§20212 Composition of Selection Boards

Summary

The Secretary of the Air Force must appoint selection boards made up of Space Force officers. Each board must have five or more members. Every member must hold a higher rank than the officers under review, and no member can be below the rank of major. At least one member must be on a long‑term assignment and at least one must be a Space Force officer on active duty who is not on a long‑term assignment. The balance between those two types of members should, as much as possible, match the balance of the officers being considered. Board members should also reflect the Space Force’s diversity when practical. A board should include at least one officer from each competitive category being considered, unless no eligible higher‑rank officer exists in that category. If there are not enough qualified Space Force officers available, the Secretary fills the board with retired Space Force officers, and if still needed, retired Air Force officers who previously served in Space Force or a space career field and who have enough relevant experience. A retired general brought back to active duty to serve on a board does not count against limits on active generals. An officer who served on the Joint Staff or is joint‑qualified triggers a rule that the board include at least one joint‑qualified officer chosen by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, although the Secretary of Defense can waive that requirement for Space Force boards.