U.S. Code » Title 42 » Chapter CHAPTER 6A— PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › Part Part A— Administration

42 U.S.C. § 207

Grades, ranks, and titles of commissioned corps

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(a) Grades of commissioned officersThe Surgeon General, during the period of his appointment as such, shall be of the same grade as the Surgeon General of the Army; the Deputy Surgeon General and the Chief Medical Officer of the United States Coast Guard, while assigned as such, shall have the grade corresponding with the grade of major general; and the Chief Dental Officer, while assigned as such, shall have the grade as is prescribed by law for the officer of the Dental Corps selected and appointed as Assistant Surgeon General of the Army. During the period of appointment to the position of Assistant Secretary for Health, a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service shall have the grade corresponding to the grade of General of the Army. Assistant Surgeons General, while assigned as such, shall have the grade corresponding with either the grade of brigadier general or the grade of major general, as may be determined by the Secretary after considering the importance of the duties to be performed: Provided, That the number of Assistant Surgeons General having a grade higher than that corresponding to the grade of brigadier general shall at no time exceed one-half of the number of positions created by subsection (b) of section 206 of this title or pursuant to subsection (c) of section 206 of this title. The grades of commissioned officers of the Service shall correspond with grades of officers of the Army as follows:(1) Officers of the director grade—colonel;(2) Officers of the senior grade—lieutenant colonel;(3) Officers of the full grade—major;(4) Officers of the senior assistant grade—captain;(5) Officers of the assistant grade—first lieutenant;(6) Officers of the junior assistant grade—second lieutenant;(7) Chief warrant officers of (W–4) grade—chief warrant officer (W–4);(8) Chief warrant officers of (W–3) grade—chief warrant officer (W–3);(9) Chief warrant officers of (W–2) grade—chief warrant officer (W–2); and(10) Warrant officers of (W–1) grade—warrant officer (W–1).(b) Titles of medical officers

The titles of medical officers of the foregoing grades shall be respectively (1) medical director, (2) senior surgeon, (3) surgeon, (4) senior assistant surgeon, (5) assistant surgeon, and (6) junior assistant surgeon. The President is authorized to prescribe titles, appropriate to the several grades, for commissioned officers of the Service other than medical officers. All titles of the officers of the Ready Reserve Corps shall have the suffix “Reserve”.

(c) Repealed. Pub. L. 96–76, title III, § 304(b), Sept. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 584(d) Maximum number in grade for each fiscal year

Within the total number of officers of the Regular Corps authorized by the appropriation Act or Acts for each fiscal year to be on active duty, the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the maximum number of officers authorized to be in each of the grades from the warrant officer (W–1) grade to the director grade, inclusive. Such numbers shall be determined after considering the anticipated needs of the Service during the fiscal year, the funds available, the number of officers in each grade at the beginning of the fiscal year, and the anticipated appointments, the anticipated promotions based on years of service, and the anticipated retirements during the fiscal year. The number so determined for any grade for a fiscal year may not exceed the number limitation (if any) contained in the appropriation Act or Acts for such year. Such regulations for each fiscal year shall be prescribed as promptly as possible after the appropriation Act fixing the authorized strength of the corps for that year, and shall be subject to amendment only if such authorized strength or such number limitation is thereafter changed. The maxima established by such regulations shall not require (apart from action pursuant to other provisions of this chapter) any officer to be separated from the Service or reduced in grade.

(e) Exception to grade limitations for officers assigned to Department of Defense

In computing the maximum number of commissioned officers of the Public Health Service authorized by law to hold a grade which corresponds to the grade of brigadier general or major general, there may be excluded from such computation not more than three officers who hold such a grade so long as such officers are assigned to duty and are serving in a policymaking position in the Department of Defense.

(f) Exception to maximum number limitations for officers assigned to Department of Defense

In computing the maximum number of commissioned officers of the Public Health Service authorized by law or administrative determination to serve on active duty, there may be excluded from such computation officers who are assigned to duty in the Department of Defense.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title II, § 206, 58 Stat. 684; Feb. 28, 1948, ch. 83, § 4, 62 Stat. 39; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 653, 65 Stat. 700; July 17, 1952, ch. 931, 66 Stat. 758; 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 1, §§ 5, 8, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053, 67 Stat. 631; Pub. L. 87–649, § 11(1), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 497; Pub. L. 95–215, § 8(b), Dec. 19, 1977, 91 Stat. 1507; Pub. L. 96–76, title III, § 304, Sept. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 584; Pub. L. 99–117, § 9, Oct. 7, 1985, 99 Stat. 494; Pub. L. 101–93, § 5(p), Aug. 16, 1989, 103 Stat. 614; Pub. L. 101–502, § 5(k)(1), Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1289; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 582, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2538; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3214(e)(3), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 373.)Editorial NotesAmendments

2020—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–136, which directed amendment of subsec. (c) by substituting “Ready Reserve Corps” for “Reserve Corps”, was executed by making the substitution in subsec. (b) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1996—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–201 added subsec. (f).

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–502 inserted after first sentence “During the period of appointment to the position of Assistant Secretary for Health, a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service shall have the grade corresponding to the grade of General of the Army.”

1989—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–93, which directed the substitution of “the Department of Defense” for “the office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs”, was executed by making the substitution for “the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs” as the probable intent of Congress.

