The titlechief of staff (orhead of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as thearmed forces, a government institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportingstaff or a primaryaide-de-camp to an important individual, such as apresident, or a senior military officer, or leader of a large organization.[1][2]
In general, a chief of staff provides a buffer between a chief executive and that executive's direct-reporting team. The chief of staff generally works behind the scenes to solve problems,mediate disputes, and deal with issues before they are brought to the chief executive.[1] Often chiefs of staff act as aconfidant and advisor to the chief executive, acting as asounding board for ideas. Ultimately the actual duties depend on the position and the people involved.[1] In an organization, the chief of staff may play a role that is metaphorically akin to an “air traffic controller for the leader and the senior team; as an integrator connecting work streams that would otherwise remain siloed; as a communicator linking the leadership team and the broader organization; as anhonest broker and truth teller when the leader needs a wide-ranging view withoutturf considerations; and as a confidant without an organizational agenda.”[3]
In general, the positions listed below are not "chiefs of staff" as defined at the top of this page; they are the heads of the various forces/commands and tend to have subordinates that fulfill the "chief of staff" roles.[citation needed]
TheSovereign is the Commander-in-Chief. The CDS heads theChiefs of Staff Committee and is assisted by theVice-Chief of the Defence Staff.
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