CHANGE IN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTMENT TO CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

SEC. 901. CHANGE IN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTMENT TO CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. (a) Secretary of Defense.—Subsection (a) of section 113 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “(a)(1) There is a Secretary of Defense, who is the head of the Department of Defense, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. “(2) A person may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense— “(A) within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force in a grade below O-7; or “(B) within 10 years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force in the grade of O-7 or above.” . (b) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict.—Section 138(b)(2)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the third sentence the following: “A person may not be appointed as Assistant Secretary within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.”. (c) Secretary of the Army.—Section 7013(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “five” and inserting “seven”. (d) Secretary of the Navy.—Section 8013(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “five” and inserting “seven”. (e) Secretary of the Air Force.—Section 9013(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “five” and inserting “seven”. (f) Technical Corrections Relating to Other Positions.— (1) Under secretary of defense (comptroller).—Section 135(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “the armed forces” and inserting “an armed force”. (2) Under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.—Section 136(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “the armed forces” and inserting “an armed force”. (3) Under secretary of defense for intelligence and security.—Section 137(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “the armed forces” and inserting “an armed force”. (g) [10 U.S.C. 113 note] Applicability.—The amendments made by subsections (a) through (e) shall apply with respect to appointments made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.