---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 279"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "279"
heading: "Absence of Director"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/279"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — National Institute of Standards and Technology"
---

# §279. Absence of Director


In the case of the absence of the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology the [Secretary](/usc/15/278g–3a.md?p=7) of Commerce may designate some officer of said Institute to perform the duties of the director during his absence.


## Source credit

(Mar. 4, 1911, ch. 237, § 1, 36 Stat. 1231; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, § 1, 37 Stat. 736; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was not enacted as part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–418 substituted “National Institute of Standards and Technology” for “Bureau of Standards” and “Institute” for “bureau”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Act Mar. 4, 1913, substituted “Secretary of Commerce” for “Secretary of Commerce and Labor”.