Order of Succession of Officers To Act as Secretary of the Air Force
Orders Succession Plan for Acting Secretary of the Air Force
What it does
Designated Air Force officials must act as Secretary in the prescribed order during vacancy, absence, or disability.
Real-world impact
- Clarifies who temporarily takes Secretary duties after death, resignation, or disability.
- Prevents officials serving only in acting roles from becoming acting Secretary.
- Maintains the successor's statutory appointment; acting role is temporary only.
Topics
Summary
This order sets the order of officials who will temporarily act as Secretary of the Air Force if the Secretary dies, resigns, or is disabled.
It names the Under Secretary first, then Assistant Secretaries and the General Counsel by length of service, and then the Chief of Staff.
The order says succession is temporary, does not vacate the successor's appointment, and bars officials who are themselves only acting from succeeding.
Questions, answered
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