20 U.S.C. § 922 — Administration of defense dependents’ education system

(a) Operation; Director^*

The defense dependents’ education system operates through the Department of Defense activity called the Department of Defense Education Activity. A civilian Director, selected by the Secretary of Defense, heads that activity. The Director reports to an Assistant Secretary of Defense whom the Secretary designates for this chapter.

(b) Implementation of program functions of Secretary of Defense through Director

Except for the power to issue regulations, the Secretary of Defense may carry out the Secretary’s functions under this chapter through the Director.

(c) Functions of Director

The Director must—

(1) establish personnel policies for system employees consistent with the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act;

(2) be authorized to transfer professional system employees from one position to another;

(3) prepare a unified budget for each fiscal year. The budget must include the funds needed to construct, operate, and maintain facilities for the system, for inclusion in the Department of Defense budget for that year;

(4) be authorized to establish local school advisory committees under section 928 of this title;

(5) be authorized to arrange in-service and other training programs for system employees; and

(6) perform other functions the Secretary of Defense or the designated Assistant Secretary requires or delegates.

(d) Establishment of regional or area offices; reports to Congress on reorganizations; authorized number of civilian employees

(1) The Director must establish suitable regional or area offices for thorough and efficient administration of the system.

(2) Whenever the Department of Defense Education Activity is reorganized in a way that affects the system, the Secretary of Defense must report to Congress and describe the reorganization.

(3) With the Secretary of Defense’s approval, the Department of Defense Education Activity may have an appropriate number of civilian employees in its central office and in each regional or area office established under paragraph (1).