ACQUISITION CAREER PATH IN THE SPACE FORCE.

SEC. 1601. ACQUISITION CAREER PATH IN THE SPACE FORCE. (a) Assignment After Initial Officer Training.—Chapter 908 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “SEC. 9088. [10 U.S.C. 9088] Duty assignments after officer training course “(a) Requirement.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall ensure that members of the Space Force who complete an initial Space Force officer training course are assigned— “(1) in a manner that sustains acquisition billet manning levels comparably to operational billet manning levels; and “(2) to Space Force billets allocated to the National Reconnaissance Office at a manning level that is sufficient to maintain effective operation of the National Reconnaissance Office. “(b) Report.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, and not later than October 31 of each year through 2030, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Forces of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report describing— “(1) the number and percentage of authorized and assigned Space Force officer billets, by grade and year group, within— “(A) acquisition career fields; and “(B) operational career fields; “(2) the manning rate for junior officer billets of the Space Force, disaggregated by career field and organization, including the National Reconnaissance Office; “(3) any identified shortfalls or imbalances in acquisition manning relative to operational manning in the Space Force; and “(4) actions taken or planned to achieve and sustain comparable manning levels for billets in acquisition and operations for Space Force officers.” . (b) Program Executive Officer for Assured Access.—Such chapter 908 is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: “SEC. 9089. [10 U.S.C. 9089] Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space “(a) Establishment.—(1) There is a Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space within the Space Force. “(2) The Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space shall serve a term of four years. “(b) Grade.—The Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space, while so serving, shall have the grade of brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, or general. “(c) Additional Duties.—The Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space, while serving as the Program Executive Officer, shall also serve as the Commander of Space Launch Delta 45.” . (c) Training Requirements.— (1) In general.—Chapter 951 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “SEC. 9421. [10 U.S.C. 9421] Space Force officer training course requirements “The Secretary of the Air Force shall ensure that— “(1) the initial Space Force officer training course provides foundational instruction in acquisition management, space mission integration, and related disciplines; and “(2) the curriculum for such course is developed by the Commander of Space Training and Readiness Command, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration and the Director of Acquisition Career Management.” . (2) Briefings.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter until the completion of the implementation of section 9421 of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Air Force shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the status of the implementation of such section, including the development of the curriculum required by such section. (d) Promotion Requirements.— (1) Regulations required.—Subchapter III of chapter 2005 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “SEC. 20244. [10 U.S.C. 20244] Eligibility for consideration for promotion: duty assignments “(a) Regulations.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall prescribe regulations to ensure that an officer on the Space Force officer list is not considered for promotion to the grade of brigadier general unless the officer has completed— “(1) a duty assignment with a command or other organization that has responsibility for acquisition matters; and “(2) a duty assignment with a command or other organization that has responsibility for operations. “(b) Implementation Date.—(1) The Secretary of the Air Force shall prescribe the regulations required under subsection (a) not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026; and “(2) The regulations required under subsection (a) shall apply to officers considered for promotion to brigadier general on or after January 1, 2035.” . (2) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing the regulations required under section 20244(a) of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1) of this subsection. (e) Reports.—Part I of subtitle F of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: “CHAPTER 2015—REPORTS “20701. Promotion rates. “20702. Modifications to career fields and codes. “SEC. 20701. [10 U.S.C. 20701] Promotion rates “Not later than December 31 of each year, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Forces of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the promotion rates of members of the Space Force for the preceding fiscal year. Such report shall include— “(1) the number of and percentage of members of the Space Force in each grade selected for promotion; “(2) the number of and percentage of members of the Space Force in each career specialty track selected for promotion; and “(3) the number of members of the Space Force who were selected for promotion to the grade of brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, or general, disaggregated by career specialty track. “SEC. 20702. [10 U.S.C. 20702] Modifications to career fields and codes “Not later than 60 days before the date on which a change is made to the career fields or mission occupational specialty codes for the Space Force, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Forces of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes— “(1) a description of the changes intended to be made to such career fields or mission occupational specialty codes; and “(2) the plan of the Secretary to maintain the Space Force competencies and comply with requirements in law with respect to Space Force career fields and duty assignments.” .