Chief of Staff

noun

1. the senior officer of the U.S. Army or Air Force, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responsible to the secretary of a service branch.
2. (lowercase) the senior or principal staff officer in a brigade or division or higher unit in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps, in a numbered unit in the U.S. Air Force, or in a unit in the U.S. Navy commanded by a rear admiral or one of higher rank.
3. (lowercase) the senior officer in command of a general staff, especially that of the military forces of a nation.
4. (lowercase) the head of any staff:

   the chief of staff for the First Lady.

Chief of Staff

noun

1. the senior staff officer under the commander of a major military formation or organization
2. the senior officer of each service of the armed forces

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chief of Staff¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Stephen Miller, the author of some of Trump’s harshest immigration enforcement tactics, including family separation during his first term, was chosen last week as his deputy chief of staff.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time people were talking about him as a good bet for chief of staff but Trump chose his campaign manager Susie Wiles instead.

From Salon

Raymond Sass, Dr. Sasse’s former Senate chief of staff, had been hired as the university’s vice president for strategy and innovation.

From New York Times

Stephen Miller, who Trump tapped to be his deputy chief of staff of policy, specifically used the word “camps” to describe holding facilities that he hoped the military could put together.

From Salon

Trump has named Taylor Budowich as a deputy chief of staff in charge of communications and personnel.

From Salon