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.
Check out photos of the vice chairman meeting with troops and military families around the world.
Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten was sworn in as the 11th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Nov. 21, 2019. He graduated in 1981 from Harvard University with a degree in engineering and applied sciences and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. His military career includes assignments in a variety of space operations, including Air Force and Army anti-satellite weapon system programs.
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.