Bureau of Medicine and Surgery: Nurse Corps, Director

§ 5140. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery: Nurse Corps, Director (a) There is a Director of the Nurse 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 Nurse Corps holding permanent appointments in the grade of commander or lieutenant commander. The Director shall be appointed for a term of not more than four years, to serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. While so serving, she has the rank of captain in the Navy and is entitled to the pay and allowances of an officer serving in that rank. Her permanent status as a commissioned officer in the Nurse Corps is not disturbed by her appointment as Director. (b) An officer who, after serving at least two and one-half years as Director of the Nurse Corps, is retired for any reason while serving as Director or while serving in a lower rank or grade after completion of that service may, in the discretion of the President, be retired with the grade of captain and with retired pay based on that grade.