2014-14568. Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY:

DoD.

ACTION:

Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense Board of Actuaries (“the Board”).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This Board's charter is being renewed under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 183 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b) (“the Sunshine Act”), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a).

The Board is a statutory Federal advisory committee that shall provide the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense through, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD (P&R)), independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the DoD Military Retirement Fund, the DoD Education Benefits Fund, and other funds as the Secretary of Defense shall specify.

The Board shall report to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense through the USD (P&R). The USD(P&R) may act upon the Board's advice and recommendations.

The DoD, through the Office of the USD(P&R), shall provide support, as deemed necessary, for the Board's performance and functions, and shall ensure compliance with the requirements of the FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended) (“the Sunshine Act”), governing Federal statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.

The Board shall be comprised of three members who are appointed by the Secretary or the Deputy Secretary of Defense from among qualified professional actuaries who are members of the Society of Actuaries. Their membership shall be renewed by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense on an annual basis.

Board members shall serve for a term of 15 years, except that a member of the Board appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the end of the term for which the predecessor was appointed shall serve only until the end of such term. A member may serve after the end of the member's term until a successor takes office. A member of the Board may be removed by the Secretary of Defense only for misconduct or failure to perform functions vested in the Board.

Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense, who are not full-time or permanent part-time federal employees, shall be appointed as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as special government employee (SGE) members, and shall, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 183(b)(4), serve with compensation, to include travel and per diem for official travel. A member of the Board who is not an employee of the United States is entitled to receive pay at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay of the highest rate of basic pay then currently being paid under the General Schedule of subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United State Code, for each day the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Board. Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense or Deputy Secretary of Defense, who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, shall be appointed pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a) to serve as regular government employee (RGE) members.

The DoD shall provide non-voting technical advisors to assist the Board in execution of its duties. The following individuals shall designate one DoD employee from each fund under the Board's purview (the DoD Military Retirement Fund, the DoD Education Benefits Fund, and other funds specified by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of 10 U.S.C. 183) to serve as a non-voting advisor to assist the Board.

a. the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer;

b. the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness and Force Management, through the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy;

c. the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; and

d. the Department of Defense General Counsel.

Each Board member is appointed to provide advice to the government on the basis of his or her best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest.

DoD, when necessary and consistent with the Board's mission and DoD policies and procedures, may establish subcommittees, task forces, or working groups to support the Board.

Establishment of subcommittees will be based upon a written determination, to include terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or the USD (P&R), as the DoD Sponsor.

Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the Board and shall report all of their recommendations and advice solely to the Board for full and open deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees, task forces, or working groups have no authority to make decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board. Subcommittees and their members cannot update or report, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board, directly to the DoD or any Federal officer or employee.

The Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense will appoint subcommittee members to a term of service of one-to-four years, with annual renewals, even if the member in question is already a member of the Board. Subcommittee members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms of service unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Subcommittee members, if not full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, will be appointed as experts or consultants, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as SGE members. Subcommittee members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, shall be appointed pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a) to serve as RGE members. Under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 183(b)(4), these special government employee members shall serve with compensation, to include travel and per diem for official travel.

All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.

The Board's DFO shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures.

The Board's DFO is required to be in attendance at all meetings of the Board and its subcommittees for the entire duration of each and every meeting. However, in the absence of the Board's DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Board according to established DoD policies and procedures, shall attend the entire duration of all meetings of the Board and its subcommittees.

The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all of the Board and its subcommittees; prepare and approve all meeting agendas; and adjourn any meeting, when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing regulations or DoD policies and procedures; and chair meetings when directed to do so by the USD (P&R).

Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to Department of Defense Board of Actuaries membership about the Board's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of Department of Defense Board of Actuaries. All written statements shall be submitted to the DFO for the Department of Defense Board of Actuaries, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Department of Defense Board of Actuaries DFO can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database—http://www.facadatabase.gov/​.

The DFO, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned meetings of the Department of Defense Board of Actuaries. The DFO, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in question.

Dated: June 18, 2014.

Aaron Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.