; and (2) the guidance that the Commission will provide to staff of the Commission to ensure effective performance of the mission of the Commission. 502. Strengthening the NRC workforce (a) Commission workforce (1) General authority The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 161A the following: 161B. Commission workforce (a) Direct hire authority (1) In general Notwithstanding section 161 d. of this Act and any provision of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1980 (94 Stat. 3585; 5 U.S.C. app.), and without regard to any provision of title 5 (except section 3328), United States Code, governing appointments in the civil service, the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (in this section referred to as the Chairman ) may, in order to carry out the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (in this section referred to as the Commission ) responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner and subject to the limitations described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)— (A) recruit and directly appoint exceptionally well-qualified individuals into the excepted service for covered positions