DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS.

SEC. 901. DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS. (a) Establishment of Position.—(1) Chapter 4 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 136 the following new section: “§ 136a. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness “(a) There is a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. “(b) The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall assist the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in the performance of the duties of that position. The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Under Secretary when the Under Secretary is absent or disabled.”. 115 STAT. 1194 (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 136 the following new item: “136a. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.”. (b) Executive Level IV.—Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after “Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.” the following: “Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.”. (c) Reduction in Number of Assistant Secretaries of Defense.—(1) Section 138(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “nine” and inserting “eight”. (2) Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking “(9)” after “Assistant Secretaries of Defense” and inserting “(8)”. (d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (c) shall take effect on the date on which a person is first appointed as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.