[United States Government Manual]
[June 01, 1999]
[Pages 177-178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



Office of the Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Defense  The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense 
policy adviser to the President and is responsible for the formulation 
of general defense policy and policy related to DOD, and for the 
execution of approved policy. Under the direction of the President, the 
Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the 
Department of Defense.
Deputy Secretary of Defense  The Deputy Secretary of Defense is 
delegated full power and authority to act for the Secretary of Defense 
and to exercise the powers of the Secretary on any and all matters for 
which the Secretary is authorized to act pursuant to law.
Acquisition and Technology  The Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Technology is the principal staff assistant and adviser 
to the Secretary of Defense for all matters relating to the acquisition 
system, research and development, test and evaluation, production, 
logistics, military construction, procurement, and economic affairs. The 
Under Secretary serves as the Defense acquisition executive with 
responsibility for supervising the performance of the entire Department 
acquisition system and chairing the Defense Acquisition Board.
Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence  The Assistant 
Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence 
(C\3\I)) is the principal staff assistant and adviser to the Secretary 
and Deputy Secretary of Defense for achieving and maintaining 
information superiority in support of DOD missions, while exploiting or 
denying an adversary's ability to do the same. The Assistant Secretary 
of Defense (C\3\I) also serves as the DOD Chief Information Officer 
regarding information management and information technology.
Financial Management  The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief 
Financial Officer is the principal adviser and assistant to the 
Secretary of Defense for budget and fiscal matters, including financial 
management, accounting policy and systems, budget formulation and 
execution, contract audit administration and organization, and analyses 
of force planning and programming as a part of the process upon which 
DOD force structure, system acquisition, and other resource allocation 
actions are based. Through the Under Secretary, resource management 
information is collected, analyzed, and reported to the Office of 
Management and Budget, the Congress,

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the General Accounting Office, and other agencies. Supervision, 
direction, and review of the preparation and execution of the defense 
budget is provided.
Operational Test and Evaluation  The Director of Operational Test and 
Evaluation serves as the principal staff assistant and adviser to the 
Secretary of Defense on operational test and evaluation in the 
Department of Defense and is the principal test and evaluation official 
within the senior management of the Department.
Personnel and Readiness  The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel 
and Readiness is the principal staff assistant and adviser to the 
Secretary of Defense for policy matters relating to the structure and 
readiness of the Total Force. Functional areas include: readiness; 
civilian and military personnel policies, programs, and systems; 
civilian and military equal opportunity programs; health policies, 
programs, and activities; Reserve Component programs, policies, and 
activities; family policy, dependent's education, and personnel support 
programs; and mobilization planning and requirements.
Policy  The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the principal staff 
assistant to the Secretary of Defense for policy matters relating to 
overall international security policy and political-military affairs. 
Functional areas include NATO affairs; net assessments; foreign military 
sales; arms limitation agreements; international trade and technology 
security; regional security affairs; special operations and low-
intensity conflict; integration of departmental plans and policies with 
overall national security objectives; drug control policy, requirements, 
priorities, systems, resources, and programs; and issuance of policy 
guidance affecting departmental programs.
    In addition, the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense are 
assisted by a special staff of assistants to include the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs; the General Counsel; the 
Inspector General; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public 
Affairs; the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Intelligence 
Oversight); the Director of Administration and Management; and such 
other officers as the Secretary of Defense establishes to assist him in 
carrying out his duties and responsibilities.