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10 U.S.C. § 139 — Director of Operational Test and Evaluation
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) There is a Director of Operational Test and Evaluation in the Department of Defense, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office of Director. The Director may be removed from office by the President. The President shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to both Houses of Congress.
(2) In this section:
(A) The term “operational test and evaluation” means—
(i) the field test, under realistic combat conditions, of any item of (or key component of) weapons, equipment, or munitions for the purpose of determining the effectiveness and suitability of the weapons, equipment, or munitions for use in combat by typical military users; and
(ii) the evaluation of the results of such test.
(B) The term “major defense acquisition program” means a Department of Defense acquisition program that is a major defense acquisition program for purposes of [section 4201 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section4201&num=0&edition=prelim) or that is designated as such a program by the Director for purposes of this section.
**(b)** The Director is the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering on operational test and evaluation in the Department of Defense and the principal operational test and evaluation official within the senior management of the Department of Defense. The Director shall—
(1) ensure that all operational test and evaluation activities are aligned with, and are condu
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Source location: Title 10, Chapter 4, § 139; chapter-004-office-of-the-secretary-of-defense.md
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**(a)**
(1) There is a Director of Operational Test and Evaluation in the Department of Defense, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office of Director. The Director may be removed from office by the President. The President shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to both Houses of Congress.
(2) In this section:
(A) The term “operational test and evaluation” means—
(i) the field test, under realistic combat conditions, of any item of (or key component of) weapons, equipment, or munitions for the purpose of determining the effectiveness and suitability of the weapons, equipment, or munitions for use in combat by typical military users; and
(ii) the evaluation of the results of such test.
(B) The term “major defense acquisition program” means a Department of Defense acquisition program that is a major defense acquisition program for purposes of [section 4201 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section4201&num=0&edition=prelim) or that is designated as such a program by the Director for purposes of this section.
**(b)** The Director is the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering on operational test and evaluation in the Department of Defense and the principal operational test and evaluation official within the senior management of the Department of Defense. The Director shall—
(1) ensure that all operational test and evaluation activities are aligned with, and are conducted in a manner that supports, the objectives of the defense acquisition system established pursuant to [section 3102 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section3102&num=0&edition=prelim);
(2) prescribe, by authority of the Secretary of Defense, policies and procedures for the conduct of operational test and evaluation in the Department of Defense;
(3) provide guidance to and consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Secretaries of the military departments with respect to operational test and evaluation in the Department of Defense in general and with respect to specific operational test and evaluation to be conducted in connection with a major defense acquisition program;
(4) monitor and review all operational test and evaluation in the Department of Defense;
(5) coordinate operational testing conducted jointly by more than one military department or defense agency;
(6) review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on all budgetary and financial matters relating to operational test and evaluation, including operational test facilities and equipment, in the Department of Defense;
(7) monitor and review the live fire testing activities of the Department of Defense provided for under [section 4172 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section4172&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(8) have access to approved test and evaluation master plans and test strategies of the armed forces for purposes of conducting independent reviews of such plans and strategies.
**(c)** The Director may communicate views on matters within the responsibility of the Director directly to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense without obtaining the approval or concurrence of any other official within the Department of Defense. The Director shall consult closely with, but the Director and the Director’s staff are independent of, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and all other officers and entities of the Department of Defense responsible for acquisition.
**(d)** The Director may not be assigned any responsibility for developmental test and evaluation, other than the provision of advice to officials responsible for such testing.
**(e)**
(1) The Secretary of a military department shall report promptly to the Director the results of all operational test and evaluation conducted by the military department and of all studies conducted by the military department in connection with operational test and evaluation in the military department.
(2) The Director may require that such observers as he designates be present during the preparation for and the conduct of the test part of any operational test and evaluation conducted in the Department of Defense.
(3) The Director shall have access to all records and data in the Department of Defense (including the records and data of each military department) that the Director considers necessary to review in order to carry out his duties under this section.
