apnews.com/article/space-command-biden-colorado-alabama-382b12b57733848fd1d083227aefa0bf (31 Jul 2023) Biden decides to keep Space Command in Colorado, rejecting move to Alabama]
*Theresa Hitchens [https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/space-command-hq-staying-in-colorado-as-biden-reverses-trump-decision/ (31 Jul 2023) Space Command HQ staying in Colorado, as Biden reverses Trump decision ]
*Sen. Jeanne Shaheen noted that [[Missile Defense Agency]] lost 80% of its workforce in the move to Alabama in 2005.—Marcus Weisgerber and Bradley Peniston [https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/07/biden-reverse-trump-decision-move-space-command-alabama/388995/  (31 Jul 2023) Biden to reverse Trump decision to move Space Command to Alabama]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/August%202019/US-Space-Command-Takes-Reins-on-Space-Ops-But-Questions-Remain.aspx |title=US Space Command Takes Reins on Space Ops, but Questions Remain |date=27 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spacecom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1948103/us-space-command-establishment-ceremony-launches-new-era-of-space-superiority-c/ |title=US Space Command Establishment Ceremony Launches New Era of Space Superiority}}</ref>
| [[File:Gen Stephen N. Whiting.jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Stephen Whiting|Stephen N. Whiting]]<br>[[United States Space Force|USSF]]
|-

! colspan="6" | 
<big><big>Functional combatant commands</big></big>
|-

| [[File:Seal of the United States Cyber Command.svg|90px]]
| '''[[United States Cyber Command|Cyber Command]]'''<br>(USCYBERCOM)
| {{dts|2018|05|04|format=my|nowrap=on}}{{efn|U.S. Cyber Command was established on 23 June 2009 as a sub-unified command under U.S. Strategic Command. It separated from U.S. Strategic Command and was elevated to full unified command status on 4 May 2018.}}
| [[Fort George G. Meade]],<br>Maryland
| [[File:Gen Timothy D. Haugh.jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Timothy D. Haugh]]<br>[[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|-
| [[File:United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg|85px]]
| '''[[United States Special Operations Command|Special Operations Command]]'''<br>(USSOCOM)
| {{dts|1987|04|16|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[MacDill Air Force Base]],<br>Florida
| [[File:GEN Bryan P. Fenton (2).jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Bryan P. Fenton]]<br>[[United States Army|USA]]
|-
| [[File:US Strategic Command Emblem.svg|90px]]
| '''[[United States Strategic Command|Strategic Command]]'''<br>(USSTRATCOM)
| {{dts|1992|06|01|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[Offutt Air Force Base]],<br>Nebraska
| [[File:Gen Anthony J. Cotton (2).jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Anthony J. Cotton]]<br>[[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|-
| [[File:US-TRANSCOM-Emblem.svg|100px]]
| '''[[United States Transportation Command|Transportation Command]]'''<br>(USTRANSCOM)
| {{dts|1987|07|01|format=my|nowrap=on}}
| [[Scott Air Force Base]],<br>Illinois
| [[File:Gen Randall Reed (cropped).jpg|80px]]
| [[General (United States)|General]]<br>[[Randall Reed]]<br>[[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|}

<sup>‡</sup> Currently, four geographic combatant commands have their [[headquarters]] located outside their geographic area of responsibility.

==History==
{{See also|List of former unified combatant commands}}
[[File:Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff General David C. Jones lead briefing at The Pentagon.jpg|thumb|247x247px|Commanders of unified and specified combatant command during an annual meeting with [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] and members of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] at [[The Pentagon]], Joint Chiefs of Staff Room also known as "The Tank" on January 15, 1981.]]
[[File:US Navy 080129-N-0696M-033 Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates attend a meeting of military combatant commanders with President George W. Bush.jpg|President [[George W. Bush]] (sitting third from the right) and Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]] (sitting second from the left) meeting with the joint chiefs and combatant commanders|thumb|250px]]

The current system of unified commands in the U.S. military emerged during [[World War II]] with the establishment of geographic theaters of operation composed of forces from multiple service branches that reported to a single commander who was supported by a joint staff.<ref>JCS (1985), p. 1</ref> A unified command structure also existed to coordinate British and U.S. military forces operating under the [[Combined Chiefs of Staff]], which was composed of the British [[Chiefs of Staff Committee]] and the U.S. [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]].<ref>JCS (1977), p. 1</ref>

