PRIA Logo™
Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§9321 Mandatory Retirement: Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy; Waiver Authority

Title 10 › Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 941 — RETIREMENT FOR LENGTH OF SERVICE › § 9321

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When an officer's assignment as Superintendent ends, the Secretary of the Air Force must retire that officer under any retirement rule the officer qualifies for. The Secretary of Defense may excuse that retirement for good cause. If he does, the Secretary must give written notice to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees saying why and saying the President intends to nominate the officer. Any reappointment must be approved by the Senate.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §9321

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Mandatory Retirement.—
Upon the termination of the detail of an officer to the position of Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, the Secretary of the Air Force shall retire the officer under any provision of this chapter under which the officer is eligible to retire.
(b)Waiver Authority.—
The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement in subsection (a) for good cause. In each case in which such a waiver is granted for an officer, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a written notification of the waiver, with a statement of the reasons supporting the decision that the officer not retire, and a written notification of the intent of the President to nominate the officer for reassignment. In the event a waiver under this subsection is granted, the subsequent nomination and appointment of such officer having served as Superintendent of the Academy to a further assignment in lieu of retirement shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–263 inserted at end “In the event a waiver under this subsection is granted, the subsequent nomination and appointment of such officer having served as Superintendent of the Academy to a further assignment in lieu of retirement shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.” 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8921 of this title as this section. 2004—Pub. L. 108–375 inserted “; waiver authority” after “Academy” in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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. Application of Section to Superintendents Serving on October 5, 1999Section not applicable to an officer serving on Oct. 5, 1999, in the position of Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, or Air Force Academy for so long as that officer continues on and after that date to serve in that position without a break in service, see section 532(a)(5) of Pub. L. 106–65, set out as a note under section 3921 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 9321

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110