ment of acquisition programs and projects. The 
guidance shall address, at a minimum— 
(A) the qualifications that shall be required 
of program managers, including the number of 
years of acquisition experience and the profes-
sional training levels to be required of those ap-
pointed to program management positions; 
(B) authorities available to program man-
agers, including, to the extent appropriate, the 
authority to object to the addition of new pro-
gram requirements that would be inconsistent 
with the parameters established for an acquisi-
tion program; and 
(C) the extent to which a program man-
ager who initiates a new program or project will 
continue in management of that program or 
project without interruption until the delivery of 
the first production units of the program. 
(2) STRATEGY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Commandant shall develop a comprehensive 
strategy for enhancing the role of Coast Guard 
program managers in developing and carrying 
out acquisition programs.
(B) MATTERS
TO
BE
ADDRESSED.—The 
strategy required by this section shall address, 
at a minimum— 
(i) the creation of a specific career 
path and career opportunities for individ-
uals who are or may become program man-
agers, including the rotational assignments 
that will be provided to program managers; 
(ii) the provision of enhanced training 
and educational opportunities for individ-
uals who are or may become program man-
agers; 
(iii) the provision of mentoring sup-
port to current and future program man-
agers by experienced senior executives and 
program 
managers 
within 
the 
Coast 
Guard, and through rotational assignments 
to the Department of Defense; 
(iv) the methods by which the Coast 
Guard will collect and disseminate best 
practices and lessons learned on systems 
acquisition to enhance program manage-
ment throughout the Coast Guard; 
(v) the templates and tools that will 
be used to support improved data gath-
ering and analysis for program manage-
ment and oversight purposes, including the 
metrics that will be utilized to assess the 
effectiveness of Coast Guard program 
managers in managing systems acquisition 
efforts; 
(vi) a description in detail of how the 
Coast Guard will promote a balanced work-
force in which women and members of ra-
cial and ethnic minority groups are appro-
priately represented in Government service; 
and 
(vii) the methods by which the ac-
countability of program managers for the 
results of acquisition programs will be in-
creased. 
SEC. 303. RECOGNITION OF COAST GUARD PERSONNEL 
FOR EXCELLENCE IN ACQUISITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall com-
mence implementation of a program to recognize excellent 
performance by individuals and teams comprised of offi-
cers, members, and employees of the Coast Guard that 
contributed to the long-term success of a Coast Guard ac-
quisition program or project.
(b) ELEMENTS.—The program required by sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Specific award categories, criteria, and eligi-
bility and manners of recognition. 
(2) Procedures for the nomination by personnel 
of the Coast Guard of individuals and teams com-
prised of officers, members, and employees of the 
Coast Guard for recognition under the program. 
(3) Procedures for the evaluation of nomina-
tions for recognition under the program by one or 
more panels of individuals from the Government, 
academia, and the private sector who have such ex-
pertise and are appointed in such manner as the 
Commandant shall establish for the purposes of this 
program. 
(c) AWARD OF CASH BONUSES.—As part of the pro-
gram required by subsection (a), the Commandant, sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations, may award to any 
individual recognized pursuant to the program a cash 
bonus to the extent that the performance of such indi-
vidual so recognized warrants the award of such bonus. 
SEC. 304. ENHANCED STATUS QUO OFFICER PROMOTION 
SYSTEM. 
Chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed—
(1) in section 253(a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘considered,’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, and the number of offi-
cers the board may recommend for promotion’’; 
(2) in section 258— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ be-
fore the existing text; 
(B) in subsection (a) (as so designated) by 
striking the colon at the end of the material 
preceding paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘—’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) PROVISION OF DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE.— 
‘‘(1) In addition to the information provided 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Commandant may 
furnish the selection board— 
‘‘(A) specific direction relating to the needs 
of the Coast Guard for officers having par-
ticular skills, including direction relating to the 
need for a minimum number of officers with 
particular skills within a specialty; and 
‘‘(B) any other guidance that the Com-
mandant believes may be necessary to enable 
the board to properly perform its functions.
‘‘(2) Selections made based on the direction and 
guidance provided under this subsection shall not ex-
ceed the maximum percentage of officers who may 
be selected from below the announced promotion 
zone at any given selection board convened under 
section 251 of this title.’’; 
(3) in section 259(a), by inserting after ‘‘whom 
the board’’ the following: ‘‘, giving due consideration 
to the needs of the Coast Guard for officers with 
particular skills so noted in specific direction fur-
nished to the board by the Commandant under sec-
tion 258 of this title,’’; and 
(4) in section 260(b), by inserting after ‘‘quali-
fied for promotion’’ the following: ‘‘to meet the 
needs of the service (as noted in specific direction 
furnished the board by the Commandant under sec-
tion 258 of this title)’’. 
SEC. 305. COAST GUARD ACQUISITION WORKFORCE EXPE-
DITED HIRING AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of sections 3304, 
5333, and 5753 of title 5, United States Code, the Com-
mandant may— 
(1) designate any category of acquisition posi-
tions within the Coast Guard as shortage category 
positions; and
(2) use the authorities in such sections to re-
cruit and appoint highly qualified persons directly to 
positions so designated. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Commandant may not ap-
point a person to a position of employment under this sub-
section after September 30, 2012. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2009. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1665 
AN ACT 
To structure Coast Guard acquisition processes and 
policies, and for other purposes.