Pub. L. 82-150, tit. I, sec. 102

Sec. 102. (a) There shall be in the Department of the Air Force an Under Secretary of the Air Force and two Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall receive the compensation prescribed by law. (b) In case of the death, resignation, removal from office, absence, or disability of the Secretary of the Air Force, the officer of the United States who is highest on the following list, and who is not absent, or disabled, shall, until the President directs some other person to perform such duties in accordance with section 179, Revised Statutes (5 U. S. C. 6), perform his duties until a successor’ is appointed, or until such absence or disability shall cease— (1) the Under Secretary of the Air Force; (2) the Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force in the order fixed by their length of service as such; and (3) the Chief of Staff. (c) If the Chief of Staff by reason of succession assumes, or if he or any other officer of the Air Force is designated in accordance with section 179, Revised Statutes (5 U. S. C. 6), to perform the duties of the Secretary of the Air Force, section 1222, Revised Statutes (10 U. S. C. 576), shall not apply to him by reason of his temporarily performing such duties.