(a) In case of a vacancy in the Office of the Director of the Community Relations Service, the Deputy Director of the Service shall perform the functions and duties of the Director.

(b) The Director is authorized, in case of absence from his office or in case of his inability or disqualification to act, to designate the Deputy Director to act in his stead. In unusual circumstances, or in the absence of the Deputy Director, a person other than the Deputy Director may be so designated by the Director.