[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.