PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 343 -JULY 26, 1947 (b) The National Military Establishment shall consist of the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force, together with all other agencies created under title II of this Act. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SEC. 202. (a) There shall be a Secretary of Defense, who shall be appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the oneligibility for advice and consent of the Senate: Provided, That a person who has appointment. within ten years been on active duty as a commissioned officer in a Regular component of the armed services shall not be eligible for appointment as Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense shall be the principal assistant to the President in all matters relat- Duties. ing to the national security. Under the direction of the President and subject to the provisions of this Act he shall perform the following duties: (1) Establish general policies and programs for the National Military Establishment and for all of the departments and agencies therein; (2) Exercise general direction, authority, and control over such departments and agencies; (3) Take appropriate steps to eliminate unnecessary duplica- tion or overlapping in the fields of procurement, supply, transportation, storage, health, and research; (4) Supervise and coordinate the preparation of the budget estimates of the departments and agencies comprising the National Military Establishment; formulate and determine the budget estimates for submittal to the Bureau of the Budget; and super- vise the budget programs of such departments and agencies under the applicable appropriation Act: Rertariest ofArmyf Provided, That nothing herein contained shall prevent the Secretary Navy, and Air Force. of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, or the Secretary of the Air Force from presenting to the President or to the Director of the Budget, after first so informing the Secretary of Defense, any report Administtion of or recommendation relating to his department which he may deem Departments of necessary: And provided urther, That the Department of the Army, Army, Navy, and the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force shall be administered as individual executive departments by their respective Secretaries and all powers and duties relating to such departments not specifically conferred upon the Secretary of Defense by this Act shall be retained by each of their respective Secretaries. Reorts to Pressi (b) The Secretary of Defense shall submit annual written reports to the President and the Congress covering expenditures, work, and accomplishments of the National Military Establishment, together with such recommendations as he shall deem appropriate. (c) The Secretary of Defense shall cause a seal of office to be made for the National Military Establishment, of such design as the Presi- dent shall approve, and judicial notice shall be taken thereof. MITARY ASSISTANTS TO HE SECRETARY SEC. 203. Officers of the armed services may be detailed to duty as assistants and personal aides to the Secretary of Defense, but he shall not establish a military staff. Special assistants CIVILIAN PERSONNEL SEC. 204. (a) The Secretary of Defense is authorized to appoint from civilian life not to exceed three special assistants to advise and 500 [61 STAT.
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