Who is responsible for joint fires planning and execution?

The responsibility for joint fires planning and execution lies primarily with the Joint Force Commander. This individual holds the overall authority and accountability for the integration and coordination of all joint fires, ensuring that these actions effectively support the mission objectives. The Joint Force Commander synthesizes inputs from different components—land, air, maritime, etc.—to facilitate a unified approach to fires that maximizes combat effectiveness across domains.

The significance of this role is rooted in the need for cohesive strategy implementation, particularly in complex military operations involving multiple branches of the armed forces. This requires an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of each service to align fires effectively with the overarching operational plan.

Other roles, such as the Field Artillery Commander or the Combat Operations Officer, have specific responsibilities regarding the execution of fires within their operational scope but operate under the broader guidance of the Joint Force Commander. The Joint Task Force Director is also involved in facilitating joint operations but does not hold the overarching responsibility for joint fires planning and execution.