On October 24, 2002, the U.S. Secretary of Defense announced that the title of Commander-in-Chief would be reserved for the President, and that armed forces CINCs would shorten their title to "commander." They are typically referred to as combatant commanders, heading what are now know as combatant commands. The title has taken on prominent importance in the political debate in the United States in the context of the "War against Terrorism" [2].

The Constitution of the United States gives the title to the President of the United States, who "shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States"

According to the Constitution of the United States, the President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of all military forces of the United States. Subordinate to the President and the Secretary of Defense are the heads of the regional military commands who are Commanders-in-Chief of the military forces in their region.