---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 4507a"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "4507a"
heading: "Awarding of ranks to other senior career employees"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/4507a"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart C — Employee Performance"
  - "Chapter 45 — Incentive Awards"
  - "Subchapter I — Awards for Superior Accomplishments"
---

# §4507a. Awarding of ranks to other senior career employees

- (a) For the purpose of this section, the term “senior career [employee](/usc/5/4501.md?p=2)” means an individual appointed to a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) classified above GS–15 and paid under [section 5376](/usc/5/5376.md) who is not serving—
  - (1) under a [time-limited appointment](/usc/5/9601.md?p=2); or
  - (2) in a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) that is excepted from the competitive [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) because of its confidential or policy-making character.
- (b) Each [agency](/usc/5/4501.md?p=1) employing senior career [employees](/usc/5/4501.md?p=2) shall submit annually to the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management recommendations of senior career [employees](/usc/5/4501.md?p=2) in the [agency](/usc/5/4501.md?p=1) to be awarded the rank of Meritorious Senior Professional or Distinguished Senior Professional, which may be awarded by the President for sustained accomplishment or sustained extraordinary accomplishment, respectively.
- (c) The recommendations shall be made, reviewed, and awarded under the same terms and conditions (to the extent determined by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management) that apply to rank awards for [members](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) of the [Senior Executive](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-3) [Service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) under section 4507.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 107–67, title VI, § 641(a), Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 554.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

GS–15, referred to in subsec. (a), is contained in the General Schedule, which is set out under section 5332 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective for awards granted in 2003, see section 641(d) of Pub. L. 107–67, set out as an Effective Date of 2001 Amendment note under section 4506 of this title.