Which DoD official exercises the Secretary of Defense's authority, direction, and control over DoD agencies and field activities related to defense intelligence, CI, security policy, planning, and programs?

Which DoD official exercises the Secretary of Defense's authority, direction, and control over DoD agencies and field activities related to defense intelligence, CI, security policy, planning, and programs?

• A. Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
• B. Deputy Secretary of Defense
• C. Director of National Intelligence
• D. Secretary of the Army

Answer: (A)

The question is about who holds the Secretary’s authority over DoD-wide intelligence and security functions. The official who exercises that authority across DoD agencies and field activities—covering defense intelligence, counterintelligence, security policy, planning, and programs—is the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. This role sits in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and is responsible for coordinating and directing DoD-wide intelligence and security efforts, ensuring alignment of policies and programs across components. The Deputy Secretary of Defense is the second-in-command and handles broad DoD management, but the specific direction of defense intelligence and security policy and programs comes from the Under Secretary. The Director of National Intelligence leads the entire Intelligence Community, not DoD-specific activities, so this role does not exercise DoD-wide authority over those functions. The Secretary of the Army is a component head responsible for Army matters, not for DoD-wide intelligence and security policy.

The question is about who holds the Secretary’s authority over DoD-wide intelligence and security functions. The official who exercises that authority across DoD agencies and field activities—covering defense intelligence, counterintelligence, security policy, planning, and programs—is the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. This role sits in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and is responsible for coordinating and directing DoD-wide intelligence and security efforts, ensuring alignment of policies and programs across components.

The Deputy Secretary of Defense is the second-in-command and handles broad DoD management, but the specific direction of defense intelligence and security policy and programs comes from the Under Secretary. The Director of National Intelligence leads the entire Intelligence Community, not DoD-specific activities, so this role does not exercise DoD-wide authority over those functions. The Secretary of the Army is a component head responsible for Army matters, not for DoD-wide intelligence and security policy.