Which term is used to indicate a delegation of authority by the Secretary of Defense to a subordinate to act on behalf of the Secretary of Defense?

The term that describes the delegation of authority by the Secretary of Defense to a subordinate to act on behalf of the Secretary is "Executive Agent." This term is specifically used in the context of defense and military operations to designate individuals or organizations granted authority to carry out certain responsibilities or functions on behalf of a higher authority. An Executive Agent operates with a level of autonomy, enabling them to make decisions and take necessary actions in alignment with the strategic goals and directives of the Secretary of Defense.

The other terms do not accurately capture this specific delegation of authority. For example, a Deputy Assistant typically refers to a position that supports a higher-ranking official but does not imply that they have been granted a broader authority to act on their behalf in the way an Executive Agent would. Similarly, "Authority Delegate" is not a standard term used within the Department of Defense lexicon and does not convey the same specific delegation of powers. "Operational Commander" refers to an individual who is responsible for conducting military operations, but again does not imply the specific delegation stemming from the Secretary of Defense as an Executive Agent does.