Ministry of Defense

The Ministry of Defense is an executive agency responsible for oversight of the Interstellar Republic Defense Force charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies concerned directly with galactic security and was headed by the Minister of Defense, a high-ranking cabinet official who reports directly to the First Minister.

Beneath the Ministry of Defense are three subordinate military departments: Department of Research and Development, Department of Strategic Information Services/Tactical Intelligence Division, Department of Veterans' Affairs and Department of Logistics. In addition, the Republic Intelligence Agency is subordinate to the Defense Ministry.

Organizational structure
The Minister of Defense, appointed by the First Minister with the advice and consent of the Galactic Senate, is by Citadel law the head of the Ministry of Defense with full authority, direction and control. The Ministry of Defense is comprised of four subordinate military departments ― the Office of Research and Development (ORD), the Office of Strategic Information and Tactical Intelligence Division (OSITID), the Office of Veterans' Affairs (OVA), and the Office of Logistics (OL).

Office of the Minister of Defense
The Office of the Minister of Defense (OMD) is mainly the Minister and Deputy Minister's civilian staff.

Defense Agencies
The OMD also supervises the following Defense Agencies:
 * Citadel Shipyard Manufacturing (CSM)
 * Citadel Contract Audit Agency (CCAA)
 * Citadel Contract Management (CCM)
 * Serpent Nebula Commissionary Agency (SNCA)
 * Republic Demilitarization Enforcement Mission (RDEM)

Citadel Intelligence Agencies

 * Republic Intelligence
 * Citadel Reconnaissance Agency

Presidential succession
The Minister of Defense is fourth in the presidential line of succession, following the Minister of Finance and preceding the Minister of Justice.

Minister of Defense succession
As per Executive Order 41158, the Deputy Minister of Defense is next in line of succession during any period in which the Minister has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office, until such time as the Minister is able to perform the functions and duties of that office.

Novels

 * Mass Effect: A Hero's Legacy (First appearance)