(4) The Director shall have prompt access to all data regarding modeling and simulation activity proposed to be used by military departments and defense agencies in support of operational or live fire test and evaluation of military capabilities. This access shall include data associated with verification, validation, and accreditation activities.
**(f)**
(1) The Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall make available to the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation the results of all tests and evaluations conducted by the Missile Defense Agency and of all studies conducted by the Missile Defense Agency in connection with tests and evaluations in the Missile Defense Agency.
(2) The Director of Operational Test and Evaluation may require that such observers as the Director designates be present during the preparation for and the conducting of any test and evaluation conducted by the Missile Defense Agency.
(3) The Director of Operational Test and Evaluation shall have access to all records and data in the Department of Defense (including the records and data of the Missile Defense Agency) that the Director considers necessary to review in order to carry out his duties under this subsection.
**(g)** The Director shall ensure that safety concerns developed during the operational test and evaluation of a weapon system under a major defense acquisition program are communicated in a timely manner to the program manager for that program for consideration in the acquisition decisionmaking process.
**(h)**
(1) The Director shall prepare an annual report summarizing the operational test and evaluation activities (including live fire testing activities) of the Department of Defense during the preceding fiscal year.
(2) Each such report shall be submitted concurrently to the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the Congress not later than January 31 of each year.
(3) If the Director submits the report to Congress in a classified or controlled unclassified form, the Director shall concurrently submit to Congress a version of the report that is unclassified and does not require safeguarding or dissemination controls.
(4) The report shall include such comments and recommendations as the Director considers appropriate, including comments and recommendations on resources and facilities available for operational test and evaluation and levels of funding made available for operational test and evaluation activities. The report for a fiscal year shall also include an assessment of the waivers of and deviations from requirements in test and evaluation master plans and other testing requirements that occurred during the fiscal year, any concerns raised by the waivers or deviations, and the actions that have been taken or are planned to be taken to address the concerns.
(5) The Director shall solicit comments from the Secretaries of the military departments on each report of the Director to Congress under this section and include any comments as an appendix to the Director’s report. The Director shall determine the amount of time available for the Secretaries to comment on the draft report on a case by case basis, and consider the extent to which substantive discussions have already been held between the Director and the military department. The Director shall reserve the right to issue the report without comment from a military department if the department’s comments are not received within the time provided, and shall indicate any such omission in the report.
**(i)** The Director shall comply with requests from Congress (or any committee of either House of Congress) for information relating to operational test and evaluation in the Department of Defense.
**(j)** The President shall include in the Budget transmitted to Congress pursuant to [section 1105 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section1105&num=0&edition=prelim) for each fiscal year a separate statement of estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for that fiscal year for the activities of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Director under this section.
**(k)** The Director shall have sufficient professional staff of military and civilian personnel to enable the Director to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Director prescribed by law, and the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the amount requested for the Office of the Director in the Department of Defense budget for each fiscal year is sufficient to enable the Director to fulfill the duties and responsibilities assigned by this section.
**(l)**
(1) The Director may enter into contracts or other agreements with one or more federally funded research and development centers pursuant to which personnel of such centers may assist the Director with program oversight, including through—
(A) test planning, preparation, and monitoring;
(B) data collection;
(C) data analysis;
(D) drafting and reviewing test reports;
(E) providing technical expertise and support to program offices; and
(F) performing such other duties as the Director determines appropriate.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Director has sufficient funding to enter into the contracts or other agreements for which authorization is provided under paragraph (1).