===World War II era===
In the [[European Theatre of World War II|European Theater]], Allied military forces fell under the command of the [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force]] (SHAEF). After SHAEF was dissolved at the end of the war, the American forces were unified under a single command, the US Forces, European Theater (USFET), commanded by [[General of the Army (United States)|General of the Army]] Dwight D. Eisenhower. A truly unified command for the [[Pacific War]] proved more difficult to organize, as neither General of the Army [[Douglas MacArthur]] nor [[Fleet Admiral (United States)|Fleet Admiral]] [[Chester W. Nimitz]] was willing to be subordinate to the other, for reasons of [[interservice rivalry]].<ref>{{cite web |collaboration=Joint Chiefs of Staff |title=History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946–1977 |date=20 December 1977 |url=http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/268.pdf |access-date=14 June 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528174827/http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/268.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2010|page=1}}</ref>

The Joint Chiefs of Staff continued to advocate in favor of establishing permanent unified commands, and President [[Harry S. Truman]] approved the first plan on 14 December 1946.<ref>JCS (1977), p. 2</ref> Known as the "Outline Command Plan", it would become the first in a series of Unified Command Plans.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Max Ostrovsky |url=https://archive.org/details/military-globalization/page/241/mode/2up?q=combatant&view=theater |title=Military Globalization |date=2018-08-01}}</ref> The original "Outline Command Plan" of 1946 established seven unified commands: [[Far East Command (United States)|Far East Command]], [[United States Pacific Command|Pacific Command]], [[Alaskan Command]], [[U.S. Northeastern Command|Northeast Command]], the [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet]], Caribbean Command, and European Command. However, on 5 August 1947, the CNO recommended instead that CINCLANTFLT be established as a fully unified commander under the broader title of Commander in Chief, Atlantic (CINCLANT). The Army and Air Force objected, and CINCLANTFLT was activated as a unified command on 1 November 1947. A few days later, the CNO renewed his suggestion for the establishment of a unified Atlantic Command. This time his colleagues withdrew their objections, and on 1 December 1947, the [[U.S. Atlantic Command]] (LANTCOM) was created under the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (CINCLANT).<ref>Joint History Office, ''History of the Unified Command Plan 1946–1993'', pp. 14–15.</ref>

Under the original plan, each of the unified commands operated with one of the service chiefs (the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff of the Army]] or [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force]], or the [[Chief of Naval Operations]]) serving as an executive agent representing the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<ref>JCS (1977), p. 3.</ref> This arrangement was formalized on 21 April 1948 as part of a policy paper titled the "Function of the Armed Forces and the Joint Chiefs of Staff" (informally known as the "[[Key West Agreement]]").<ref>JCS (1977), p. 5.</ref> The responsibilities of the unified commands were further expanded on 7 September 1948 when the commanders' authority was extended to include the coordination of the administrative and logistical functions in addition to their combat responsibilities.<ref>JCS (1977), p. 6.</ref>

===Cold War era===
Far East Command and U.S. Northeast Command were disestablished under the [[Unified Command Plan]] of 1956–1957.

A 1958 "reorganization in [[National Command Authority (United States)|National Command Authority]] relations with the joint commands" with a "direct channel" to unified commands such as [[Continental Air Defense Command]] (CONAD) was effected after President [[Dwight Eisenhower]] expressed concern{{Specify|reason=When, Where?|date=June 2014}} about nuclear command and control.<ref name=WainsteinP1>{{cite report |last1=Wainstein |first1=L. |pages=1–138 |title=The Evolution of U.S. Strategic Command and Control and Warning: Part One (1945–1953) |date=June 1975 |id=Study S-467 |publisher=Institute for Defense Analyses}}</ref> CONAD itself was disestablished in 1975.

Although not part of the original plan, the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] also created specified commands that had broad and continuing missions but were composed of forces from only one service.<ref>Naval Advancement</ref>  Examples include the U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command. Like the unified commands, the specified commands reported directly to the JCS instead of their respective service chiefs.<ref>JCS (1977), p. 4</ref> These commands have not existed since the Strategic Air Command was disestablished in 1992. The relevant section of federal law, however, remains unchanged, and the President retains the power to establish a new specified command.<ref>10 U.S.C. 161</ref>

The [[Goldwater–Nichols Act|Goldwater–Nichols Defense Reorganization Act]] of 1986 clarified and codified responsibilities that commanders-in-chief (CINCs) undertook, and which were first given legal status in 1947. After that act,<ref name= csaf12csaf13 >Tobias Naegele [https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/out-of-the-cold-war-into-the-fire/ (3 Nov 2022) Out of the Cold War, Into the Fire ] 12th CSAF Larry D. Welch; 13th CSAF Michael J. Dugan</ref> CINCs reported directly to the United States [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], and through him to the President of the United States.

