HR-5321 : Still Just a Bill

The Strategic Defense Fellows Act of 2023, also known as H.R. 5321, proposes amendments to the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. The aim is to improve the John S. McCain strategic defense fellows program through the following:

• Geographical Representation: Limits the number of participants from any single geographic region to no more than 20% of the total participants each year. The geographic regions are defined as:
  • Northeast United States
  • Southeast United States
  • Midwest United States
  • Southwest United States
  • Western United States
  • Alaska, Hawaii, United States territories, and areas outside the United States
• Appointment, Placement, and Conversion: Specifies that fellows will be appointed to excepted service positions within the Department of Defense.
  • Requires Department of Defense Components to submit placement opportunities for fellows, focusing on leadership development and potential career advancement.
  • The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the heads of Department of Defense Components, shall establish qualification requirements for the appointment of participants.
  • Sets the term of appointment to one year, with the option to extend for an additional year.
  • Determines that appointees will be placed at a level between GS-10 and GS-12 of the General Schedule, based on qualifications and experience.
  • Allows the Secretary of Defense to repay a fellow's education loan under certain conditions, subject to the availability of funds and a potential minimum service agreement.
• Career Development: Ensures fellows receive career development opportunities and support, including mentorship, to prepare them for senior leadership positions within the Department of Defense.
  • Provides employment opportunities for competitive and excepted service positions upon successful completion of the program.
  • Authorizes the Secretary to non-competitively appoint or convert a fellow into a vacant position up to the GS-13 level within two years of completing the program (or up to five years for fellows who entered the program before the enactment of this amendment).
• Transparency: Mandates the Secretary to publish the names of selected fellows on a publicly accessible Department of Defense website.