10 U.S.C. § 2284 (ARMED FORCES)
§ 2284. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Defense Program
(a) In General.—
The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to be known as the “Explosive Ordnance Disposal Defense Program” (in this section referred to as the “Program”) under which the Secretary shall ensure close and continuous coordination between military departments on matters relating to explosive ordnance disposal support for commanders of geographic and functional combatant commands.
(b) Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities.—
The plan under subsection (a) shall include provisions under which—
(1) the Secretary of Defense shall—
(A) assign the responsibility for the direction, coordination, and integration of the Program within the Department of Defense to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict; and
(B) designate the Secretary of the Navy, or a designee of the Secretary’s choice, as the executive agent for the Department of Defense responsible for providing oversight of the training and technology program that coordinates and integrates joint requirements for explosive ordnance disposal, provides common individual training, and carries out joint research, development, test, and evaluation activities for common tools on behalf of the military departments with respect to explosive ordnance disposal;
(2) the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict shall serve as the key individual for the Program responsible for developing and overseeing policy, plans, programs, and budgets, and issuing guidance and providing direction on Department of Defense explosive ordnance disposal activities;
(3) the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict shall coordinate with—
(A) the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence on explosive ordnance technical intelligence;
(B) the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on explosive ordnance disposal research, development, acquisition, and sustainment;
(C) the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering on explosive ordnance disposal research, development, test, and evaluation;
(D) the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Security and Global Security on explosive ordnance disposal on defense support of civil authorities; and
(E) the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs on explosive ordnance disposal for combating weapons of mass destruction;
(4) the Secretary of each military department shall assess the needs of the military department concerned with respect to explosive ordnance disposal and may carry out research, development, test, and evaluation activities, including other transactions and procurement activities to address military department unique needs; and
(5) the Secretary of the Army shall designate an Army explosive ordnance disposal-qualified general officer to serve as the co-chair of the Department of Defense explosive ordnance disposal defense program.
(c) Definitions.—
In this section:
(1) The term “explosive ordnance” has the meaning given such term in section 283(d) of this title.
(2) The term “explosive ordnance disposal” means the detection, identification, on-site evaluation, rendering safe, exploitation, recovery, and final disposal of explosive ordnance.
(Added Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title III, § 311(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1708; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title X, § 1052, title XVII, § 1731(a)(36), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1590, 1814; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title III, § 352(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3544; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(d)(3), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2171; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, § 1004(a)(1), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1028.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 2025—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 119–60 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to submission of annual budget justification documents by the Secretary of Defense.
2024—Subsec. (b)(3)(E). Pub. L. 118–159, which directed substitution of “Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs” for “Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs”, was executed by making the substitution for “Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense programs”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
2021—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 116–283, § 352(a)(1), inserted “and” before “integration” and substituted “the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict” for “an Assistant Secretary of Defense”.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, § 352(a)(2), substituted “for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict” for “to whom responsibility is assigned under paragraph (1)(A)”.
Subsec. (b)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 116–283, § 352(a)(3), (4), added par. (3) and redesignated former pars. (3) and (4) as (4) and (5), respectively.
2019—Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(36), substituted section symbol for “SEC.” before section designation.
Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(A), inserted “and” at end.
Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(D)(iii)–(v), substituted “evaluation activities for common tools on behalf of the military departments” for “evaluation and procurement activities on behalf of the military departments and combatant commands”.
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(D)(ii), which directed insertion of “, provides common individual training,” after “explosive ordnance disposal”, was executed by making the insertion after “explosive ordnance disposal” the first place appearing to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(D)(i), substituted “training and technology program that” for “joint program executive officer who”.
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(C), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B). Former subpar. (B) redesignated par. (2).
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(B), redesignated subpar. (B) as par. (2).
Subsec. (b)(1)(C) to (E). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(C), (E), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out subpars. (D) and (E) which read as follows:
“(D) designate a combat support agency to exercise fund management responsibility of the Department of Defense-wide program element for explosive ordnance disposal research, development, test, and evaluation, transactions other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants related to section 2371 of this title during research projects including rapid prototyping and limited procurement urgent activities, and acquisition; and
“(E) designate an Army explosive ordnance disposal-qualified general officer from the combat support agency designated under subparagraph (D) to serve as the Chairman of the Department of Defense explosive ordnance disposal defense program board; and”.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(3), inserted “(A)” after “paragraph (1)”.
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(2)(B), redesignated subpar. (B) of par. (1) as par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(1), redesignated par. (2) as (3).
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(4), substituted “; and” for “such as weapon systems, manned and unmanned vehicles and platforms, cyber and communication equipment, and the integration of explosive ordnance disposal sets, kits and outfits and explosive ordnance disposal tools, equipment, sets, kits, and outfits developed by the department.”
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(1), redesignated par. (2) as (3).
Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(a)(5), added par. (4).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1052(b), added subsec. (d).