Vice Director of the Joint Staff

The vice director of the Joint Staff (VDJS) is a two-star officer in the Joint Staff. The vice director reports to the director of the Joint Staff and provides oversight of Joint Staff support activities, including administration and action management, budget, information technology services, support services, and security. The vice director also oversees the directorate of management in the Joint Staff.

Vice Director of the Joint Staff
Seal of the Joint Staff
Incumbent
Rear Admiral Paul C. Spedero Jr., USN
since 21 July 2025
Joint Staff
AbbreviationVDJS
Reports toDirector of the Joint Staff
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
AppointerThe CJCS
Websitewww.jcs.mil

List of vice directors of the Joint Staff

No. Vice Director Term Service branch Ref(s)
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Rear Admiral
Joseph H. Wellings
(1903–1988)
30 September 1958~30 April 1962~3 years, 212 days
U.S. Navy
2
Major General
John M. Reynolds
~30 April 1962~January 1963~246 days
U.S. Air Force
3
Major General
Ashton H. Manhart
(1909–1969)
~January 1963~January 1966~3 years
U.S. Army
4
Rear Admiral
Louis Joseph Kirn
(1908–1995)
January 1966December 1966~1 year, 334 days
U.S. Navy
5
Major General
John B. McPherson
(born 1917)
~May 1967~August 1968~1 year, 92 days
U.S. Air Force
6
Major General
Kelsie L. Reaves
(1911–1994)
~August 1968~January 1969~153 days
U.S. Army
7
Major General
Charles M. Mount
~January 1969~August 1970~1 year, 212 days
U.S. Army
8
Rear Admiral
Mason B. Freeman
(1914–2003)
August 1970~March 1972~1 year, 213 days
U.S. Navy
9
Major General
Martin G. Colladay
(1925–2003)
May 1972~March 1974~1 year, 304 days
U.S. Air Force
10
Major General
Adrian St. John II
(1921–2007)
~March 1974~January 1977~2 years, 306 days
U.S. Army
11
Major General
Philip D. Shutler
(1926–2025)
~January 1977~July 1978~1 year, 181 days
U.S. Marine Corps
12
Major General
James E. Dalton
(1930–2024)
July 1978~July 1980~2 years
U.S. Air Force
13
Major General
Charles W. Dyke
(1935–2025)
~July 19801982~1 year, 364 days
U.S. Army
14
Major General
George B. Crist
(1931–2024)
1982~June 1984~1 year, 337 days
U.S. Marine Corps
15
Major General
Bradley C. Hosmer
(born 1937)
June 1984September 1986~2 years
U.S. Air Force
16
Major General
Howard D. Graves
(1939–2003)
~September 1986~September 1987~1 year, 0 days
U.S. Army
17
Major General
Richard B. Goetze
(born 1935)
September 1987~December 1989~2 years, 91 days
U.S. Air Force
18
Major General
Gene A. Deegan
(born 1936)
~December 1989~January 1992~2 years, 31 days
U.S. Marine Corps
19
Major General
Rudolph Ostovich III
(born 1941)
~January 1992~June 1993~1 year, 151 days
U.S. Army
20
Major General
Charles T. Robertson Jr.
(born 1946)
June 1993June 1995~2 years
U.S. Air Force
21
Major General
Carlton W. Fulford Jr.
(born 1944)
~June 1995~June 1996~1 year
U.S. Marine Corps
22
Major General
Stephen T. Rippe
~June 1996June 1999~3 years
U.S. Army
23
Major General
Garry R. Trexler
June 1999August 2001~2 years, 61 days
U.S. Air Force
24
Major General
James A. Hawkins
September 2001December 2003~2 years, 91 days
U.S. Air Force
25
Major General
Michael D. Maples
(born 1971)
December 2003October 2005~1 year, 304 days
U.S. Army
26
Major General
Scott S. Custer
October 2005February 2007~1 year, 123 days
U.S. Air Force
27
Major General
Stephen M. Goldfein
February 200728 July 2008~1 year, 178 days
U.S. Air Force
28
Major General
Walter E. Gaskin
28 July 2008May 2009~277 days
U.S. Marine Corps
29
Rear Admiral
Bruce E. Grooms
(born 1958)
May 2009November 2010~1 year, 184 days
U.S. Navy
30
Major General
Craig A. Franklin
November 2010~30 March 2012~1 year, 150 days
U.S. Air Force
31
Rear Admiral
Nora W. Tyson
(born 1957)
~30 March 2012July 2013~1 year, 93 days
U.S. Navy
32
Major General
Frederick S. Rudesheim
~July 2013February 2015~1 year, 215 days
U.S. Army
33
Major General
Jacqueline Van Ovost
(born 1965)
February 2015August 2017~2 years, 181 days
U.S. Air Force
34
Rear Admiral
Mike Dumont
~August 2017August 2018~1 year
U.S. Navy
35
Major General
Glen D. VanHerck
(born 1962)
August 2018~26 September 2019~1 year, 56 days
U.S. Air Force
36
Rear Admiral
William D. Byrne Jr.
26 September 201910 May 20211 year, 226 days
U.S. Navy
37
Rear Admiral
George Wikoff
(born 1968)
10 May 2021May 2023~2 years, 5 days
U.S. Navy
38
Major General
Michael L. Downs
(born c. 1971)
May 2023October 2024~1 year, 139 days
U.S. Air Force
39
Major General
Stephen E. Liszewski
October 202421 July 2025~293 days
U.S. Marine Corps
40
Rear Admiral
Paul C. Spedero Jr.
21 July 2025Incumbent199 days
U.S. Navy

See also

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