Who is the Commander in Chief of the United States?

The role of Commander in Chief of the United States is designated in the U.S. Constitution and is held by the sitting President. As of October 2023, this position is held by President Joe Biden. The Commander in Chief has overarching authority over the armed forces and is responsible for military decisions, including the deployment of troops and the direction of military strategy.

While Barack Obama served as President from 2009 to 2017 and was indeed the Commander in Chief during his administration, he is not the current holder of this office. The Secretary of State and the Chief of Naval Operations, while holding significant roles within the government and military, do not have the authority of Commander in Chief.

The correct understanding of this question hinges on recognizing the current officeholder as of the specified date, making President Joe Biden the appropriate answer.