TITLE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF HEAD OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS AND OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS; PROMOTIONS OF FLAG OFFICERS.

SEC. 8401. TITLE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF HEAD OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS AND OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS; PROMOTIONS OF FLAG OFFICERS. (a) Title and Qualifications of Head.— (1) In general.—Section 228(c) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3028(c)) is amended— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking “Corps and Office of” and inserting “Commissioned Officer Corps and Assistant Administrator for”; (B) in the second sentence, by striking “serving in” and all that follows through “half)” and inserting “who has served, on the date of such appointment, in the grade of captain or above for not less than one year”; and (C) in the fourth sentence, by striking “Director of the Office of” and inserting “Assistant Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for”. (2) Conforming amendment.—Section 4(a) of the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act of 2018 (33 U.S.C. 4103(a)) is amended by striking “Director of the Office of” and inserting “Assistant Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for”. (b) Promotions of Flag Officers.—Section 226 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3026) is amended— (1) by striking “Appointments” and inserting the following: “(a) In General.—Appointments” ; (2) by inserting after “all permanent grades” the following: “, other than a grade described in subsection (b),”; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(b) Flag Officers.—Appointments in and promotions to the grade of rear admiral (upper half) or above shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.” .