---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 3005"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "3005"
heading: "Number of authorized commissioned officers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/3005"
units:
  - "Chapter 43 — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §3005. Number of authorized commissioned officers

- (a) **In general—** The total number of authorized commissioned [officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) on the lineal list of the commissioned [officer](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) corps of the [Administration](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-7) shall not exceed 500.
- (b) **Positions of importance and responsibility—** [Officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) serving in positions designated under [section 3028 of this title](/usc/33/3028.md) and [officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) recalled from retired status or detailed to an agency other than the [Administration](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-7)—
  - (1) may not be counted in determining the total number of authorized [officers](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) on the lineal list under this section; and
  - (2) may not count against such number.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–372, title II, § 215, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3084; Pub. L. 110–386, § 6, Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4108; Pub. L. 116–259, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 23, 2020, 134 Stat. 1155.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 853a of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–372.

### Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–259 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to number of authorized commissioned officers effective Oct. 1, 2009.

2008—Pub. L. 110–386 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “There are authorized to be on the lineal list of the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—

“(1) 270 officers for fiscal year 2003;

“(2) 285 officers for fiscal year 2004; and

“(3) 299 officers for fiscal year 2005.”