Department of Defense November 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(d), the Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel (hereafter referred to as ``the Panel''). The Panel is a discretionary Federal advisory committee that shall provide the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Navy, independent advice and recommendations on critical matters concerning the Department of the Navy. The Panel's focus will include the Navy energy program, the shipbuilding defense industrial base, Asia/Pacific engagement, intelligence organization and related maritime issues. The Panel reports to the Secretary of the Navy who is authorized to act upon the Panel's advice and recommendations. The Panel shall be composed of no more than 15 members, who are eminent authorities in the fields of national security policy, intelligence, science, engineering, or energy and industry. Panel members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and to serve as special government employees. Panel members shall be appointed on an annual basis by the Secretary of Defense, and with the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, Panel members shall serve without compensation. The Secretary of the Navy shall select the Panel's Chairperson from the total membership. All Panel members are appointed to provide advice on behalf of the government on the basis of their best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest. With DoD approval, the Panel is authorized to establish subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission. These subcommittees shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), other governing Federal statutes and regulations, and governing DoD policies. Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered Panel, and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the Panel for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered Panel; nor shall any subcommittee or its members report or update directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or employees who are not Panel members. All subcommittee members shall be appointed in the same manner as the Panel members; that is, the Secretary of Defense shall appoint subcommittee members even if the member in question is already a Panel member. Such individuals, if not full-time or part-time government employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and to serve as special government employees, whose appointments must be renewed on an annual basis. With the exception of travel, subcommittee members shall serve without compensation.