2015-30311. Charter Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY:

Department of Defense.

ACTION:

Charter Amendment of a Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce that it is amending the charter for the Board of Regents, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (“the Board”).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This committee's charter is being amended pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2113a and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended) and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a).

The Board is a statutory Federal advisory committee that assists the Secretary of Defense in an advisory capacity in carrying out the Secretary's responsibility to conduct the business of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (“the University”). The Board shall provide advice and recommendations on academic and administrative matters critical to the full accreditation and successful operation of the University.

The DoD, through the Office of the USD(P&R), provides support for the performance of the Board's functions and ensures 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.

Under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 2113a(b), the Board shall be composed of 15 members, appointed or designated as follows:

a. Nine persons outstanding in the field of health care, higher education administration, or public policy, who shall be appointed from civilian life by the Secretary of Defense;

b. The Secretary of Defense, or his designee, who shall be an ex-officio member;

c. The Surgeons General of the Uniformed Services, who shall be ex-officio members; and

d. The President of the University, who shall be a non-voting, ex-officio member. As directed by 10 U.S.C. 2113a(c), the term of office for each member of the Board (other than ex-officio members) shall be six years except that:

a. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term; and,

b. Any member whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2113a(d), one of the members of the Board (other than an ex-officio member) shall be designated as Chair by the Secretary of Defense and shall be presiding officer of the Board.

Board members that are not ex-officio members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense and their appointments will be renewed on an annual basis according to DoD policies and procedures.

Those members appointed by the Secretary of Defense from civilian life provide their best judgment on the matters before the Board, based upon each individual's professional experience. Board members who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees will be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as special government employee (SGE) members. Board members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees will serve as regular government employee (RGE) members pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a). No member may serve more than two consecutive terms of service without Secretary of Defense or Deputy Secretary of Defense approval.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2113a(e), Board members (other than ex-officio members), while attending conferences or meetings or while otherwise performing their duties as members, shall be entitled to receive compensation at a rate to be fixed by the Secretary of Defense. Each member is reimbursed for travel and per diem as it pertains to official business of the Board.

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 Board's Sponsor.

Such subcommittees will not work independently of the Board and will 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. No subcommittee or any of its members can update or report, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board, directly to the DoD or any Federal officers or employees. Each member, based upon his or her individual professional experience, provides his or her best judgment on the matters before the Board, and he or she does so in a manner that is free from conflict of interest. All subcommittee members will be appointed by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense to a term of service of one-to-four years, with annual renewals, even if the individual is already a member of the Board. Subcommittee members will not serve more than two consecutive terms of service, unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Subcommittee members who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees will be appointed as an expert or consultant pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109, to serve as a SGE member. Subcommittee members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees will be appointed pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a), to serve as a RGE member. With the exception of reimbursement of official travel and per diem related to the Board or its subcommittees, subcommittee members will serve without compensation.

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 Designated Federal Officer (DFO) must be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD officer or employee, designated 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 any 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 designated to the Board according to established DoD policies and procedures, must attend the entire duration of all meetings of the Board and any subcommittees.

The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, calls all meetings of the Board and its subcommittees; prepares and approves all meeting agendas; and adjourns 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.

Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to Board 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 the Board.

All written statements shall be submitted to the DFO for the Board, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Board's 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 Board. 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: November 24, 2015.

Aaron Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.