MILITARY LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY COMMISSION.

SEC. 596. MILITARY LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY COMMISSION.(a) Establishment of Commission.—There is hereby established a commission to be known as the “Military Leadership Diversity Commission” (in this section referred to as the “commission”).(b) Composition.—(1) Membership.—The commission shall be composed of the following members:(A) The Director of the Defense Manpower Management Center.(B) The Director of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.(C) A commissioned officer from each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps who serves or has served in a leadership position with either a military department command or combatant command.(D) A retired general or flag officer from each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.(E) A retired noncommissioned officer from each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.(F) Five retired commissioned officers who served in leadership positions with either a military department command or combatant command, of whom no less than three shall represent the views of minority veterans.(G) Four individuals with expertise in cultivating diverse leaders in private or non-profit organizations.(H) An attorney with appropriate experience and expertise in constitutional and legal matters related to the duties and responsibilities of the commission.(2) Appointment.—The members of the commission referred to in subparagraphs (C) through (H) of paragraph (1) shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.(3) Chairman.—The Secretary of Defense shall designate one member described in paragraphs (1)(F) or (1)(G) as chairman of the commission.(4) Period of appointment; vacancies.—Members shall be appointed for the life of the commission. Any vacancy in the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.(5) Deadline for appointment.—All members of the commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.(6) Quorum.—Fifteen members of the commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.(c) Meetings.—(1) Initial meeting.—The commission shall conduct its first meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which a majority of the appointed members of the commission have been appointed.122 STAT. 4477(2) Meetings.—The commission shall meet at the call of the chairman.(d) Duties.—(1) Study.—The commission shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of policies that provide opportunities for the promotion and advancement of minority members of the Armed Forces, including minority members who are senior officers.(2) Scope of study.—In carrying out the study, the commission shall examine the following:(A) The efforts to develop and maintain diverse leadership at all levels of the Armed Forces.(B) The successes and failures of developing and maintaining a diverse leadership, particularly at the general and flag officer positions.(C) The effect of expanding Department of Defense secondary educational programs to diverse civilian populations, to include military service academy preparatory schools.(D) The ability of current recruitment and retention practices to attract and maintain a diverse pool of qualified individuals in sufficient numbers in officer pre-commissioning programs.(E) The ability of current activities to increase continuation rates for ethnic-and gender-specific members of the Armed Forces.(F) The benefits of conducting an annual conference attended by civilian military, active-duty and retired military, and corporate leaders on diversity, to include a review of current policy and the annual demographic data from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.(G) The status of prior recommendations made to the Department of Defense and to Congress concerning diversity initiatives within the Armed Forces.(H) The incorporation of private sector practices that have been successful in cultivating diverse leadership.(I) The establishment and maintenance of fair promotion and command opportunities for ethnic- and gender-specific members of the Armed Forces at the O–5 grade level and above.(J) An assessment of pre-command billet assignments of ethnic-specific members of the Armed Forces.(K) An assessment of command selection of ethnic-specific members of the Armed Forces.(L) The development of a uniform definition, to be used throughout the Department of Defense, of diversity that is congruent with the core values and vision of the Department for the future workforce.(M) The existing metrics and milestones for evaluating the diversity plans of the Department (including the plans of the military departments) and for facilitating future evaluation and oversight.(N) The existence and maintenance of fair promotion, assignment, and command opportunities for ethnic- and gender-specific members of the Armed Forces at the levels of warrant officer, chief warrant officer, company and junior grade, field and mid-grade, and general and flag officer.122 STAT. 4478(O) The current institutional structure of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity of the Department, and of similar officers of the military departments, and their ability to ensure effective and accountable diversity management across the Department.(P) The options available for improving the substance or implementation of current plans and policies of the Department and the military departments.(3) Consultation with private parties.—In carrying out the study under this subsection, the commission may consult with appropriate private, for profit, and non-profit organizations and advocacy groups to learn methods for developing, implementing, and sustaining senior diverse leadership within the Department of Defense.(e) Reports.—(1) In general.—Not later than 12 months after the date on which the commission first meets, the commission shall submit to the President and Congress a report on the study. The report shall include the following:(A) The findings and conclusions of the commission.(B) The recommendations of the commission for improving diversity within the Armed Forces.(C) Such other information and recommendations as the commission considers appropriate.(2) Interim reports.—The commission may submit to the President and Congress interim reports as the Commission considers appropriate.(f) Powers of the Commission.—(1) Hearings.—The commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the commission considers appropriate.(2) Information from federal agencies.—Upon request by the chairman of the commission, any department or agency of the Federal Government may provide information that the commission considers necessary to carry out its duties.(g) Inclusion of Coast Guard.—(1) Coast guard representation.—In addition to the members of the commission required by subsection (b), the commission shall include two additional members, appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, as follows:(A) A retired flag officer of the Coast Guard.(B) A commissioned officer or noncommissioned officer of the Coast Guard on active duty.(2) Armed forces defined.—In this section, the term “Armed Forces” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.(h) Termination of Commission.—The commission shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the commission submits the report under subsection (e)(1).122 STAT. 4479