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Procedures.—**
(1) **In general.—** — The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe procedures for the urgent acquisition and deployment of capabilities needed in response to urgent operational needs. The capabilities for which such procedures may be used in response to an urgent operational need are those—
(A) that, subject to such exceptions as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this section—
(i) can be fielded within a period of two to 24 months;
(ii) do not require substantial development effort;
(iii) are based on technologies that are proven and available; and
(iv) can appropriately be acquired under fixed-price contracts;
(B) that can be developed or procured under a rapid acquisition pathway; or
(C) with respect to an armed attack by a country of concern (as defined in section 1(m) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ([22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section2651a/m&num=0&edition=prelim))), to which the United States is not a party, for purposes of—
(i) replenishing United States stockpiles of defense articles when such stockpiles are diminished as a result of the United States providing defense articles in response to such armed attack by a country of concern against—
(I) a United States ally (as that term is defined in section 201(d) of the Act of December 2, 1942, titled “To provide benefits for the injury, disability, death, or enemy detention of employees of contractors with the United States, and for other purposes” (56 Stat. 1028, chapter 668; [42 U.S.C. 1711(d)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1711/d&num=0&edition=prelim))); or
(II) a United States partner; or
(ii) co
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 3601
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Condition for Proceeding Beyond Low-rate Initial Production.—**
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall provide that a covered major defense acquisition program, a covered designated major subprogram, or an element of the ballistic missile defense system may not proceed beyond low-rate initial production until initial operational test and evaluation of the program, subprogram, or element is completed.
(2) In this subsection:
(A) The term “covered major defense acquisition program” means a major defense acquisition program that involves the acquisition of a weapon system that is a major system.
(B) The term “covered designated major subprogram” means a major subprogram designated under [section 4203(a)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section4203/a/1&num=0&edition=prelim) that is a major subprogram of a covered major defense acquisition program.
**(b) Operational Test and Evaluation.—**
(1) Operational testing of a major defense acquisition program may not be conducted until the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation of the Department of Defense approves (in writing) the adequacy of the plans (including the projected level of funding) for operational test and evaluation to be conducted in connection with that program.
(2) The Director shall analyze the results of the operational test and evaluation conducted for each major defense acquisition program. At the conclusion of such testing, the Director shall prepare a report stating—
(A) the opinion of the Director as to—
(i) whether the test and evaluation performed were adequate; and
(ii) whether the results of such test and evaluation confirm that the items or components actually tested are effective and suitable for combat; and
(B) add
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 4171
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** The Department of Defense is an executive department of the United States.
**(b)** The Department is composed of the following:
(1) The Office of the Secretary of Defense.
(2) The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(3) The Joint Staff.
(4) The Defense Agencies.
(5) Department of Defense Field Activities.
(6) The Department of the Army.
(7) The Department of the Navy.
(8) The Department of the Air Force.
(9) The unified and specified combatant commands.
(10) Such other offices, agencies, activities, and commands as may be established or designated by law or by the President.
(11) All offices, agencies, activities, and commands under the control or supervision of any element named in paragraphs (1) through (10).
**(c)** If the President establishes or designates an office, agency, activity, or command in the Department of Defense of a kind other than those described in paragraphs (1) through (9) of subsection (b), the President shall notify Congress not later than 60 days thereafter.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 111
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definition.—** Except as provided under subsection (b), in this part, the term “major defense acquisition program” means a Department of Defense acquisition program that is not a highly sensitive classified program (as determined by the Secretary of Defense) and—
(1) that is designated by the Secretary of Defense as a major defense acquisition program; or
(2) in the case of a program that is not a program for the acquisition of an automated information system (either a product or a service), that is estimated by the Secretary of Defense to require—
(A) an eventual total expenditure for research, development, test, and evaluation of more than $1,000,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars); or
(B) an eventual total expenditure for procurement, including all planned increments or spirals, of more than $4,500,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars).
**(b) Exceptions.—** In this part, the term “major defense acquisition program” does not include the following:
(1) An acquisition program or project that is carried out using the rapid fielding or rapid prototyping acquisition pathway under [section 3602 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section3602&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) An acquisition program for a defense business system (as defined in [section 2222(i)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section2222/i/1&num=0&edition=prelim)) carried out using the acquisition guidance issued pursuant to section 883(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; [10 U.S.C. 2223a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section2223a&num=0&edition=prelim) note).11 See References in
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 4201
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Software Acquisition and Development Pathways.—** The Secretary of Defense shall establish pathways as described under subsection (b) to provide for the efficient and effective acquisition, development, integration, and timely delivery of software and covered hardware.
