10 U.S.C. § 133a — Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

(a) Under Secretary of Defense. There is an Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The President appoints this person from civilian life, with the Senate's advice and consent. The Under Secretary must come from people with deep technology, science, or engineering experience, including managing complex or advanced technology programs. Someone cannot take this job until seven years have passed since they left active duty as a commissioned officer in a regular branch of the armed forces. (b) Duties and Powers. Acting under the Secretary of Defense's authority and direction, the Under Secretary performs whatever duties the Secretary assigns, including: (1) serving as the Department's chief technology officer, with a mission to advance technology and innovation for the armed forces; (2) setting policy for, and supervising, all of the Department's research, engineering, technology development, technology transition, prototyping, experimentation, and developmental testing — and working to unify these efforts and increase cooperation across the Department; (3) serving as the Secretary's main advisor on research, engineering, and technology development; (4) directing the secretaries of the military departments and other Department leaders on matters the Under Secretary is responsible for; and (5) running prototype development and field experiments that show new technology meets real joint-force needs, and encouraging and supporting the rapid move of technology from research into actual military use. (c) Precedence in the Department of Defense. (1) On matters the Under Secretary is responsible for — whether by the Secretary's direction or by law — the Under Secretary ranks in the Department right after the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of Defense. (2) On every other matter, the Under Secretary ranks after the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and the secretaries of the military departments.