(DoD, NATO) The succession of commanding officers from a superior to a subordinate through which command is exercised. Also called command channel.
Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 31 January 2011.
| APA | Military Dictionary (DoD). (2011). chain of command. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/chain_of_command/definitions/1960718 |
| Chicago | Military Dictionary (DoD). 2011. "chain of command" http://smartdefine.org/chain_of_command/definitions/1960718 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Military Dictionary (DoD) 2011, chain of command, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/chain_of_command/definitions/1960718>. |
| MLA | Military Dictionary (DoD). "chain of command" 4 April 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/chain_of_command/definitions/1960718> |