§8044 Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

Summary

The President picks the Assistant Commandant from active-duty Marine officers and the Senate must approve the pick. While serving, the Assistant Commandant holds the rank of general but keeps his permanent rank. The Commandant, with the Secretary of the Navy’s OK, gives the Assistant Commandant duties and authority. Orders from the Assistant Commandant count the same as orders from the Commandant. If the Commandant’s job is empty or the Commandant is away or disabled, the Assistant Commandant performs the Commandant’s duties until a successor is appointed or the absence ends. If the Assistant Commandant’s job is also empty or he is away or disabled, then, unless the President orders otherwise, the most senior able officer at Headquarters, Marine Corps will perform the Commandant’s duties until a successor is appointed or the absence ends, whichever happens first.