TEXT

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States of America, including section
3347 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as
follows:

Section 1.  Succession to Act as the Secretary of Defense. (a) In
the event of the death, permanent disability, or resignation of
the Secretary of Defense, the incumbents holding the Department
of Defense positions designated below, in the order indicated,
shall act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary of Defense
as Acting Secretary of Defense;
     (1)  Deputy Secretary of Defense.
     (2)  Secretary of the Army.
     (3)  Secretary of the Navy.
     (4)  Secretary of the Air Force.
     (5)  Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and          
          Technology.
     (6)  Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
     (7)  Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
     (8)  Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
     (9)  Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
          Technology.
     (10) Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
     (11) Director of Defense Research and Engineering.
     (12) The Assistant Secretaries of Defense, the Director of
Operational Test and Evaluation, and the General Counsel of the
Department of Defense, in the order fixed by their length of
service as permanent appointees in such positions.

     (13) Under Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air
Force, in the order fixed by their length of service as permanent
appointees in such positions.

     (14) Assistant Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the
Air Force whose appointments are vested in the President, and
General Counsels of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, in the
order fixed by their length of service as permanent appointees in
such positions.

  (b) In the event of the temporary absence or temporary
disability of the Secretary of Defense, the incumbents holding
the Department of Defense positions designed in paragraph (a) of
this section, in the order indicated, shall act for and exercise
the powers of the Secretary of Defense as Acting Secretary of
Defense.

     (1)  In these instances, the designation of an Acting
Secretary of Defense applies only for the duration of the
Secretary's absence or disability, and does not affect the
authority of the Secretary to resume the powers of his office
upon his return.

     (2)  In the event that the Secretary of Defense is
temporarily absent from his position, the Secretary may continue
to exercise the powers and fulfill the duties of this office
during his absence, notwithstanding the provisions of this order.

  (c) Precedence among those officers designated in paragraphs
(a)(12)--(14) of this section who have the same appointment date
shall be determined by the Secretary of Defense at the time that
such appointments are made.

  (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, an
officer shall not act for or exercise the powers of the Secretary
of Defense under this order if that officer serves only in an
acting capacity in the position that would otherwise entitle him
to do so.

Sec. 2. Temporary Nature of Succession.  Succession to act for
and exercise the powers of the Secretary of Defense pursuant to
this order shall be on a temporary or interim basis and shall not
have the effect of vacating the statutory appointment held by the
successor.

Sec. 3. Revocation of Prior Executive Order. Executive Order No.
12787 of December 31, 1991, is hereby revoked.

                         /s/William J. Clinton


THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 24, 1996.