46 USC § 51324 - Unfilled vacancies

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s51324"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 51324 - Unfilled vacancies"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "51324"
section_name: "Unfilled vacancies"
chapter_number: 513
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Merchant Marine Service"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 117–81, div. C, title XXXV, § 3501(c)(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2238.)"
---


# § 51324. Unfilled vacancies

**(a)** **In General.—** In the event of an unfilled vacancy for any critical position at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the Secretary of Transportation may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate for the purposes of filling up to 20 of such positions.

**(b)** **Critical Position Defined.—** In this section, the term “critical position” means a position that contributes to the improvement of—

**(1)** the culture or infrastructure of the Academy;

**(2)** student health and well being;

**(3)** Academy governance; or

**(4)** any other priority areas identified by the Council.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 117–81, div. C, title XXXV, § 3501(c)(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2238.)