This is a list of United States Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by time in office. This is based on the difference between dates; if counted by number of calendar days all the figures would be one greater. (Note that the list of popes by length of reign use numbers of calendar days.) General Earle Wheeler, USA, is the only person to have served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for more than 4 years. General Maxwell D. Taylor, USA, is the only Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ever to have served less than 23 months.