; or (ii) compromise, or appear to compromise, the integrity of any governmental agency or program, or any officer or employee employed by, or involved in, a governmental agency or program. (b) Executive director The Board shall hire an Executive Director of the Foundation, who shall serve, at the pleasure of the Board, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. (c) Foundation staff Officers and employees of the Foundation— (1) may not be employees of, or hold any office in, the United States Government; (2) shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of— (A) title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service; and (B) chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates; and (3) may not receive a salary at a rate in excess of 150 percent of the maximum rate of basic pay authorized for positions at level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code, for that fiscal year. (d) Limitation and conflicts of interests (1) Political participation The Foundation may not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office in any country. (2) Financial interests Any Director of the Board or officer or employee of the Foundation is prohibited from participating, directly or indirectly, in the consideration or determination of any question before the Foundation affecting— (A) the financial interests of such Director, officer, or employee; and (B) the interests of any corporation, partnership, entity, or organization in which such Director, officer, or employee has any fiduciary obligation or direct or indirect financial interest. 5. Corporate powers and obligations of the foundation (a) General authority (1) In general The Foundation— (A) may conduct business throughout the States, territories, and possessions of the United States and in foreign countries; (B) shall have its principal offices in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area