10 U.S.C. § 430c — Senior Intelligence Oversight Official

(a) Establishment. The Secretary of Defense, or a designee named under regulations the Secretary prescribes, must designate a civilian Department of Defense employee in the Senior Executive Service to serve as the Senior Intelligence Oversight Official. (b) Responsibilities. The Senior Intelligence Oversight Official must conduct independent oversight of every intelligence, counterintelligence, and intelligence-related activity across the Department of Defense, plus any other related responsibilities the Secretary assigns. (c) Access. The Senior Intelligence Oversight Official must have: (1) access to whatever information is necessary to carry out these responsibilities and functions, as the Secretary determines; and (2) direct access to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, whenever the Official decides circumstances require it.