Office of the Secretary of Defense January 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the Department of Defense gives notice that it is establishing the U.S. Nuclear Command and Control System Comprehensive Review Committee (hereafter referred to as the Committee). The Committee is a discretionary federal advisory committee established under the authority of 41 CFR 102-3.50(d) to provide the Secretary of Defense, in his capacity as the Nuclear Command and control System Executive Agent, a comprehensive review of the U.S. Nuclear Command and Control System (NCCS). The Committee, considering the impact advanced technology, current and emerging threats, and evolving vulnerabilities have on the Nuclear Command and Control System, shall: A. Examine the full range of NCCS policies, procedures, responsibilities, functions, capabilities, management and oversight necessary to: 1. Meet national and department/agency policy and guidance; and 2. Maintain the highest standards required for planning, directing, and controlling nuclear weapons, weapons systems, and associated operations. B. Recommend changes to NCCS policies, responsibilities, functions, capabilities, management structures, and oversight mechanisms, as well as identifying other enhancements to NCCS elements (facilities, equipment, personnel, communications and procedures). The Committee's review shall not address nuclear force size and structure, deterrence strategy, and arms control/threat reduction analyses. The Committee shall be composed of a chairperson and no more than five distinguished members, who diverse expertise and background enable them to provide recommendations for improving the National Command and Control System to the NCCS Executive Agent. The Committee members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense for the duration of the Committee, and their appointments will be renewed on an annual basis. Those members, who are not full-time Federal officers or employees, shall serve as Special Government Employees under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109. Committee members, with the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, shall serve without compensation. The Secretary of Defense shall select the Committee's Chairperson. The Committee shall be authorized to establish subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission, and these subcommittees or working groups shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976, and other appropriate federal regulations. Such subcommittees or workgroups shall not work independently of the chartered Committee, and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the Committee for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered Committee nor can they report directly to the Department of Defense or any federal officers or employees who are not Committee Members.

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense Education Benefits Board of Actuaries (hereafter referred to as the Board). The Board, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2006(e), is a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee established to: (1) Annually advise the Secretary of Defense on the actuarial status of the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund (hereafter referred to as the Fund); (2) shall furnish its advice and opinion on matters referred to it by the Secretary; review valuations of the Fund conducted under the provisions of 10 U.S.C., Sec. 2006(f); (3) report to the Secretary of Defense annually on the actuarial status of the Fund; and (4) recommend to the President and Congress such changes as, in the Board's judgment, are necessary to protect the public interest and maintain the Fund on a sound actuarial basis. The Board shall be composed of not more than three members appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among qualified professional actuaries who are members of the Society of Actuaries. The 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 term until a successor has taken office. A member of the Board may be removed by the Secretary of Defense for misconduct or failure to perform functions vested in the Board, and for no other reason. Members may not be reappointed for successive terms. The Chairperson of the Board shall be designated by the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, for a five-year term. Board Members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not Federal officers or employees, shall serve as Special Government Employees under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and shall, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2006(e)(1)(C), serve with compensation, to include travel and per diem for official travel. The Board shall meet at the call of the Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the Chairperson, the Secretary of Defense or the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel & Readiness). The Designated Federal Officer shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures. The Designated Federal Officer or Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend all Board meetings and subcommittee meetings. The Board is authorized to establish subcommittees and workgroups, as necessary and consistent with its mission. Board subcommittees and workgroups shall operate under the provisions of Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976, and other appropriate Federal regulations. Board subcommittees and workgroups shall not work independently of the Board and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the Board for full deliberation and discussion. Board subcommittees and workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board and may not report directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or employees who are not members of the Board. Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 and 41 CFR 102-3.140(c), members of the public or interested groups may submit written statements to the members of the Board. Written statements may be submitted at any time to the Board's Designated Federal Officer or in response to the stated agenda of a planned meeting. The contact information for the Designated Federal Officer for the Department of Defense Education Benefits Board of Actuaries can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database: https://www.fido.gov/ facadatabase/public.asp.