chain of command
noun phrase
: a series of executive positions in order of authority
a military chain of command
Examples of chain of command in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Legacies of Vietnam Berry and Chambers were both officers who had to make decisions – outside or against the chain of command – that saved lives during the fall of Saigon, which was soon renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the victorious North Vietnamese.
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Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
And even though the president of the United States is the commander in chief of the armed forces, the most important decision the U.S. military faces—whether to declare war—ultimately lies outside the chain of command, in the hands of Congress.
—Mara Karlin, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2025
The examination into the incident was conducted by the IDF General Staff Fact Finding Mechanism, a professional team outside the operational chain of command.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
Major points of dispute included a timetable for the RSF to integrate into the regular armed forces, the chain of command between army and RSF leaders, and the question of civilian oversight.
—FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
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Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
And even though the president of the United States is the commander in chief of the armed forces, the most important decision the U.S. military faces—whether to declare war—ultimately lies outside the chain of command, in the hands of Congress.
—Mara Karlin, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2025
The examination into the incident was conducted by the IDF General Staff Fact Finding Mechanism, a professional team outside the operational chain of command.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
Major points of dispute included a timetable for the RSF to integrate into the regular armed forces, the chain of command between army and RSF leaders, and the question of civilian oversight.
—FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chain of command
Cite this Entry
“Chain of command.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20of%20command. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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