The Adjutant General may designate by order any deputy adjutant general to act as the Adjutant General in the absence of the latter from his or her office or in case of his or her inability to perform the duties of his or her office. In the event of the inability of any deputy adjutant general to perform the duties of the Adjutant General, then the Adjutant General may appoint by order any qualified Army or Air Guard officer in the grade of colonel or above.