---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 3003"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "3003"
heading: "Authorized number on the active list"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/3003"
units:
  - "Chapter 43 — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §3003. Authorized number on the active list

- (a) **Annual strength on active list—** The annual strength of the commissioned corps in [officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) on the lineal list of [active duty](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-1) [officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) of the corps shall be prescribed by law.
- (b) **Lineal list—** The [Secretary](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-6) shall maintain a list, known as the “lineal list”, of [officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) on [active duty](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-1). [Officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) shall be carried on the lineal list by [grade](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-2) and, within [grade](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-2), by seniority in [grade](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–372, title II, § 213, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3083.)