For the purposes of this part:

Agency, Senior Executive Service position, career appointee, limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, and noncareer appointee have the meanings set forth in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code.

Equivalent position as used in section 3132(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code, means a position under any pay system where the level of the duties and responsibilities of the position and the rate of pay are comparable to that of a position above GS-15 or at Executive Level IV or V.

Senior Executive Service has the meaning given that term by section 2101a of title 5, United States Code, and includes all positions which meet the definition in section 3132(a)(2) of title 5.