    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 17 (Monday, April 29, 1996)]
    [Pages 721-722]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Executive Order 13000--Order of Succession of Officers To Act as
    Secretary of Defense

    April 24, 1996

        By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States of America, including section 3347 of
    title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:

    [[Page 722]]

        Section 1. Succession to Act as the Secretary of Defense. (a) In the
    event of the death, permanent disability, or resignation of the
    Secretary of Defense, the incumbents holding the Department of Defense
    positions designated below, in the order indicated, shall act for and
    exercise the powers of the Secretary of Defense as Acting Secretary of
    Defense:
        (1) Deputy Secretary of Defense.
        (2) Secretary of the Army.
        (3) Secretary of the Navy.
        (4) Secretary of the Air Force.
        (5) Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology.
        (6) Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
        (7) Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
        (8) Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
        (9) Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
    Technology.
        (10) Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
        (11) Director of Defense Research and Engineering.
        (12) The Assistant Secretaries of Defense, the Director of
    Operational Test and Evaluation, and the General Counsel of the
    Department of Defense, in the order fixed by their length of service as
    permanent appointees in such positions.
        (13) Under Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, in
    the order fixed by their length of service as permanent appointees in
    such positions.
        (14) Assistant Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force
    whose appointments are vested in the President, and General Counsels of
    the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, in the order fixed by their
    length of service as permanent appointees in such positions.
        (b) In the event of the temporary absence or temporary disability of
    the Secretary of Defense, the incumbents holding the Department of
    Defense positions designated in paragraph (a) of this section, in the
    order indicated, shall act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary
    of Defense as Acting Secretary of Defense.
        (1) In these instances, the designation of an Acting Secretary of
    Defense applies only for the duration of the Secretary's absence or
    disability, and does not affect the authority of the Secretary to resume
    the powers of his office upon his return.
        (2) In the event that the Secretary of Defense is temporarily absent
    from his position, the Secretary may continue to exercise the powers and
    fulfill the duties of this office during his absence, notwithstanding
    the provisions of this order.
        (c) Precedence among those officers designated in paragraphs
    (a)(12)-(14) of this section who have the same appointment date shall be
    determined by the Secretary of Defense at the time that such
    appointments are made.
        (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, an
    officer shall not act for or exercise the powers of the Secretary of
    Defense under this order if that officer serves only in an acting
    capacity in the position that would otherwise entitle him to do so.
        Sec. 2. Temporary Nature of Succession. Succession to act for and
    exercise the powers of the Secretary of Defense pursuant to this order
    shall be on a temporary or interim basis and shall not have the effect
    of vacating the statutory appointment held by the successor.
        Sec. 3. Revocation of Prior Executive Order. Executive Order No.
    12787 of December 31, 1991, is hereby revoked.
                                                William J. Clinton
    The White House,
    April 24, 1996.

    [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., April 25,
    1996]

    Note: This Executive order was published in the  Federal Register on
    April 26.