Designation of senior official for military-to-civilian transition

(a) In general Chapter 58 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1156. Senior official for military-to-civilian transition (a) Designation The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall designate a senior official of the Department of Defense to oversee policy and programs related to the transition of members of the armed forces from active duty to civilian life or reserve components. (b) Qualifications The official designated under paragraph (1) shall be designated from among individuals with appropriate experience in military personnel policy, transition assistance, veterans' affairs, or related matters. (c) Role, responsibility, and authority (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall prescribe the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the official designated under subsection (a). (2) The roles, responsibilities, and authorities prescribed under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the transition of members of the armed forces from active duty to civilian life and reserve components and the families of such members experiencing such transition— (A) serving as the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on policies, operations, and programs and activities relating to the transition of members; (B) assisting the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness with policies, operations, and programs and activities relating to the transition of members; (C) working, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Education, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all activities relating to the transition of members; (D) serving as the principal coordinator for military-to-civilian transition policy within the Department of Defense, with the mission of coordinating and overseeing the effectiveness of transition programs of the Department of Defense and ensuring all members of the armed forces are well equipped for civilian life or the reserve components, as the case may be; (E) overseeing the implementation of transition programs in the Department of Defense; (F) conducting a review and assessment of all transition programs and services offered by the Department of Defense, including the programs under this chapter, and proposing legislative or administrative action— (i) to improve the efficacy and efficiency of the programs; and (ii) to ensure compliance with all legal requirements related to transition assistance; and (G) working with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to improve the delivery of transition support services to members and families of members.. (b) Implementation and briefing (1) Implementation The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall designate a senior official under section 1156(a) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Briefing Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on— (A) the status of the designation of the official described under subsection (1); and (B) the implementation of the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of such official.