10 U.S.C. § 8186

1. (a)To promote a knowledge of naval engineering and naval architecture, the President, upon the application of any established scientific school or college in the United States, the Commonwealths or possessions, may detail a qualified officer of the Navy as a professor in that school or college. The number of officers detailed under this section may not exceed 25 at any one time.
2. (b)The President may prescribe regulations for detailing such officers and may recall them when the public interest requires.