10 U.S.C. § 8669b — Senior Technical Authority for each naval vessel class

(a) The Navy must name a "Senior Technical Authority" — a top technical expert — for every class of naval vessels it builds. For a vessel class that had already passed an early approval milestone (called Milestone A, or a similar entry into technology risk-reduction or a later acquisition phase) by the time the 2020 defense law was enacted, the Secretary had to name this person within 30 days of that law passing. For a class that hadn't reached that milestone yet, the Secretary must name the person at or before the class reaches that milestone. The person chosen must already be a senior Navy executive (in the Senior Executive Service), working in a Navy office that has the right technical expertise and that reports directly to the relevant acquisition executive. Each Senior Technical Authority serves for a fixed term — long enough for the Secretary to expect the vessel class to demonstrate it's actually working well, based on its approved capability requirements. If the person leaves the job voluntarily before that happens, the Secretary must name a replacement in writing and tell Congress's armed services committees within 90 days. Only the Secretary can remove someone from this role against their will. If that happens, the Secretary must tell Congress why within 15 days, and name a replacement within 90 days. The Secretary can also reassign or remove a Senior Technical Authority simply because the Navy's mission needs change, as long as the notice-and-replacement steps above are still followed.

(b) Each Senior Technical Authority has real power over their assigned vessel class. They set, watch over, and approve the technical standards, tools, and processes used to build it, following all applicable laws and Navy and Defense Department rules. They're also responsible for making sure every design requirement for that class is actually tied to a real performance goal or key system feature in the class's approved requirements document — and they must reject any requirement that isn't truly necessary to meet those goals.

(c) On or after January 1, 2021, the Navy may not first obligate funds authorized for Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy or Other Procurement, Navy for the lead vessel in a class of naval vessels unless the Secretary certifies in writing that a long list of conditions is met. That certification must include: the name or names, qualifications, and professional biography or biographies of the Senior Technical Authority or Authorities; a description by the Senior Technical Authority of the systems-engineering, technology, and ship-integration risks for the class; the Senior Technical Authority’s designation of each critical hull, mechanical, electrical, propulsion, and combat system, including systems relating to power generation, power distribution, and key operational mission areas; the date the Senior Technical Authority approved the systems-engineering, engineering-development, and land-based engineering and testing plans; a description by the Senior Technical Authority of each plan’s key technical knowledge objectives and demonstrated system performance; a determination by the Senior Technical Authority that the plans are sufficient to achieve thorough technical knowledge of the class’s critical systems before detailed design and construction begin; a determination by the Senior Technical Authority that executing activities supporting the plans has been and continues to be effective and supports the acquisition schedule; a description by the Senior Technical Authority of other technology-maturation and risk-reduction efforts for the class that are not included in those plans; a certification by the Senior Technical Authority that each critical system has been demonstrated by testing a prototype or identical component in its final form, fit, and function in a realistic environment; a determination by the Secretary that the approved plans are fully funded and will be fully funded in the future-years defense program for the relevant fiscal year; and a determination by the Secretary that the Senior Technical Authority will approve the class’s ship specification in writing before the request for proposals for detailed design, construction, or both, as applicable, is released. The Secretary must submit this certification in writing to the congressional defense committees^* at least 30 days before first obligating those funds for the lead vessel in the class.

(d) This section defines a few terms. A "class of naval vessels" means any group of similar undersea or surface craft procured with Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy or Other Procurement, Navy funds, including manned, unmanned, and optionally-manned craft. It includes a substantially new class of craft, including craft procured using "new start" procurement, and a class undergoing a significant incremental change in its existing class, such as a next "flight" of destroyers or next "block" of attack submarines. "Future-years defense program" has the meaning already used in section 221. "Milestone A approval" means the decision to move a program into technology maturation and risk reduction, following the Secretary of Defense's acquisition guidance.