Combatant commander is the current (2005) title of a major military leader of United States armed forces, either of a large geographical region or of a particular military function, formerly known as a commander-in-chief. 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

The Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 added a new level of commander-in-chief (CINC) to the U.S. military's chain of command. Regional CINCs were created in order to have a local supreme commander who could exercise unified command and control across service boundaries, ideally eliminating or diminishing interservice rivalries. CINCs reported directly to the United States Secretary of Defense, and through him to the President of the United States. The best-known CINC was probably Norman Schwarzkopf, CINC of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) during Operation Desert Storm. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In a military context, the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed. ... Seal of the United States Department of Defense The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate, and is a member of the Cabinet. ... The President of the United States (often abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state of the United States. ... Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. ... Emblem of the United States Central Command. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

On October 24, 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced that the title of "Commander-in-Chief" would thereafter be reserved for the President, consistent with the terms of Art. II of the United States Constitution. Armed forces CINCs in specified regions would thereafter be known as "combatant commanders," heading what are now know as Unified Combatant Commands. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... 2002(MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Donald Rumsfeld Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is the current Secretary of Defense of the United States, since January 20, 2001, under President George W. Bush. ... The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... A Unified Combatant Command is composed of forces from two or more services, has a broad and continuing mission, and is organized either on a geographical basis (known as Area Of Responsibility, AOR) or on a functional basis. ...