Who designates a Combatant Command?

• A. The President through the Secretary of Defense with the advice and assistance of the CJCS
• B. Congress
• C. The National Security Council
• D. The Secretary of Defense alone

Answer: (A)

Designating a Combatant Command is a presidential responsibility carried out through the Secretary of Defense, with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The President, as Commander in Chief, has the authority to organize, train, and assign forces, and the Secretary of Defense implements that direction. The CJCS contributes by providing military advice, options, and assessments to inform the designation decision. Congress does not designate CCMDs, and while the National Security Council helps with policy coordination, it does not authorize or designate combatant commands. This structure ensures civilian control of the military while leveraging the Secretary of Defense’s and the CJCS’s expertise in shaping how unified commands are organized and commanded.