Who chairs the SLRG?

• A. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as chair
• B. The Director of OSD (PA&E) serves as chair
• C. The Secretary of the Army serves as chair
• D. The Secretary of Defense serves as chair

Answer: (D)

The question tests who holds the DoD-wide resource decision authority in the PPBE process. The Senior Level Review Group is a high-level, defense-wide body that reviews major program and budget decisions to ensure alignment with overall DoD priorities. It is chaired by the Secretary of Defense because this role embodies the civilian leadership authority over the entire department and ensures unified direction across all services. The other roles—Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the senior military advisor, the Director of OSD (PA&E) as the analysis lead, or a service secretary focusing on their own service—do not carry the department-wide final decision-making power.