Senior job titles in the U.S. government, from among 49 compiled by Paul C. Light, public policy director for the Pew Charitable Trusts, for testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, Feb. 11, 1998:
- Deputy Secretary
- Deputy Administrator
- Associate Administrator
- Assistant Under Secretary
- Deputy Associate Deputy Secretary
- Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
- Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary
- Principal Associate Deputy Secretary
- Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary
- Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary
- Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary
- Deputy Associate Deputy Administrator
- Chief of Staff to the Associate Administrator
- Principal Associate Deputy Under Secretary
- Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
- Chief of Staff to the Associate Assistant Secretary
- Principal Deputy to the Deputy Assistant Secretary
“At my last count in 1994, there were sixteen layers of supervisors between the President of the United States, who is the ultimate chief executive of the [IRS], and revenue agents far below. Most agents report to a district group manager who reports to a branch chief who reports to an assistant chief of their division who reports to the assistant district director who reports to the assistant regional commissioner who reports to the regional commissioner who reports to the chief of staff to a deputy assistant commissioner in Washington who reports to the deputy assistant commissioner who reports to the assistant commissioner who reports to the chief operating officer who reports to the deputy commissioner of the IRS who reports to the commissioner who reports to the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury who reports to the Secretary who finally reports to the president (assuming that the White House deputy chief of staff and chief of staff don’t get in the flow).”