((a)) ** .—** The Secretary of Defense, or a designee of the Secretary determined by regulations prescribed by the Secretary, shall designate a civilian employee of the Department of Defense in the Senior Executive Service to serve as the Senior Intelligence Oversight Official.

((b)) ** .—** The Senior Intelligence Oversight Official shall conduct independent oversight of all intelligence, counterintelligence, and intelligence-related activities of the Department of Defense and shall have such other related responsibilities as may be determined by the Secretary.

((c)) ** .—** The Senior Intelligence Oversight Official shall have—

((1)) access to all information necessary to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the Senior Intelligence Oversight Official, as determined by the Secretary; and

((2)) direct access to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, as circumstances require in the determination of the Senior Intelligence Oversight Official.