14 U.S.C. § 305 — Vice admirals

(a)(1) The President must (A) name, within the Coast Guard, up to five important positions whose officers hold the grade of vice admiral with that grade's pay, and perform duties the Commandant^* assigns — except that if all five positions are named, one must oversee personnel management, workforce and dependent support, and training; and (B) name other important positions outside the Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration whose officers also hold the grade of vice admiral with that pay.
(2) The President can appoint and reappoint, with Senate approval, a Coast Guard officer serving above the rank of captain to any of these positions. The Commandant recommends who should be appointed.
(3) Normally, one of the vice admirals named under (a)(1)(A) must have at least 10 years of experience in vessel inspection, marine casualty investigation, mariner licensing, or similar technical expertise in commercial vessel design and construction, plus at least 4 years leading a marine-safety staff or unit — and that person becomes the Commandant's top advisor on those issues. This requirement doesn't apply if the rear admiral responsible for marine safety, security, and stewardship already has that experience.
(4) Before recommending someone to the President for a first-time appointment to vice admiral under this section, the Commandant must consider all the officers who are among the best qualified for the job.

(b)(1) The vice admiral appointment and grade start on the day the officer takes the job and, except as (2) or section 306(d) provide, end on the day the officer leaves that job.
(2) An officer keeps the vice admiral grade in these situations: (A) while transferring to another position named under subsection (a), from the day they leave the old job until the day before they start the new one, but no more than 60 days; (B) while hospitalized, from the day they're hospitalized to the day they're discharged, but no more than 180 days; (C) at the Secretary's discretion, while waiting for new orders after being relieved, from the day they're relieved, but no more than 60 days; and (D) while awaiting retirement, from the day they leave duty until the day before retirement, but no more than 60 days.

(c)(1) Appointing an officer under subsection (a) doesn't erase the officer's permanent grade.
(2) An officer serving above rear admiral whose permanent grade is rear admiral (lower half) is considered for promotion to permanent rear admiral just as if they were still serving in their permanent grade.

(d) Whenever a position named under subsection (a) becomes vacant, the Commandant must tell the President what qualifications an officer needs to do that job well.