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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102

§7020 Inspector General

Title 10 › Subtitle B — Army › PART I — ORGANIZATION › CHAPTER 703 — DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY › § 7020

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Army must pick an Inspector General from the Army’s general officers. The job normally lasts no more than four years, but the Secretary can extend it if he finds the extra time is needed for the public interest. When ordered by the Secretary or the Chief of Staff, the Inspector General must investigate and report on the Army’s discipline, efficiency, and economy, and carry out other tasks they are given. The Inspector General must also set up and suggest inspection programs and recommend extra investigations when needed. The office must fully work with the Department of Defense Inspector General on Army matters. The Secretary decides how many deputies and assistants there are and assigns Army officers to those jobs for tours of up to four years under rules the Secretary sets.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §7020

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is an Inspector General of the Army who shall be detailed to such position by the Secretary of the Army from the general officers of the Army. An officer may not be detailed to such position for a tour of duty of more than four years, except that the Secretary may extend such a tour of duty if he makes a special finding that the extension is necessary in the public interest.
(b)When directed by the Secretary or the Chief of Staff, the Inspector General shall—
(1)inquire into and report upon the discipline, efficiency, and economy of the Army; and
(2)perform any other duties prescribed by the Secretary or the Chief of Staff.
(c)The Inspector General shall periodically propose programs of inspections to the Secretary of the Army and shall recommend additional inspections and investigations as may appear appropriate.
(d)The Inspector General shall cooperate fully with the Inspector General of the Department of Defense in connection with the performance of any duty or function by the Inspector General of the Department of Defense under chapter 4 of title 5 regarding the Department of the Army.
(e)The Inspector General shall have such deputies and assistants as the Secretary of the Army may prescribe. Each such deputy and assistant shall be an officer detailed by the Secretary to that position from the officers of the Army for a tour of duty of not more than four years, under a procedure prescribed by the Secretary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 3039 of this title prior to enactment of Pub. L. 99–433.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “chapter 4 of title 5” for “the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 3)”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 3020 of this title as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 7020

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102