Public Law 99-433

E8945

Public Law 99-433 is the formal designation of the Goldwater–Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986, a landmark U.S. law that overhauled the military command structure and strengthened joint operations among the armed services.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Defense reform statute
United States federal law
aim to clarify the operational chain of command
to enhance civilian control of the military
to improve military advice to the President and Secretary of Defense
to promote interoperability among the armed services
to strengthen joint operations among the U.S. armed services
appliesTo United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Coast Guard when operating as a service in the Navy
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
changes clarified the chain of command from the President to the Secretary of Defense to unified combatant commanders
created statutory requirements for joint professional military education
enhanced the role of the Joint Staff
established the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as principal military adviser to the President
increased authority of unified and specified combatant commanders
modified the composition and functions of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
reduced the collective operational role of the service chiefs
reorganized the Department of Defense
required joint duty assignments for promotion to general and flag officer ranks
revised the roles and responsibilities of the service secretaries and service chiefs
strengthened the authority of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
strengthened the role of the combatant commands in planning and conducting operations
classifiedAs landmark defense reform
context Cold War
country United States
dateSigned 1986-10-01
effectiveDate 1986-10-01
enactedBy 99th United States Congress
impact improved coordination among the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps
increased emphasis on joint planning and operations
reshaped U.S. military command relationships
jurisdiction Federal government of the United States
motivatedBy lessons from the 1983 invasion of Grenada
lessons from the Vietnam War
lessons from the failed 1980 Iran hostage rescue mission
perceived inter-service rivalry and coordination problems
namedAfter Barry Goldwater
William Flynt Nichols
officialName Goldwater–Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986
publicLawNumber 99-433
shortName Goldwater–Nichols Act
signedBy Ronald Reagan
sponsors Barry Goldwater
William Flynt Nichols
statutesAtLargeCitation 100 Stat. 992
subject United States Department of Defense reorganization
joint military operations
military command structure
yearOfEnactment 1986

Referenced by (1)

Please wait…