---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 10502"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "10502"
heading: "Chief of the National Guard Bureau: appointment; adviser on National Guard matters; grade; succession"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/10502"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part I — Organization and Administration"
  - "Chapter 1011 — National Guard Bureau"
---

# §10502. Chief of the National Guard Bureau: appointment; adviser on National Guard matters; grade; succession

- (a) **Appointment.—** There is a Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau, who is responsible for the organization and operations of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau. The Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Such appointment shall be made from [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the [Army National Guard of the United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-3) or the [Air National Guard of the United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-5) who—
  - (1) are recommended for such appointment by their respective Governors or, in the case of the District of Columbia, the commanding general of the District of Columbia [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1);
  - (2) are recommended for such appointment by the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the Army or the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the Air Force;
  - (3) have had at least 10 years of federally recognized commissioned service in an [active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-4) in the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1);
  - (4) are in a [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) above the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of brigadier general;
  - (5) are determined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in accordance with criteria and as a result of a process established by the Chairman, to have significant joint duty experience;
  - (6) are determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of Defense to have successfully completed such other assignments and experiences so as to possess a detailed understanding of the status and capabilities of [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) forces and the missions of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau as set forth in [section 10503 of this title](/usc/10/10503.md);
  - (7) have a level of operational experience in a position of significant responsibility, professional military education, and demonstrated expertise in national defense and homeland defense matters that are commensurate with the advisory role of the Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau; and
  - (8) possess such other qualifications as the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of Defense shall prescribe for purposes of this section.
- (b) **Term of Office.—**
  - (1) An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) appointed as Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau serves at the pleasure of the President for a term of four years. An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) may be reappointed as Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau.
  - (2) Except as provided in [section 14508(d) of this title](/usc/10/14508.md?p=d), while holding the office of Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau, the Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau may not be removed from the [reserve active-status list](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-7), or from an [active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-4), under any provision of law that otherwise would require such removal due to completion of a specified number of years of service or a specified number of years of service in [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7).
- (c) **Advisor on National Guard Matters.—** The Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau is—
  - (1) a principal advisor to the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of Defense, through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on matters involving non-federalized [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) forces and on other matters as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of Defense; and
  - (2) the principal adviser to the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army, and to the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, on matters relating to the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1), the [Army National Guard of the United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-3), and the [Air National Guard of the United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-5).
- (d) **Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff.—** As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau has the specific responsibility of addressing matters involving non-Federalized [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) forces in support of homeland defense and civil support missions.
- (e) **Grade and Exclusion From General and Flag Officer Authorized Strength.—**
  - (1) The Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau shall be appointed to serve in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of general.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of Defense shall designate, pursuant to subsection (b) of [section 526 of this title](/usc/10/526.md), the position of Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau as one of the [general officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) and [flag officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-5) positions to be excluded from the limitations in [subsection (a)](/usc/10/526.md?p=a) of such section.
- (f) **Succession.—**
  - (1) When there is a vacancy in the office of the Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau or in the absence or disability of the Chief, the Vice Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau acts as Chief and performs the duties of the Chief until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases.
  - (2) When there is a vacancy in the offices of both the Chief and the Vice Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau or in the absence or disability of both the Chief and the Vice Chief of the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau, or when there is a vacancy in one such office and in the absence or disability of the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) holding the other, the senior [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the [Army National Guard of the United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-3) or the [Air National Guard of the United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-5) on duty with the [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1) Bureau shall perform the duties of the Chief until a successor to the Chief or Vice Chief is appointed or the absence or disability of the Chief or Vice Chief ceases, as the case may be.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title IX, § 904(a), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2824; amended Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 507(a), (b)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1876; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVIII, §§ 1811, 1825(c)(2), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 496, 502; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, §§ 511(a)(1),(2), 512(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1391, 1393.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 3040(a)–(c) of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, § 904(b)(1).

### Amendments

2011—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–81, § 512(b)(2) added subsec (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Pub. L. 112–81, § 511(a)(1), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall be appointed to serve in the grade of general.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 112–81, § 512(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).

Pub. L. 112–81, § 511(a)(2), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text related to succession for office of Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 112–81, § 512(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (e) as (f).

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1811(a), added pars. (1) to (8) and struck out former pars. (1) to (3) which read as follows:

“(1) are recommended for such appointment by their respective Governors or, in the case of the District of Columbia, the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard;

“(2) have had at least 10 years of federally recognized commissioned service in an active status in the National Guard; and

“(3) are in a grade above the grade of brigadier general.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1825(c)(2), inserted par. (1) designation before “An officer appointed” and substituted “(2) Except as provided in section 14508(d) of this title, while holding the office of Chief of the National Guard Bureau” for “While holding that office”.

Pub. L. 110–181, § 1811(c), struck out “An officer may not hold that office after becoming 64 years of age.” after “four years.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1811(d), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Chief of the National Guard Bureau is the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army, and to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, on matters relating to the National Guard, the Army National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1811(b), substituted “general” for “lieutenant general”.

2004—Pub. L. 108–375, § 507(b)(1), inserted “; succession” after “grade” in section catchline.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–375, § 507(a), added subsec. (e).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective at end of 90-day period beginning on Oct. 5, 1994, see section 904(d) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10501 of this title.