((a)) There is in the Department of the Air Force an Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. The function of the Office is to assist the Secretary of the Air Force in carrying out his responsibilities.

((b)) The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force is composed of the following:

((1)) The Under Secretary of the Air Force.

((2)) The Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force.

((3)) The General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force.

((4)) The Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force.

((5)) The Chief of Legislative Liaison.

((6)) The Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee.

((7)) Such other offices and officials as may be established by law or as the Secretary of the Air Force may establish or designate.

((c))

((1)) The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force shall have sole responsibility within the Office of the Secretary, the Air Staff, and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations for the following functions:

((A)) Acquisition.

((B)) Auditing.

((C)) Comptroller (including financial management).

((D)) Information management.

((E)) Inspector General.

((F)) Legislative affairs.

((G)) Public affairs.

((2)) Subject to paragraph (6), the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish or designate a single office or other entity within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct each function specified in paragraph (1). No office or other entity may be established or designated within the Air Staff or the Office of the Chief of Space Operations to conduct any of the functions specified in paragraph (1).

((3)) The Secretary shall prescribe the relationship of each office or other entity established or designated under paragraph (2) to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Air Staff, and to the Chief of Space Operations and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations, and shall ensure that each such office or entity provides the Chief of Staff and Chief of Space Operations such staff support as the Chief concerned considers necessary to perform the Chief’s duties and responsibilities.

((4)) The vesting in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force of the responsibility for the conduct of a function specified in paragraph (1) does not preclude other elements of the executive part of the Department of the Air Force (including the Air Staff and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations) from providing advice or assistance to the Chief of Staff and the Chief of Space Operations or otherwise participating in that function within the executive part of the Department under the direction of the office assigned responsibility for that function in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

((5)) The head of the office or other entity established or designated by the Secretary to conduct the auditing function shall have at least five years of professional experience in accounting or auditing. The position shall be considered to be a career reserved position as defined in .

((6)) Notwithstanding , the Secretary of the Air Force may assign to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration duties and authorities of the senior procurement executive that pertain to space systems and programs.

((d))

((1)) Subject to paragraph (2), the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force shall have sole responsibility within the Office of the Secretary, the Air Staff, and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations for the function of research and development.

((2)) The Secretary of the Air Force may assign to the Air Staff and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations responsibility for those aspects of the function of research and development that relate to military requirements and test and evaluation.

((3)) The Secretary shall establish or designate a single office or other entity within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct the function specified in paragraph (1).

((4)) The Secretary shall prescribe the relationship of the office or other entity established or designated under paragraph (3) to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Air Staff, and to the Chief of Space Operations and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations, and shall ensure that each such office or entity provides the Chief of Staff and Chief of Space Operations such staff support as the Chief concerned considers necessary to perform the Chief’s duties and responsibilities.

((e)) The Secretary of the Air Force shall ensure that the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Staff, and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations do not duplicate specific functions for which the Secretary has assigned responsibility to any of the others.

((f))

((1)) The total number of members of the armed forces and civilian employees of the Department of the Air Force assigned or detailed to permanent duty in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force and on the Air Staff may not exceed 2,750.

((2)) Not more than 1,650 officers of the Air Force on the active-duty list may be assigned or detailed to permanent duty in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force and on the Air Staff.

((3)) The total number of general officers assigned or detailed to permanent duty in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force and on the Air Staff may not exceed 60.

((4)) The limitations in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) do not apply in time of war.

((5)) Each limitation in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be exceeded by a number equal to 15 percent of such limitation in time of national emergency.