((a)) ** .—** The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall establish a cadre of personnel who are experts in intellectual property matters. The purpose of the cadre is to ensure a consistent, strategic, and highly knowledgeable approach to acquiring or licensing intellectual property by providing expert advice, assistance, and resources to the acquisition workforce on intellectual property matters, including acquiring or licensing intellectual property.

((b)) ** .—** The Under Secretary—

((1)) shall establish an appropriate leadership structure and office within which the cadre shall be managed; and

((2)) shall determine the appropriate official to whom members of the cadre shall report.

((c)) ** .—** The cadre of experts shall be assigned to a program office or an acquisition command within a military department to advise, assist, and provide resources to a program manager or portfolio acquisition executive on intellectual property matters at various stages of the life cycle of a system. In performing such duties, the experts shall—

((1)) interpret and provide counsel on laws, regulations, and policies relating to intellectual property;

((2)) advise and assist in the development of an acquisition strategy, product support strategy, and intellectual property strategy for a system;

((3)) conduct or assist with financial analysis and valuation of intellectual property;

((4)) assist in the drafting of a solicitation, contract, or other transaction;

((5)) interact with or assist in interactions with contractors, including communications and negotiations with contractors on solicitations and awards; and

((6)) conduct or assist with mediation if technical data delivered pursuant to a contract is incomplete or does not comply with the terms of agreements.

((d))

((1)) In order to achieve the purpose set forth in subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall ensure the cadre has the appropriate number of staff and such staff possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to carry out the duties under subsection (b), including in relevant areas of law, contracting, acquisition, logistics, engineering, financial analysis, and valuation. The Under Secretary, in coordination with the Defense Acquisition University and in consultation with academia and industry, shall develop a career path, including development opportunities, exchanges, talent management programs, and training, for the cadre. The Under Secretary may use existing authorities to staff the cadre, including those in paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (6).

((2)) Civilian personnel from within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, military departments, Defense Agencies, and combatant commands may be assigned to serve as members of the cadre, upon request of the Director.

((3)) The Under Secretary may use the authorities for highly qualified experts under , to hire experts as members of the cadre who are skilled professionals in intellectual property and related matters.

((4)) The Under Secretary may enter into a contract with a private-sector entity for specialized expertise to support the cadre. Such entity may be considered a covered Government support contractor, as defined in .

((5)) In establishing the cadre, the Under Secretary shall give preference to civilian employees of the Department of Defense, rather than members of the armed forces, to maintain continuity in the cadre.

((6)) The Under Secretary is authorized to use amounts in the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund for the purpose of recruitment, training, and retention of the cadre, including paying salaries of newly hired members of the cadre for up to three years.