the air staff is one of the department of the air force's two statutorily designated headquarters staffs: the other staff is the "office of the secretary of the air force", also known as the "secretariat". the air staff is headed by the chief of staff of the air force (currently general david goldfein). the air staff is primarily composed of uniformed u.s. air force officials who assist the chief of staff in carrying out his dual-hatted role: as the principal military advisor to the secretary of the air force, and as a member of the "joint chiefs of staff".