Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§8542 President; assistants
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle C— - Navy and Marine Corps › Part PART III— - EDUCATION AND TRAINING › Chapter CHAPTER 855— - UNITED STATES NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL › § 8542
Summary
The President of the Naval Postgraduate School must be either an active-duty Navy or Marine Corps officer at the rank of captain or colonel, or a civilian (which can include a retired officer of at least that rank). If a civilian is chosen, the Secretary of the Navy selects the best candidate using the required criteria, a process the Secretary sets, and other important factors. Before any assignment or selection, the Secretary must consult the School’s Board of Advisors, consider recommendations from the School’s leaders and faculty, and consider advice from the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. A civilian President serves up to five years and can be kept for one more term of up to five years. Needed qualifications include a doctorate in a relevant field (a master’s is allowed only in a specific officer case), strong knowledge of the Navy and Defense operations, senior-level leadership experience, a record of promoting research, and any other qualifications the Secretary requires. The Secretary will also assign Navy and Marine officers with the right ranks and skills to help with teaching, research, and school administration.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §8542
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)The President of the Naval Postgraduate School shall be one of the following:
(A)An active-duty officer of the Navy or Marine Corps in a grade not below the grade of captain or colonel, respectively, who is assigned or detailed to such position.
(B)A civilian individual, including an individual who was retired from the Navy or Marine Corps in a grade not below captain, or colonel, respectively, who has the qualifications appropriate to the position of President and is selected by the Secretary of the Navy as the best qualified from among candidates for the position in accordance with—
(i)the criteria specified in paragraph (4);
(ii)a process determined by the Secretary; and
(iii)other factors the Secretary considers essential.
(2)Before making an assignment, detail, or selection of an individual for the position of President of the Naval Postgraduate School, the Secretary shall—
(A)consult with the Board of Advisors for the Naval Postgraduate School;
(B)consider any recommendation of the leadership and faculty of the Naval Postgraduate School regarding the assignment or selection to that position; and
(C)consider the recommendations of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
(3)An individual selected for the position of President of the Naval Postgraduate School under paragraph (1)(B) shall serve in that position for a term of not more than five years and may be continued in that position for an additional term of up to five years.
(4)The qualifications appropriate for selection of an individual for detail or assignment to the position of President of the Naval Postgraduate School include the following:
(A)An academic degree that is either—
(i)a doctorate degree in a field of study relevant to the mission and function of the Naval Postgraduate School; or
(ii)a master’s degree in a field of study relevant to the mission and function of the Naval Postgraduate School, but only if—
(I)the individual is an active-duty or retired officer of the Navy or Marine Corps in a grade not below the grade of captain or colonel, respectively; and
(II)at the time of the selection of that individual as President, the individual selected for the position of Provost and Chief Academic Officer has a doctorate degree in such a field of study.
(B)A comprehensive understanding of the Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense, and joint and combined operations.
(C)Leadership experience at the senior level in a large and diverse organization.
(D)Demonstrated ability to foster and encourage a program of research in order to sustain academic excellence.
(E)Other qualifications, as determined by the Secretary of the Navy.
(b)The Secretary shall detail officers of the Navy and the Marine Corps of appropriate grades and qualifications to assist the President in—
(1)the advanced instruction and professional and technical education of students and the provision of research opportunities for students; and
(2)the administration of the Postgraduate School.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 704234 U.S.C. 1076a.July 31, 1947, ch. 420, § 2, 61 Stat. 705. In subsection (a) the word “Regular” is omitted as covered by the term “active list”. In subsection (b) the words “line and staff” and “as may be necessary” are omitted as surplusage. The word “grades” is substituted for the word “ranks”. The words “advanced instruction and technical education” are substituted for the words “training * * * in the practical and theoretical duties of commissioned naval officers”.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 8542, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 527, authorized President to detail certain officers as chief and assistant chief of staff of wings of Air National Guard in Federal service, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(g)(2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2996, effective Dec. 1, 1994. See section 12502(b) of this title.
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (a)(4)(A)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “selected for the position of Provost and Chief Academic Officer” for “permanently appointed to the position of Provost and Academic Dean”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 7042 of this title as this section. 2011—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 111–383 struck out comma after “captain”. 2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–364 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) related to assignment of an officer of the Navy in a grade not below the grade of captain or an appropriately qualified civilian individual to the position of President of the Naval Postgraduate School. Pub. L. 109–163, § 524, amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The Secretary of the Navy shall detail as President of the Naval Postgraduate School an officer on the active-duty list in the line of the Navy eligible for command at sea not below the grade of captain. The President has military command of the Postgraduate School.” Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–163, § 523(b), substituted “and professional and technical education of students and the provision of research opportunities for students” for “and technical education of students”. 2004—Pub. L. 108–375 substituted “President” for “Superintendent” wherever appearing in section catchline and text. 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “active-duty list” for “active list”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 557(a)(1), (2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1915, provided that: “(1) The position of Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School is redesignated as President of the Naval Postgraduate School. “(2) Any reference to the Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School in any law, rule, regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the President of the Naval Postgraduate School.”
Effective Date
of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of
Amendments
and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Sept. 15, 1981, see section 701 of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 8542
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73