 George Scratchley Brown ( 17 August 1918 – 5 December 1978 ) was a United States Air Force general who served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . In this capacity , he served as the senior military adviser to the President of the United States , the National Security Council and the Secretary of Defense . Through the commanders of the unified and specified commands , he was also responsible for executing the decisions of the National Command Authorities regarding worldwide readiness and employment of combat forces of the United States Army , Navy , Air Force and Marine Corps . 
