CHIEF OF STAFF.

SEC. 205. CHIEF OF STAFF. (a) Section 41a(b) of title 14, United States Code, is amended by striking “, except that the rear admiral serving as Chief of Staff shall be the senior rear admiral for all purposes other than pay” at the end of the second sentence. (b) (1) Title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 50 of the following new section: “§ 50a. Chief of Staff “(a) The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard who shall rank next after the area commanders and who shall perform duties as prescribed by the Commandant. The Chief of Staff shall be appointed from the officers on the active duty promotion list serving above the grade of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendations for the appointment. “(b) The Chief of Staff shall have the grade of vice admiral with the pay and allowances of that grade. The appointment and grade of the Chief of Staff shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in section 51(d) of this title.”. (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 50 the following: “50a. Chief of Staff.”. (c) Section 51 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a) by striking “as Commander, Atlantic Area, or Commander, Pacific Area” and inserting “in the grade of vice admiral”; and (2) in subsection (b) by striking “as Commander, Atlantic Area, or Commander, Pacific Area” and inserting “in the grade of vice admiral”. (d) Section 290 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a) by striking “or in the position of Chief of Staff” in the second sentence; (2) in subsection (f)(1) by striking “Chief of Staff or”; and (3) in subsection (f)(2) by striking “Chief of Staff or”.