10 U.S.C. § 198: Office of Local Defense…

Summary

Creates an Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation inside the Department of Defense and requires the Secretary to designate it as a Department of Defense Field Activity under section 191, effective on the date the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283) was enacted. The Office must be led by a Director the Secretary appoints. The Director must be a civilian (a federal employee or a private person) with experience working across Executive Branch agencies and with running federal grants programs. The Office must help states, counties, cities, regions, and other communities work with nearby military bases on things like supporting the military mission, saving on facilities and operations, handling encroachment and land use, helping military families, and improving readiness and resilience. It must give adjustment and diversification help to state and local governments under section 2391(b), coordinate with other DoD parts, support the Economic Adjustment Committee under Executive Order No. 12788 (or its successor), do other tasks the Secretary finds appropriate, and send an annual report to the congressional defense committees by June 1 each year about its work.

Title 10, §198

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

There is in the Department of Defense an Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (in this section referred to as the “Office”). The Secretary shall designate the Office as a Department of Defense Field Activity pursuant to section 191, effective as of the date of the enactment of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283).

(b)Director.— (c) Duties.—

The Office shall be headed by the Director of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among civilian employees of the Federal Government or private individuals who have the following:

(1)Experience in the interagency in the Executive Branch.

(2)Experience in the administration and management of Federal grants programs.

(d)Annual Report to Congress.—

Not later than June 1 each year, the Director of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the activities of the Office during the preceding year, including the assistance provided pursuant to subsection (c)(1) during such year.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of the enactment of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 116–283, which was approved Jan. 1, 2021.

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 117–81, § 902(a)(1), renumbered section 146 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–81, § 902(a)(2), substituted “in the Department of Defense an” for “in the Office of the Secretary of Defense an office to be known as the” and inserted at end “The Secretary shall designate the Office as a Department of Defense Field Activity pursuant to section 191, effective as of the date of the enactment of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283).” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–81, § 902(a)(3)(A), substituted “Secretary of Defense” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 117–81, § 902(a)(3)(B), substituted “Secretary” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Limitation on Involuntary Separation of Personnel Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title IX, § 902(b), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1869, provided that: “No personnel of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation under section 198 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), may be involuntarily separated from service with that Office during the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2021], except for cause.” Administration of Programs Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title IX, § 902(c), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1869, provided that: “Any program, project, or other activity administered by the Office of Economic Adjustment of the Department of Defense as of the date of the enactment of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283) [Jan. 1, 2021] shall be administered by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation under section 198 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)).”

§198 Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation