Bureau of Medicine and Surgery: Medical Service Corps, Chief

§ 5139. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery: Medical Service Corps, Chief (a) There is a chief of the Medical Service Corps appointed by the Secretary of the Navy, upon the recommendation of the Surgeon General, from officers on the active list of the Navy in the Medical Service Corps holding permanent appointments in grades not below lieutenant commander. The Chief shall be appointed for a term of not more than four years, to serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. While so serving, he has the rank of captain in the Navy and is entitled to the pay and allowances of an officer serving in that rank. His permanent status as a commissioned officer in the Medical Service Corps is not disturbed by his appointment as Chief. (b) An officer who is retired for any reason while serving as Chief of the Medical Service Corps or who, after serving at least two and one-half years as chief of that corps, is retired after completion of that service while serving in a lower rank or grade may, in the discretion of the President, be retired with the grade of captain and with retired pay based on that grade.