# 14 U.S.C. § 303: Vice Commandant; appointment

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s303

## Section

- **Citation:** 14 U.S.C. § 303
- **Heading:** Vice Commandant; appointment
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** March 26, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 14—COAST GUARD > SUBTITLE I—ESTABLISHMENT, POWERS, DUTIES, AND ADMINISTRATION > CHAPTER 3—COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION > SUBCHAPTER II—POSITIONS

## Text

The President may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one Vice Commandant who shall rank next after the Commandant, shall perform such duties as the Commandant may prescribe and shall act as Commandant during the absence or disability of the Commandant or in the event that there is a vacancy in the office of Commandant. The Vice Commandant shall be selected from the officers on the active duty promotion list serving above the grade of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendation for such appointment. The Vice Commandant shall, while so serving, have the grade of admiral with pay and allowances of that grade. The appointment and grade of a Vice Commandant shall be effective on the date the officer assumes that duty, and shall terminate on the date the officer is detached from that duty, except as provided in section 306(d) of this title .

( Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393 , 63 Stat. 499 , § 47; Pub. L. 86–474, § 1(6) , May 14, 1960 , 74 Stat. 144 ; Pub. L. 88–130, § 1(5) , (6), Sept. 24, 1963 , 77 Stat. 175 ; Pub. L. 89–444, § 1(6) , (7), June 9, 1966 , 80 Stat. 195 ; Pub. L. 92–451, § 1(4) , Oct. 2, 1972 , 86 Stat. 755 ; Pub. L. 97–295, § 2(2) , Oct. 12, 1982 , 96 Stat. 1301 ; Pub. L. 99–348, title II, § 205(b)(2) , July 1, 1986 , 100 Stat. 700 ; Pub. L. 103–206, title II, § 204(b)(1) , Dec. 20, 1993 , 107 Stat. 2421 ; Pub. L. 111–281, title V, § 511(f)(1) , (g), Oct. 15, 2010 , 124 Stat. 2952 , 2953; Pub. L. 114–120, title II , §§ 201(b), 209(3), Feb. 8, 2016 , 130 Stat. 33 , 40; renumbered § 304 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I , §§ 104(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4196 , 4240; renumbered § 303, Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXII, § 7201(b) , Dec. 18, 2025 , 139 Stat. 1675 .)

## Nearby sections

- [14 U.S.C. § 301 Grades and ratings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s301.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 302 Commandant; appointment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s302.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 303 Vice Commandant; appointment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s303.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 304 Retirement of Commandant or Vice Commandant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s304.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 305 Vice admirals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s305.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 306 Retirement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s306.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 307 Vice admirals and admirals, continuity of grade](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s307.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 308 Chief Acquisition Officer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s308.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 309 Office of the Coast Guard Reserve; Director](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s309.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 310 Director of Coast Guard Investigative Service](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s310.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 311 United States Coast Guard Band; composition; director](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s311.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 312 Western Alaska Oil Spill Planning Criteria Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s312.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 313 Chief of Staff to President: appointment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s313.md)
- [14 U.S.C. § 314 Captains of the port](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s314.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t14_s303. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.