§ 10502. Chief of the National Guard Bureau: appointment; adviser on National Guard matters; grade; succession
(a)
Appointment.—
There is a Chief of the National Guard Bureau, who is responsible for the organization and operations of the National Guard Bureau. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Such appointment shall be made from officers of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States who—
(1)
are recommended for such appointment by their respective Governors or, in the case of the District of Columbia, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard;
(2)
are recommended for such appointment by the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force;
(3)
have had at least 10 years of federally recognized commissioned service in an active status in the National Guard;
(5)
are determined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in accordance with criteria and as a result of a process established by the Chairman, to have significant joint duty experience;
(6)
are determined by the Secretary of Defense to have successfully completed such other assignments and experiences so as to possess a detailed understanding of the status and capabilities of National Guard forces and the missions of the National Guard Bureau as set forth in section
10503 of this title;
(b)
Term of Office.—
(1)
An officer appointed as Chief of the National Guard Bureau serves at the pleasure of the President for a term of four years. An officer may be reappointed as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
(2)
Except as provided in section
14508
(d) of this title, while holding the office of Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau may not be removed from the reserve active-status list, or from an active status, under any provision of law that otherwise would require such removal due to completion of a specified number of years of service or a specified number of years of service in grade.
(c)
Advisor on National Guard Matters.—
The Chief of the National Guard Bureau is—
(1)
a principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense, through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on matters involving non-federalized National Guard forces and on other matters as determined by the Secretary of Defense; and
(2)
the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army, and to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, on matters relating to the National Guard, the Army National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States.
(d)
Grade.—
The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall be appointed to serve in the grade of general.
(e)
Succession.—