The defense dependents’ education system is operated through the field activity of the Department of Defense known as the Department of Defense Education Activity. That activity is headed by a Director, who is a civilian and is selected by the Secretary of Defense. The Director reports to an Assistant Secretary of Defense designated by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this chapter.

Except with respect to the authority to prescribe regulations, the Secretary of Defense may carry out his functions under this chapter through the Director.

The Director shall—

(1) establish personnel policies, consistent with the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act (20 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), for employees in the defense dependents’ education system,

(2) have authority to transfer professional employees in the defense dependents’ education system from one position to another,

(3) prepare a unified budget for each fiscal year, which shall include necessary funds for construction and operation and maintenance of facilities, for the defense dependents’ education system for inclusion in the Department of Defense budget for that year,

(4) have authority to establish, in accordance with section 928 of this title, local school advisory committees,

(5) have authority to arrange for inservice and other training programs for employees in the defense dependents’ education system, and

(6) perform such other functions as may be required or delegated by the Secretary of Defense or the Assistant Secretary of Defense designated under subsection (a).

The Director shall establish appropriate regional or area offices in order to provide for thorough and efficient administration of the defense dependents’ education system.

(1) The Director shall establish appropriate regional or area offices in order to provide for thorough and efficient administration of the defense dependents’ education system.

(2) Whenever the Department of Defense Education Activity is reorganized in a manner that affects the defense dependents’ education system, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to the Congress describing the reorganization.

(3) Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Defense Education Activity is authorized an appropriate number of civilian employees in its central office and such regional or area office as are established pursuant to paragraph (1).

(Pub. L. 95–561, title XIV, § 1403, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2365; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title III, § 354(2), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 572; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1087(g)(8)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–294.)