; and (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection: (b) Deputy Director (1) There is a Deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among the general officers on active duty in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, or from among the flag officers on active duty in the Navy. In selecting an individual to serve as the Deputy Director, the Secretary of Defense shall select an individual who serves in a different armed force than the armed force in which the Director serves. (2) The Deputy Director shall be appointed for a term of not fewer than two, and not more than four years. (3) The Deputy Director shall be under the authority, direction, and control of the Director of the Missile Defense Agency. (4) The Deputy Director shall— (A) carry out such responsibilities as may be assigned by the Director; and (B) serve as acting director during periods of absence by the Director, or at such times as the office of the Director is vacant. . 1662. Modification of program accountability matrices requirements for next generation interceptors for missile defense Section 1668(f) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 ( Public Law 117–81 ; 135 Stat. 2107) is amended— (1) by inserting and the product development phase after technology development phase each place it appears; and (2) in paragraph (7), by striking enter the product development phase and inserting enter the production phase . 1663. National missile defense policy Subsection (a) of section 1681 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 ( Public Law 114–328