scope:

PURPOSE. This Directive reissues Reference (a) and, pursuant to The Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended (Reference (b)) and Executive Order 13533, "Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Defense," March 1, 2010 (Enclosure):

a. Republishes the order of succession to act as the Secretary of Defense.

b. Establishes the order of succession to act as other Presidentially-Appointed, Senate- Confirmed (PAS) officials in the Department of Defense, except for the Secretaries of the Military Departments, whose order of succession is governed by References (c) through (e).

APPLICABILITY. This Directive applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint 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 within the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the "DoD Components").