2023-09417. Defense Science Board; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting

AGENCY:

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Defense Science Board, Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:

Notice of Federal advisory committee meeting.

SUMMARY:

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Defense Science Board (DSB) will take place.

DATES:

Closed to the public Wednesday, May 3, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

The address of the closed meeting is conference room 3A912A at the Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Kevin Doxey, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), (703) 571–0081 (Voice), (703) 697–1860 (Facsimile), [e-mail] (Email). Mailing address is Defense Science Board, 3140 Defense Pentagon, Room 3B888A, Washington, DC 20301–3140. Website: http://www.acq.osd.mil/​dsb/​. The most up-to-date changes to the meeting agenda can be found on the website.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This meeting is being held under the provisions of chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) (commonly known as the “Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)”); 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) (commonly known as the “Government in the Sunshine Act”); and sections 102–3.140 and 102–3.150 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Designated Federal Officer, the Defense Science Board was unable to provide public notification required by 41 CFR 102–3.150(a) concerning its May 3, 2023 meeting. Accordingly, the Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.150(b), waives the 15-calendar day notification requirement.

Purpose of the Meeting: The mission of the DSB is to provide independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the DoD's scientific and technical enterprise. The objective of the meeting is to obtain, review, and evaluate classified information related to the DSB's mission. DSB membership will meet with DoD Leadership to discuss classified current and future national security challenges and priorities within the DoD.

Agenda: The meeting will begin on May 3, 2023 at 8 a.m. with opening remarks from Mr. Kevin Doxey, the Designated Federal Officer, and Dr. Eric Evans, DSB Chair. The first briefing will be from Brigadier General Jason T. Hinds, Director of Plans, Programs, and Analyses, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, who will provide classified remarks on current events in Europe. Following break, Vice Admiral Jon Hill, Director, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), will provide classified remarks on MDA's priorities. Following break, the Board will deliberate and vote on the DSB Quick Task Force on National Security Innovation Activities' findings and recommendations. Following break, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, will provide classified remarks on the Navy's technical challenges and priorities. Next, the Honorable Susanna V. Blume, Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE), will provide classified remarks on CAPE's challenges and priorities. Finally, Dr. Kathleen Hicks, accompanied by Dr. Craig Martell, Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, and Ms. Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, will provide classified remarks on the DoD's technical challenges and priorities. The meeting will adjourn at 4 p.m.

Meeting Accessibility: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 1009(d) and 41 CFR 102–3.155, the DoD has determined that the DSB meeting will be closed to the public. Specifically, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in consultation with the DoD Office of the General Counsel, has determined in writing that the meeting will be closed to the public because it will consider matters covered by 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1). The determination is based on the consideration that it is expected that discussions throughout will involve classified matters of national security concern. Such classified material is so intertwined with the unclassified material that it cannot reasonably be segregated into separate discussions without defeating the effectiveness and meaning of the overall meetings. To permit the meeting to be open to the public would preclude discussion of such matters and would greatly diminish the ultimate utility of the DSB's findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

Written Statements: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 1009(a)(3) and 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and 102–3.140, interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration by the DSB at any time regarding its mission or in response to the stated agenda of a planned meeting. Individuals submitting a written statement must submit their statement to the DSB DFO at the email address provided in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section at any point; however, if a written statement is not received at least three calendar days prior to the meeting, which is the subject of this notice, then it may not be provided to or considered by the DSB until a later date.

Dated: April 28, 2023.

Aaron T. Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.