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The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nation's second-highest-ranking military officer, responsible for overseeing joint military requirements, representing the military in National Security Council deputies meetings, and performing other duties as directed by the chairman.
Navy Adm. Christopher W. Grady was sworn in as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Dec. 20, 2021. Previously, he served as commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command. A native of Newport, Rhode Island, Grady is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and was commissioned an ensign through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University, where he earned a master's degree in national security studies, and of the National War College, where he earned a master's in national security affairs.
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Established in January 1942 to expedite strategic coordination during World War II, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been at the center of U.S. military planning ever since.
Top civilian defense decision-makers work with the secretary to develop policy, operational and fiscal plans, manage resources and evaluate programs.