MODIFICATIONS TO THE JOHN S. MCCAIN STRATEGIC DEFENSE FELLOWS PROGRAM.

SEC. 1112. MODIFICATIONS TO THE JOHN S. MCCAIN STRATEGIC DEFENSE FELLOWS PROGRAM. (a) Noncompetitive Appointment and Conversion Authority.—Section 932(f) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 1580 note prec.; Public Law 115–232) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraphs: “(2) Noncompetitive appointment or conversion “(A) In general Upon a participant’s successful completion of the fellows program, the Secretary may, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, noncompetitively appoint or convert the participant into a vacant competitive or excepted service position in the Department, if the Secretary determines that such appointment or conversion will contribute to the development of highly qualified future senior leaders for the Department. “(B) Grade The Secretary may appoint or convert a participant under subparagraph (A) into a position at or below the level of GS–13 of the General Schedule or an equivalent position for which the participant is qualified without regard to any minimum time-in-grade requirements. “(C) Consent Before converting an individual to the competitive service under this paragraph, the Secretary shall notify and receive written consent from the individual of the individual’s change in status. “(3) Appointment of former participants The Secretary may use the authority provided by paragraph (2) for a participant— “(A) not later than one year after the date of the participant’s successful completion of the fellows program; or “(B) in the case of a participant who entered the fellows program before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, not later than one year after such date of enactment.” . (b) Conforming Amendment.—Section 932(e)(2) of such Act is amended by inserting before the period at the end of the last sentence the following: “and subsection (f)(2)”.