Executive Order 10495—Prescribing the Order of Succession of Officers To Act as Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force

By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 179 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (5 U. S. C 6), and as President of the United States, It is hereby ordered as follows:

Part I

SUCCESSION TO THE POSITION OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

In the event of the death, disability, or absence of the Secretary of Defense, the following designated officers, in the Department of Defense, shall succeed to the position of, and act as. Secretary of Defense in the order indicated:

1. Deputy Secretary of Defense.

2. Secretary of the Army.

3. Secretary of the Navy.

4. Secretary of the Air Force.

5. Assistant Secretaries of Defense and the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, in the order fixed by their length of service as such.

6. Under Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, in the order fixed by their length of service as such.

7. Assistant Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force, in the order fixed by their length of service as such.

Precedence within a particular group between or among two or more officers having the same date of appointment shall be as determined by the Secretary of Defense at the time of appointment.

Part II

SUCCESSION TO THE POSITION OF SECRETARY OF THE ARMY

In the event of the death, disability, or absence of the Secretary of the Army, the following designated officers shall succeed to the position of, and act as, Secretary of the Army in the order indicated:

1. Under Secretary of the Army.

2. Assistant Secretaries of the Army, in the order fixed by their length of service as such.

3. Chief of Staff, United States Army.

4. Vice Chief of Staff, United States Army.

5. Chief of the United States Army Field Forces.

Part III

SUCCESSION TO THE POSITION OF SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

In the event of the death, disability, or absence of the Secretary of the Navy, the following designated officers shall succeed to the position of, and act as. Secretary of the Navy in the order indicated:

1. Under Secretary of the Navy.

2. Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

3. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air.

4. Chief of Naval Operations.

5. Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Part IV

SUCCESSION TO THE POSITION OF SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE

In the event of the death, disability, or absence of the Secretary of the Air Force, the following designated officials shall succeed to the position of, and act as, Secretary of the Air Force in the order indicated:

1. Under Secretary of the Air Force.

2. Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force, in the order fixed by their length of service as such.

3. Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.

4. Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.

5. The Senior Deputy Chief of Staff who is not absent or disabled.

6. Commanding General, Tactical Air Command.

Part V

Succession to office pursuant to this order shall be on a temporary or Interim basis and shall not have the effect of vacating the statutory position held by the successor.

Part VI

Executive Order No. 10332 of March 7, 1952, is hereby revoked.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

THE WHITE HOUSE,

October 14, 1953.