**(b) Pathways.—** The Secretary of Defense may establish as many pathways under this section as the Secretary determines appropriate and shall establish the following pathways:
(1) **Applications.—** — The applications pathway shall provide for the use of rapid development and implementation of applications and other software or software improvements operated by the Department of Defense, which may include applications and associated procurement of covered hardware (including modifications of a type not customarily available in the commercial marketplace to meet Department requirements), commercially available cloud computing platforms, and other nondevelopmental items.
(2) **Embedded systems.—** — The embedded systems pathway shall provide for the rapid development and insertion of upgrades and improvements for software and covered hardware embedded in weapon systems and other hardware systems unique to the Department of Defense.
**(c) Requirements for Pathways.—** A pathway established under this section shall provide for the use of proven technologies and solutions to continuously engineer and deliver capabilities for software and covered hardware.
**(d) Considerations for Use of Authority.—** In using the authority under this section, the Secretary shall consider how such use will—
(1) initiate the engineering of new software capabilities quickly and, if applicable, the integration of such capabilities into covered hardware;
(2) demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of such capabil
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 3603
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Requirements.—**
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall provide that—
(A) a covered system may not proceed beyond low-rate initial production until realistic survivability testing of the system is completed in accordance with this section and the report required by subsection (d) with respect to that testing is submitted in accordance with that subsection; and
(B) a major munition program or a missile program may not proceed beyond low-rate initial production until realistic lethality testing of the program is completed in accordance with this section and the report required by subsection (d) with respect to that testing is submitted in accordance with that subsection.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall provide that a covered product improvement program may not proceed beyond low-rate initial production until—
(A) in the case of a product improvement to a covered system, realistic survivability testing is completed in accordance with this section; and
(B) in the case of a product improvement to a major munitions program or a missile program, realistic lethality testing is completed in accordance with this section.
**(b) Test Guidelines.—**
(1) Survivability and lethality tests required under subsection (a) shall be carried out sufficiently early in the development phase of the system or program (including a covered product improvement program) to allow any design deficiency demonstrated by the testing to be corrected in the design of the system, munition, or missile (or in the product modification or upgrade to the system, munition, or missile) before proceeding beyond low-rate initial production.
(2) The costs of all tests required under that subsection shall be paid from funds available for the system being tested.
**(c) Waiver Authority.—**
(1) T
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 4172
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
#### Prior Provisions
A prior section 2366a was renumbered [section 4252 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section4252&num=0&edition=prelim).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 2366a
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Level IV of the Executive Schedule applies to the following positions, for which the annual rate of basic pay shall be the rate determined with respect to such level under chapter 11 of title 2, as adjusted by [section 5318 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section5318&num=0&edition=prelim):
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 5 U.S.C. § 5315
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** There is a General Counsel of the Department of Defense, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
**(b)** The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the Department of Defense. He shall perform such functions as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 140
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)**
(1) There are 20 Assistant Secretaries of Defense.
(2) The Assistant Secretaries of Defense shall be appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
**(b)**
(1) The Assistant Secretaries shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.
(2)
(A) One of the Assistant Secretaries is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. The principal duty of the Assistant Secretary shall be the overall supervision (including oversight of policy and resources) of special operations activities (as defined in [section 167(k) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section167/k&num=0&edition=prelim)) and low intensity conflict activities of the Department of Defense. The Assistant Secretary is the principal civilian adviser to the Secretary of Defense on special operations and low intensity conflict matters and (after the Secretary and Deputy Secretary) is the principal special operations and low intensity conflict official within the senior management of the Department of Defense. A person may not be appointed as Assistant Secretary within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force. Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Assistant Secretary shall do the following:
(i) Exercise authority, direction, and control of all special-operations peculiar administrative matters relating to the organization, training, and equipping of special operations forces through the administrative chain of command specified in [section 167(f) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 138
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