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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§9040 Oversight of Nuclear Deterrence Mission

Title 10 › Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force › PART I — ORGANIZATION › CHAPTER 905 — THE AIR STAFF › § 9040

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Chief of Staff of the Air Force must oversee the safety, security, reliability, effectiveness, and credibility of the Air Force’s nuclear deterrence mission, under the authority of the Secretary of the Air Force. By March 1, 2016, the Chief of Staff must name a Deputy Chief of Staff to work with the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. The Deputy must give direction and support for the nuclear mission, coordinate sustainment and modernization of related weapons with Air Force organizations, monitor and review mission performance, do regular full assessments for senior leaders, and speak for the Air Force in Nuclear Weapons Council and other Defense Department meetings.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §9040

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Oversight of Nuclear Deterrence Mission.—
Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force shall be responsible for overseeing the safety, security, reliability, effectiveness, and credibility of the nuclear deterrence mission of the Air Force.
(b)Deputy Chief of Staff.—
Not later than March 1, 2016, the Chief of Staff shall designate a Deputy Chief of Staff to carry out the following duties in coordination with the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command: (1)
(2)Coordinate with and support the activities of Air Force Global Strike Command, the Air Force Nuclear Systems Center, and any other applicable Air Force organization in the sustainment and modernization of weapon systems associated with the nuclear deterrence mission of the Air Force.
(3)Conduct monitoring and oversight activities regarding the safety, security, reliability, effectiveness, and credibility of the nuclear deterrence mission of the Air Force.
(4)Conduct periodic comprehensive assessments of all aspects of the nuclear deterrence mission of the Air Force and provide such assessments to the Secretary of the Air Force the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
(5)Represent Air Force nuclear deterrence mission equities on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command within the Nuclear Weapons Council processes and other Department of Defense fora, as appropriate.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1642(b)(1), inserted “in coordination with the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command” after “duties” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1642(b)(2)–(4), added par. (2), redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively, and in par. (4), substituted “the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command” for “and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force”. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1642(b)(5), added par. (5). 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8040 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. § 9040

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110