scope:

APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE

This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments (including the Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a service in the Department of Homeland Security by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the "DoD Components"). The term "Military Services," as used herein, refers to the Active and Reserve Components of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps.

PURPOSE

This Directive:

Provides policy and assigns responsibilities for the operation of DoD elements at U.S. embassies pursuant to References (a) and (b) and cancels References (c) and (d).

Creates the position of Senior Defense Official (SDO) as the principal DoD official in U.S. embassies.

Outlines the management relationships that shall exist between and among various DoD elements that may be present at an embassy, as well as the responsibilities of each.

Establishes the SDO as the diplomatically accredited Defense Attaché (DATT) and Chief of the Security Assistance Organization (SAO).

Provides direction to the SDO/DATT and establishes the relationship between the SDO/DATT and the heads of other DoD elements at U.S. embassies.

Assigns responsibilities to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)), the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)), and their designated subordinate organizations for oversight of the SDO/DATT.