§ 138d. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs
(a)
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs shall—
(1)
advise the Secretary of Defense on nuclear energy, nuclear weapons, and chemical and biological defense;
(2)
serve as the Staff Director of the Nuclear Weapons Council established by section
179 of this title; and
(b)
The Assistant Secretary may communicate views on issues within the responsibility of the Assistant Secretary directly to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense without obtaining the approval or concurrence of any other official within the Department of Defense.