§134 . Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

(a) There is an Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A person may not be appointed as Under Secretary within 10 years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.

(b)(1) The Under Secretary shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.

(2) The Under Secretary shall assist the Secretary of Defense-

(A) in preparing written policy guidance for the preparation and review of contingency plans; and

(B) in reviewing such plans.

(c) The Under Secretary takes precedence in the Department of Defense after the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, and the Secretaries of the military departments.

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title I, §105(1), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 997 ; amended Pub. L. 99–500, §101(c) [title X, §903(a)], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–82 , 1783-132, and Pub. L. 99–591, §101(c) [title X, §903(a)], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–82 , 3341-132; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title IX, formerly title IV, §903(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3911 , renumbered title IX, Pub. L. 100–26, §3(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 273 ; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, §904(d)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1728 .)

Codification

Pub. L. 99–591 is a corrected version of Pub. L. 99–500.

Prior Provisions

Provisions of this section were contained in section 135 of this title prior to amendment by Pub. L. 99–433.

A prior section 134 was renumbered section 132 of this title.

Amendments

1993-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted "Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology" for "Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition".

1986-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–500, Pub. L. 99–591, and Pub. L. 99–661 amended subsec. (c) identically, inserting "the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,".

Order of Succession

For order of succession in event of death, disability, or resignation of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 12787, Dec. 31, 1991, 57 F.R. 517, set out as a note under section 3347 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.