===Post Soviet era===
Then-Secretary of Defense [[Dick Cheney]] announced in 1993 that the strategic command system should continue to evolve toward a joint global structure.<ref>Cheney, Dick (1993). "Defense Strategy for the 1990s: The Regional Defense Strategy," (Washington: Department of Defense), p 11. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA268979.pdf</ref> The 1997 UCP assigned the former Soviet European republics and the whole of Russia to EUCOM which thus stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Max Ostrovsky |url=https://archive.org/details/military-globalization/page/243/mode/2up?q=combatant&view=theater |title=Military Globalization |date=2018-08-01}}</ref> The former Soviet Central Asian republics were assigned to CENTCOM.<ref>Drea, Edward et al (2013). "History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946-2012," Joint History Office, (Washington: Joint Chiefs of Staff) , p 5, 75, 84, https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/Institutional/Command_Plan.pdf</ref>

The U.S. Atlantic Command became the [[United States Joint Forces Command|Joint Forces Command]] in the 1990s after the Soviet threat to the North Atlantic had disappeared and the need rose for an integrating and experimentation command for forces in the continental United States. [[United States Joint Forces Command|Joint Forces Command]] was disbanded on 3 August 2011 and its components placed under the [[Joint Staff]] and other combatant commands.

In January 2002, for the first time the entire surface of the earth was divided among the US geographic commands.<ref>Ostrovsky, Max (2018). ''Military Globalization: Geography, Strategy, Weaponry'', (New York: Edwin Mellen Press), p 244, https://archive.org/details/military-globalization/page/243/mode/2up?q=combatant&view=theater</ref><ref>Feickert, Andrew (2013). "The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands: Background and Issues for Congress," Congressional Research Service, (Washington: White House), p 48, https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42077/11</ref> Rumsfeld assigned the last unassigned region—[[Antarctica]]—to PACOM, which stretched from Pole to Pole and covered half of the globe.<ref>Drea, Edward et al (2013). "History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946-2012," Joint History Office, (Washington: Joint Chiefs of Staff) , p 83, https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/Institutional/Command_Plan.pdf</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Department of Defense Press Briefing by Adm. Harris in the Pentagon Briefing Room |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/673426/department-of-defense-press-briefing-by-adm-harris-in-the-pentagon-briefing-room/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 24 October 2002, Secretary of Defense [[Donald H. Rumsfeld]] announced that in accordance with [[Title 10 of the United States Code|Title 10]] of the [[US Code]] (USC), the title of "[[Commander-in-chief#United States|Commander-in-Chief]]" would thereafter be reserved for the President, consistent with the terms of Article II of the [[United States Constitution]]. Thereafter, the military CINCs would be known as "combatant commanders", as heads of the unified combatant commands.<ref name="CIC Title">{{Cite report |url=https://library.rumsfeld.com/doclib/sp/2576/2002-10-24%20re%20The%20Title%20Commander%20in%20Chief.pdf |title=MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS SUBJECT: The Title "Commander-in-Chief" |last=Rumsfeld |first=Donald |date=2002-10-24 |location=The Rumsfeld Papers |access-date=2021-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115051555/https://library.rumsfeld.com/doclib/sp/223/2002-10-24%20re%20The%20Title%20Commander%20in%20Chief.pdf |archive-date=2020-11-15 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

A sixth geographical unified command, [[United States Africa Command]] (USAFRICOM), was approved and established in 2007 for Africa. It operated under U.S. European Command as a sub-unified command during its first year, and transitioned to independent Unified Command Status in October 2008. In 2009, it focused on synchronizing hundreds of activities inherited from three regional commands that previously coordinated U.S. military relations in Africa.<ref>AFRICOM FAQs</ref>

President [[Donald Trump]] announced on 18 August 2017 that the [[United States Cyber Command]] (USCYBERCOM) would be elevated to the status of a unified combatant command from a sub-unified command. It was also announced that the separation of the command from the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] would be considered.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Statement by President Donald J. Trump on the Elevation of Cyber Command |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2017/08/18/statement-donald-j-trump-elevation-cyber-command |department=Office of the Press Secretary |date=2017-08-18 |access-date=2017-08-18 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Trump |first=Donald |author-link=Donald Trump |title=Presidential Documents: Memorandum of August 15, 2017: Elevation of U.S. Cyber Command to a Unified Combatant Command |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-08-23/pdf/2017-17947.pdf |journal=Federal Register |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |volume=82 |issue=162 |pages=39953–39954 |date=2017-08-23 |access-date=2017-08-23 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> USCYBERCOM was elevated on 4 May 2018.

