22 U.S.C. § 2655b — Diplomatic presence overseas

(a) Purpose. The section seeks to give greater status to United States diplomatic initiatives on nonproliferation and political-military issues and to develop highly specialized technical experts with country knowledge who can administer the Department’s related functions. (b) Authority. To meet those purposes, the Secretary may establish a Counselor for Nonproliferation and Political-Military Affairs in United States diplomatic missions overseas. Career Civil Service or Foreign Service officers who commit to later assignments in the Department’s Nonproliferation Bureau or Political-Military Affairs Bureau may fill the position. (c) Training. After selection, a Counselor must spend at least 10 months in language courses at the Foreign Service Institute or technical courses run by the Departments of Defense or Energy or another appropriate United States department or agency. The Secretary may waive this training requirement.