(a)
Promotion Authority for Certain Officers With Critical Skills.—
An officer in the line of the Navy in the grade of lieutenant who—
(1)
has a skill in which the Navy has a critical shortage of personnel (as determined by the Secretary of the Navy); and
(2)
is serving in a position (as determined by the Secretary of the Navy) which
(A)
is designated to be held by a lieutenant commander, and
(B)
requires that an officer serving in such position have the skill possessed by such officer,
may be temporarily promoted to the grade of lieutenant commander under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy. Appointments under this section shall be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.