Vice President [[Mike Pence]] announced on 18 December 2018 that President Donald Trump had issued a memorandum ordering the stand-up of a [[United States Space Command]] (USSPACECOM).<ref>{{cite press release | title=Remarks by Vice President Pence at Kennedy Space Center |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-vice-president-pence-kennedy-space-center/ |location=Kennedy Space Center, Florida |department=Office of the White House Press Secretary |date=2018-12-18 |access-date=2018-12-18 | via=[[NARA|National Archives]] | work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> A previous unified combatant command for unified space operations was decommissioned in 2002. The new USSPACECOM will include "(1) all the general responsibilities of a Unified Combatant Command; (2) the space-related responsibilities previously assigned to the Commander, [[United States Strategic Command]]; and (3) the responsibilities of Joint Force Provider and Joint Force Trainer for Space Operations Forces".<ref>{{cite press release |title=Text of a Memorandum from the President to the Secretary of Defense Regarding the Establishment of the United States Space Command |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/text-memorandum-president-secretary-defense-regarding-establishment-united-states-space-command/ |department=Office of the Press Secretary |date=2018-12-18 |access-date=2018-12-18 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> USSPACECOM was re-established on 29 August 2019.

==Combatant commanders==
Each combatant command (CCMD) is headed by a four-star general or admiral (the CCDR) recommended by the Secretary of Defense, nominated for appointment by the President of the United States, confirmed by the Senate and commissioned, at the President's order, by the Secretary of Defense. The Goldwater–Nichols Act and its subsequent implementation legislation also resulted in specific [[Joint Professional Military Education]] (JPME) requirements for officers before they could attain flag or general officer rank thereby preparing them for duty in Joint assignments such as UCC staff or Joint Chiefs of Staff assignments, which are strictly controlled tour length rotations of duty. However, in the decades following enactment of Goldwater–Nichols, these JPME requirements have yet to come to overall fruition. This is particularly true in the case of senior naval officers, where sea duty / shore duty rotations and the culture of the naval service has often discounted PME and JPME as a measure of professional development for success. Although slowly changing, the JPME requirement still continues to be frequently waived in the case of senior admirals nominated for these positions.<ref>Holder & Murray, p. 86.</ref>

The operational chain of command runs from the [[President of the United States|President]] to the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] to the combatant commanders of the combatant commands. The [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] may transmit communications to the Commanders of the combatant commands from the President and Secretary of Defense and advises both on potential courses of action, but the Chairman does not exercise military command over any combatant forces. Under Goldwater–Nichols, the service chiefs (also four stars in rank) are charged with the responsibility of the strategic direction; unified operation of combatant commands; and the integration of all land, naval, and air forces in an efficient "unified combatant command" force. Furthermore, the Secretaries of the Military Departments (i.e., [[United States Secretary of the Army|Secretary of the Army]], [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]], and the [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary of the Air Force]]) are legally responsible to "organize, train and equip" combatant forces and, as directed by the Secretary of Defense, assign their forces for use by the combatant commands. The Secretaries of the Military Departments thus exercise administrative control (ADCON)<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.army.mil/article/203331/the_challenging_world_of_command_and_support_relationships |first1=Justin M., Lt. Col. |last1=Redfern |first2=Aaron M., Maj. |last2=Cornett |date=April 5, 2018 |df=dmy-all |title=The challenging world of command and support relationships |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] |department=[[United States Army]]}}</ref> rather than operational control (OPCON—the prerogative of the combatant commander) over their forces.

===Sub-unified commands===
A sub-unified command, or, subordinate unified command, may be established by combatant commanders when authorized to do so by the Secretary of Defense or the president.<ref>''Joint Pub 1'', p. V-9.</ref> They are created to conduct a portion of the mission or tasking of their parent geographic or functional command. Sub-unified commands may be either functional or geographic, and the commanders of sub-unified commands exercise authority similar to that of combatant commanders.

Examples of former and present sub-unified commands are the [[Alaskan Command]] (ALCOM) under [[United States Northern Command|USNORTHCOM]], the [[United States Forces Korea]] (USFK) and [[United States Forces Japan]] (USFJ) under [[United States Indo-Pacific Command|USINDOPACOM]], and United States Forces—Afghanistan (USFA) under [[United States Central Command|USCENTCOM]].