1985—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–117 added subsec. (e).

1979—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–76, § 304(a), added pars. (7) to (10).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–76, § 304(b), struck out subsec. (c) setting forth the grade and pay and allowances as director for a commissioned officer below the grade of director assigned to serve as chief of a division.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–76, § 304(c), substituted “warrant officer (W–1)” for “junior assistant”.

1977—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 95–215 substituted “junior assistant” for “senior assistant”.

1962—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–649 struck out provisions which related to pay and allowances.

1952—Subsec. (a). Act July 17, 1952, provided that the Chief Medical Officer of the Coast Guard should have the grade, pay, and allowances of a major general.

1951—Subsec. (a). Act Oct. 31, 1951, provided equality of grade, pay, and allowances between the Chief Dental Officer and the comparable officer in the Army.

1948—Subsec. (a). Act Feb. 28, 1948, increased grade of Deputy Surgeon General from brigadier general to major general and increased grade of certain Assistant Surgeons General from brigadier general to major general as the Federal Security Administrator might determine.

Subsecs. (c), (d). Act Feb. 28, 1948, added subsecs. (c) and (d).

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesChange of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsecs. (a) and (d) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–502 effective Dec. 1, 1990, see section 5(k)(3) of Pub. L. 101–502, set out as a note under section 201 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–76 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 314 of Pub. L. 96–76, set out as a note under section 206 of this title.

Effective Date of 1962 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 87–649 effective Nov. 1, 1962, see section 15 of Pub. L. 87–649, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Executive DocumentsTransfer of Functions

Office of Surgeon General, together with office held by Deputy Surgeon General, abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, and functions thereof transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, set out as a note under section 202 of this title. Office of Surgeon General reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Mar. 30, 1987, 52 F.R. 11754.

Functions of Federal Security Administrator transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and all agencies of Federal Security Agency transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 5 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out as a note under section 3501 of this title. Federal Security Agency and office of Administrator abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953.

Delegation of Functions

Functions of President delegated to Secretary of Health and Human Services, see Ex. Ord. No. 11140, Jan. 30, 1964, 29 F.R. 1637, as amended, set out as a note under section 202 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1974–2025 · leading case: In Re Comput. Commc'ns, Inc., Debtor. Comput. Commc'ns, Inc. v. Codex Corp., 824 F.2d 725 (9th Cir. 1987).
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In Re Comput. Commc'ns, Inc., Debtor. Comput. Commc'ns, Inc. v. Codex Corp., 824 F.2d 725 (9th Cir. 1987). “transferable or assignable” under 42 U.S.C. § 207 ); In re Dawson, 13 B.R. 107, 108-09 (M.”
Brooks v. United States, 65 Fed. Cl. 135 (Fed. Cl. 2005). · cites it 2× “” 42 U.S.C. § 207 (a). The naval rank that corresponds with the grades of brigadier general and of major general is rear admiral (lower and upper half, respectively), and the Service ranks are 0-7 and 0-8.”
Castaneda Ex Rel. Est. of Castaneda v. United States, 546 F.3d 682 (9th Cir. 2008). “42 U.S.C. § 207 . Although the statute defines PHS rank by equivalent U.”
Michael J. Salazar v. Margaret M. Heckler, Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 787 F.2d 527 (10th Cir. 1986). “42 U.S.C. § 207 (a) (1982). 6. In time of war or emergency involving national defense proclaimed by the President, he may declare the PHS to be a military service constituting a branch of the land and navel forces of the United States and subject to the Uniform Code of Military…”
Aleck Alexander, Cross-Appellee v. United States of Am., Cross-Appellant, 500 F.2d 1 (8th Cir. 1974). “42 U.S.C. § 207 (1970). Regulations specify that failure to follow out orders of superior officers will result in disciplinary action.”
Levin v. United States, 403 F. Supp. 99 (D. Mass. 1975). “§ 201 (p) and 42 U.S.C. § 207 . 2 . 42 C.F.R. § § 21.262, 21.”
W. Radio Servs. Co. v. Qwest Corp., 734 F. Supp. 2d 1139 (D. Or. 2010). “§ 252 (e)(6), 42 U.S.C. § 207 , and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343(a).”
Wanca v. Hargan, No. 2017-2343 (D.D.C. Feb. 7, 2019). “42 U.S.C. §207 (d). 42 U.S.C. § 211 governs the promotion process.”
Bloosurf, LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., No. 1:24-cv-01047 (D. Md. Mar. 28, 2025). “§ 333 is not barred by the election of remedies statute in 42 U.S.C. § 207 (id. at 27–29), and further that its § 333 claim is not time barred under the continuing wrong doctrine (id.”
Multi Solutions Int'l, Inc. v. Sw. Bell Tel. Co., 265 F. Supp. 2d 1216 (D. Kan. 2003). “The plaintiffs contend the defendant’s argument is foreclosed by 42 U.S.C. § 207 which authorizes, in part, a private cause of action in federal district court when a person sustains damages for which a common carrier is liable under the FCA.”
Castaneda v. Henneford, No. 08-55684 (9th Cir. Oct. 1, 2008). “42 U.S.C. § 207 . Although the statute defines PHS rank by equivalent U.”
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