US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 132a

Performance Improvement Officer

(a)

Establishment.—

(1)
There is a Performance Improvement Officer of the Department of Defense, to be appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among the ranks of qualified individuals from the senior career civil service.
(2)
The Performance Improvement Officer shall be appointed from among persons described in paragraph (1) who have an extensive management or business background and experience with managing large or complex organizations, organizational change management, or business transformation activities.
(b)

Deputy .—

The Performance Improvement Officer shall be supported by a Deputy who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among the ranks of qualified individuals from the senior career civil service. The Deputy shall be the first assistant to the Performance Improvement Officer and shall assist that Officer in the performance of the duties of that position and shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Officer when that Officer dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office.
(c)

Duties and Responsibilities .—

Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Performance Improvement Officer shall perform such duties, exercise such powers, and have such responsibilities as the Secretary or the Deputy Secretary may prescribe, including the following:
(1)
Public Law 110–181 Responsibility for updating and implementing the Strategic Management Plan of the Department of Defense required by section 904(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 2201).
(2)
Responsibility for chairing the Defense Performance Improvement Council (or any successor organization).
(3)
section 125a of this title Responsibility for the Defense Performance Improvement Framework, as established under .
(4)
Responsibility for the execution of not fewer than two annual meetings of the Defense Management Action Group (or any successor organization) with agendas relating to the Strategic Management Plan described in paragraph (1).
(5)
Oversight of transformational business modernization and business process re-engineering of the Department of Defense.
(6)
Oversight and tracking the implementation of—
(A)
solutions to solve issues identified by the High Risk List maintained by the Government Accountability Office; and
(B)
other recommendations of such Office.
(7)
Serving as the lead official devoted to modernizing the business processes of the Department that serve as the baseline for all external acquisition and internal operations.
(8)
Oversight and management of the Defense Management Institute (as established pursuant to the memorandum of the Director of Administration and Management of the Department dated ), or any successor organization.
(9)
section 2222(f)(1) of this title Serving as co-chair of the Defense Business Council in accordance with .
(10)
Maintaining authority for convening meetings of personnel and organizations of the Department on matters relating to the duties and responsibilities described in this subsection.

Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title IX, § 902(a)138 Stat. 2025Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(a)(3)139 Stat. 1207(Added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title IX, § 901(c)(1)124 Stat. 4320Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title IX, § 901(a)(1)128 Stat. 3462Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 901(d)130 Stat. 2342Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title IX, § 910(a)(1)131 Stat. 1516Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title IX, § 921(a)(1)132 Stat. 1926Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 903(a)(2)133 Stat. 1555Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 901(a)(1)134 Stat. 3794A prior section 132a, added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , (2)(A), , ; , , , related to establishment and responsibilities of the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, prior to repeal by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 119–60, § 1701(a)(3)(A)2025—, substituted “Improvement Officer” for “improvement officer” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 119–60, § 1701(a)(3)(B)Subsec. (c)(1). , substituted “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008” for “National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2008”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Guidance Required

Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title IX, § 902(c)138 Stat. 2026

“Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of Defense shall issue rules, regulations, policies, or other guidance (as appropriate)—
“(1)
section 132a of title 10 to clearly delineate the authorities and responsibilities of the Performance Improvement Officer of the Department of Defense established under , United States Code, as added by subsection (a); and
“(2)
setting forth a charter for the office (including personnel, facilities, and other infrastructure) supporting the position of the Performance Improvement Officer.”
, , , provided that:

Transfer of Duties and Responsibilities of the Chief Management Officer

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 901(b)134 Stat. 3794Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title IX, § 904135 Stat. 1871–(d), , , 3795, as amended by , , , provided for the transfer of duties and responsibilities, personnel, functions, and assets of the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense not later than one year after .

Service of Incumbent Deputy Chief Management Officer as Chief Management Officer Upon Commencement of Latter Position Without Further Appointment

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title IX, § 910(e)131 Stat. 1518section 132a of this titlePub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 901(a)(2)(B)134 Stat. 3794, , , which provided that the individual serving in the position of Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense as of , could continue to serve as Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense under former , was repealed by , , .

Defense Agencies and Field Activities Providing Shared Business Services

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title IX, § 910(f)131 Stat. 1518Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 901(a)(2)(B)134 Stat. 3794, , , which related to initial reporting requirements and notice to Congress on transfer to the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense of oversight of shared business services, was repealed by , , .