== See also ==
* [[United States Air Force]]
* [[United States Army]]
* [[United States Coast Guard]]
* [[United States Marine Corps]]
* [[United States Navy]]
* [[United States Space Force]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist|1}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== General and cited sources ==
* [[Title 10 of the United States Code]] (10 U.S.C.) {{cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/161- |title=§ 161}}
* {{cite web |title=AFRICOM FAQs|publisher=[[United States Africa Command]] |url=http://www.africom.mil/africomFAQs.asp |access-date=27 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421182424/http://www.africom.mil/AfricomFAQs.asp |archive-date=21 April 2010}}
* {{cite web |title=DefenseLINK — Unified Command Plan |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/unifiedcommand |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=15 January 2009}}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Holder |first1=Leonard |last2=Murray |first2=Williamson |title=Prospects for Military Education |url=https://digitalndulibrary.ndu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/ndupress&CISOPTR=16478&REC=1 |magazine=Joint Force Quarterly |volume=18 |date=Spring 1998}}
* {{cite web |collaboration=Joint Chiefs of Staff |title=History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946–1977 |date=20 December 1977 |url=http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/268.pdf |access-date=21 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528174827/http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/268.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2010}}
* {{cite web |department=[[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |title=History of the Unified Command Plan, 1977–1983 |date=July 1985 |url=http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/269.pdf |access-date=21 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528175122/http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/269.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2010}}
* {{cite web |title=Joint Publication 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States |url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp1.pdf |date=20 March 2009 |department=[[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=22 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027024636/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp1.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2011}}
* {{cite web |id=Joint Publication 1-02 |title=Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms |url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310102614/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2010 |date=31 January 2011 |department=[[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=24 March 2011}}
* {{cite web |title=Joint Warfighting Center History |url=http://www.jfcom.mil/about/jwfc_history.htm |department=[[United States Joint Forces Command]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] |access-date=6 February 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208195931/http://www.jfcom.mil/about/jwfc_history.htm |archive-date=8 December 2006}}
* {{cite web |title=Specified Command |url=http://www.tpub.com/content/advancement/14148/css/14148_21.htm |series=Naval Advancement |access-date=21 August 2016}}
* {{cite report |last=Story |first=William C. |title=Military Changes to the Unified Command Plan: Background and Issues for Congress |date=21 June 1999 |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]] |url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl30245.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010052854/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl30245.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=22 August 2010}}
* {{cite web |title=US Creating New Africa Command to Coordinate Military Efforts |url=http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/February/20070206170933MVyelwarC0.2182581.html |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |access-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021051013/http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/February/20070206170933MVyelwarC0.2182581.html |archive-date=21 October 2012}}
* {{cite web |title=U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility Countries |url=http://www.centcom.mil/area-of-responsibility-countries |department=[[USCENTCOM]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808111417/http://www.centcom.mil/area-of-responsibility-countries |archive-date=8 August 2013}}
* {{cite web |title=The Region EUCOM, Stronger Together |url=http://www.eucom.mil/mission/the-region |department=[[USEUCOM]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823072510/http://www.eucom.mil/mission/the-region/ |archive-date=23 August 2013}}
* {{cite report |title=USNORTHCOM 101 |url=http://nrt.sraprod.com/nrtconf/reports/040316/USNORTHCOM%20101.ppt |publisher=SRA |access-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513180226/http://nrt.sraprod.com/nrtconf/reports/040316/USNORTHCOM%20101.ppt |archive-date=13 May 2014}}
* {{cite web |title=ADM Keating's Letter |url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/adana/19452/pdfs/uspacom.pdf |department=[[USPACOM]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=12 August 2013}}
* {{cite web |title=Area of Responsibility (USSOUTHCOM) |url=http://www.southcom.mil/aboutus/Pages/Area-of-Responsibility.aspx |department=[[USSOUTHCOM]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813044853/http://www.southcom.mil/aboutus/Pages/Area-of-Responsibility.aspx |archive-date=13 August 2013}}

==External links==
{{commons|Unified Combatant Command}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.usaraf.army.mil/MAP_INTERACTIVE/INTERACTIVE_MAP.swf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117005910/http://www.usaraf.army.mil/MAP_INTERACTIVE/INTERACTIVE_MAP.swf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-01-17 |title=Interactive Map—US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) area of operation |department=[[United States Army Africa]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/specials/unifiedcommand/ |title=Unified Command Plan |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]}}

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[[Category:Unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense|*]]