Editorial Notes
Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “seven” for “five”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 116–283, § 923(b)(1)(A), inserted “and officers of the Space Force” after “Officers of the Air Force”.

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 923(b)(1)(B), inserted “, members of the Space Force,” after “members of the Air Force”.

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8013 of this title as this section.

2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–328 inserted “The Secretary shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be appointed from among persons most highly qualified for the position by reason of background and experience, including persons with appropriate management or leadership experience.” after first sentence.

2003—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 108–136 struck out “(to the maximum extent practicable)” after “fulfill”.

1986—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–661 substituted “five years” for “10 years”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–81 applicable with respect to appointments made on or after Dec. 27, 2021, see section 901(g) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out as a note under section 113 of this title.

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Blast Damage Assessment Guide for Space Vehicles at Air Force Launch Complexes

Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVI, § 1610, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1180, provided that:

“(a)
Requirement.—
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2025], the Secretary of the Air Force shall publish a liquid oxygen and methane blast damage assessment guide for space launch vehicles at Air Force launch complexes.
“(b)
Notice and Briefing.—
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary publishes the assessment guide under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
“(1)
notify the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] of such publication; and
“(2)
provide the congressional defense committees with a briefing on the contents of the assessment guide.
“(c)
Waiver.—
“(1)
Authority.—
The Secretary may waive the one-year publication timeline under subsection (a) for national security purposes, or if the Secretary determines that such timeline is impractical, if the Secretary notifies the congressional defense committees with respect to an alternate date on which the publication shall occur.
“(2)
Limitation.—
The Secretary may exercise the waiver authority under paragraph (1) not more than once.”

Provision By Air Force of Meteorological Services for Intelligence Community

Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVI, § 1624, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1183, provided that:

“(a)
In General.—
The Secretary of the Air Force shall provide meteorological services for operations of—
“(1)
each combat support agency that is an element of the intelligence community; and
“(2)
by agreement with the head of any other element of the intelligence community, that element of the intelligence community.
“(b)
Definitions.—
In this section:
“(1)
The term ‘combat support agency’ has the meaning given that term in section 193 of title 10, United States Code.
“(2)
The term ‘intelligence community’ has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).”

Provision by Secretary of the Air Force of Meteorological Data for Air Force and Army

Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title III, § 321, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1853, provided that:

“(a)
In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide meteorological and environmental services for operations of the Department of the Air Force and shall provide meteorological services for the Department of the Army.
“(b)
Exception for Ballistics Data.—
The requirement under subsection (a) shall not apply to meteorological ballistics data for the Department of the Army.”

Rating Chains for System Program Managers

Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title III, § 323, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1696, as amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVIII, § 1802(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1227, provided that: “The Secretary of the Air Force, in managing system program management responsibilities for sustainment programs not assigned to a portfolio acquisition executive or a direct reporting program manager, shall comply with the Department of Defense Instructions regarding assignment of program responsibility.”

Executive Documents
Order of Succession

For order of succession in event of death, permanent disability, or resignation of Secretary of the Air Force, see Ex. Ord. No. 12909, Apr. 22, 1994, 59 F.R. 21909, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.