2022-03035. Charter Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees-Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces

AGENCY:

Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:

Charter renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces (DAC-IPAD).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Freeman, DoD Advisory Committee Management Officer, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The DAC-IPAD's charter is being renewed in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C., Appendix) and 41 CFR 102-3.50(d). The charter and contact information for the DAC-IPAD's Designated Federal Officer (DFO) are found at https://www.facadatabase.gov/​FACA/​apex/​FACAPublicAgencyNavigation.

Pursuant to section 546(c)(1) of the FY 2015 NDAA, the DAC-IPAD shall provide independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense on the investigation, prosecution, and defense of allegations of rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct involving members of the Armed Forces, based on its ongoing review of cases. Pursuant to Section 546(c)(2) and (d) of the FY 2015 NDAA, the DAC-IPAD, not later than March 30 of each year, will submit to the Secretary of Defense through the General Counsel of the Department of Defense (GC DoD), and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, a report describing the results of the activities of the DAC-IPAD pursuant to Section 546 of the FY 2015 NDAA, as amended, during the preceding year. The DAC-IPAD will also focus on matters of special interest to the DoD, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or the GC DoD, as the DAC-IPAD's sponsor.

Pursuant to Section 546(b) of the FY 2015 NDAA, the DAC-IPAD will be composed of no more than 20 members who must have extensive experience and subject matter expertise in the investigation, prosecution, or defense of allegations of sexual offenses. DAC-IPAD members may include Federal and State prosecutors, judges, law professors, and private attorneys. Members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty may not serve as DAC-IPAD members.

Individual members are appointed according to DoD policy and procedures, and serve a term of service of one-to-four years with annual renewals. One member will be appointed as Chair of the DAC-IPAD. No member, unless approved according to DoD policy and procedures, may serve more than two consecutive terms of service on the DAC-IPAD, or serve on more than two DoD Federal advisory committees at one time.

DAC-IPAD members who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active duty members of the Uniformed Services, are appointed as experts or consultants, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109, to serve as special government employee members. DAC-IPAD members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active duty members of the Uniformed Services are appointed pursuant to 41 CFR 102- 3.130(a), to serve as regular government employee members.

All DAC-IPAD members are appointed to provide advice based on their best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest. Except for reimbursement of official DAC-IPAD-related travel and per diem, members serve without compensation.

The public or interested organizations may submit written statements about the DAC-IPAD's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the DAC-IPAD. All written statements shall be submitted to the DFO for the DAC-IPAD, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration.

Dated: February 8, 2022.

Aaron T. Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.