Surface Vehicle, as development and testing datasets mature. (6) Accelerate the Department’s development and testing of all-domain autonomous system prototypes to scaled production in conjunction with service and joint autonomous system development and acquisition and the combatant commands. (7) Accelerate the Department’s development and operational test and evaluation of all-domain autonomous systems in conjunction with service and joint test community and the combatant commands. (8) Continuously solicit and utilize joint warfighter feedback on requirements and capability progress in the development process. (9) Ensure that the development environments, generated data for autonomous system development, and any prototype all-domain autonomous system technologies, are designed to transition to full sustainment within the programs of the military departments. (10) Ensure that knowledge of proper autonomous system program design and execution, including software development, test, and acquisition best practices, is transitioned to service program executive offices with unmanned and autonomous system requirements. (11) Carry out such other activities relating to the coordination, development, and delivery of autonomous systems as the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate. (e) Hiring authorities (1) Highly qualified experts Pursuant to the authority provided under section 9903 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense may establish within the Office up to 12 Highly Qualified Expert positions to facilitate the rapid hiring of technical program managers with experience in the development, test, production, and delivery of all-domain autonomous systems. The Secretary may extend the term of each such Highly Qualified Expert for a period of not more than seven years. (2) Excepted service hiring authority Each position in the Joint Autonomy Office shall be a position in the excepted service, and the Secretary may appoint individuals to such positions in the same manner as provided under section 1599f