§147. Chief Diversity Officer

(a) Chief Diversity Officer.—(1) There is a Chief Diversity Officer of the Department of Defense, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.

(2) The Chief Diversity Officer shall be appointed from among persons who have an extensive management or business background and experience with diversity and inclusion. A person may not be appointed as Chief Diversity Officer within three years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.

(3) The Chief Diversity Officer shall report directly to the Secretary of Defense in the performance of the duties of the Chief Diversity Officer under this section.

(b) Duties.—The Chief Diversity Officer—

(1) is responsible for providing advice on policy, oversight, guidance, and coordination for all matters of the Department of Defense related to diversity and inclusion;

(2) advises the Secretary of Defense, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the heads of all other elements of the Department with regard to matters of diversity and inclusion;

(3) shall establish and maintain a Department of Defense strategic plan that publicly states a diversity definition, vision, and goals for the Department;

(4) shall define a set of strategic metrics that are directly linked to key organizational priorities and goals, actionable, and actively used to implement the strategic plan under paragraph (3);

(5) shall advise in the establishment of training in diversity dynamics and training in practices for leading diverse groups effectively;

(6) shall advise in the establishment of a strategic plan for diverse participation by institutions of higher education (including historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions), federally funded research and development centers, and individuals in defense-related research, development, test, and evaluation activities;

(7) shall advise in the establishment of a strategic plan for outreach to, and recruiting from, untapped locations and underrepresented demographic groups;

(8) shall coordinate with, and be supported by, the Office of People Analytics on studies, assessments, and related work relevant to diversity and inclusion; and

(9) shall perform such additional duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.

(Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §913(a)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3802.)

Effective Date

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §913(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3804, provided that: "This section [enacting this section and provisions set out as a note below] and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on February 1, 2021."

Senior Advisors for Diversity and Inclusion for the Military Departments and Coast Guard

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §913(b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3803, provided that:

"(1) Appointment required.—Each Secretary of a military department shall appoint within such military department a Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion for such military department (and for the Armed Force or Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of such Secretary). The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall appoint a Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion for the Coast Guard.

"(2) Qualifications and limitation.—Each Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion shall be appointed from among persons who have an extensive management or business background and experience with diversity and inclusion. A person may not be appointed as Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion within three years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an Armed Force.

"(3) Reporting.—A Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion shall report directly to the Secretary of the military department within which appointed. The Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion for the Coast Guard shall report directly to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

"(4) Duties.—A Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion, with respect to the military department and Armed Force or Armed Forces concerned—

"(A) is responsible for providing advice, guidance, and coordination for all matters related to diversity and inclusion;

"(B) shall advise in the establishment of training in diversity dynamics and training in practices for leading diverse groups effectively;

"(C) shall advise and assist in evaluations and assessments of diversity;

"(D) shall develop a strategic diversity and inclusion plan, which plan shall be consistent with the strategic plan developed and maintained pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of section 147 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section);

"(E) shall develop strategic goals and measures of performance related to efforts to reflect the diverse population of the United States eligible to serve in the Armed Forces, which goals and measures of performance shall be consistent with the strategic metrics defined pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of such section 147; and

"(F) shall perform such additional duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of the military department concerned or the Commandant of the Coast Guard, as applicable, may prescribe."