Office of the Secretary January 11, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of section 596 of Public Law 110-417, section 594 of Public Law 111-84 and 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, the Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Military Leadership Diversity Commission (hereafter referred to as the ``Commission''). The Commission is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee that shall provide the President and Congress a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of minority promotion and advancement policies. The commission, pursuant to section 596(d) of Public Law 110-417, shall: a. Carry out a comprehensive study to evaluate and assess policies that provide opportunities for the promotion and advancement of minority members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including minority members who are senior officers; and b. In carrying out the study, the Commission shall examine the following: (1) The efforts to develop and maintain diverse leadership at all levels of the Armed Forces. (2) The successes and failures of developing and maintaining a diverse leadership, particularly at the general and flag officer positions. (3) The effect of expanding Department of Defense secondary educational programs to diverse civilian populations, to include military service academy preparatory schools. (4) The ability of current recruitment and retention practices to attract and maintain a diverse pool of qualified individuals in sufficient numbers in officer pre-commissioning programs. (5) The ability of current activities to increase continuation rates for ethnic- and gender-specific members of the Armed Forces. (6) The benefits of conducting an annual conference attended by civilian military, active-duty and retired military and corporate leaders on diversity, to include a review of current policy and the annual demographic data from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. (7) The status of prior recommendations made to the Department of Defense and to Congress concerning diversity initiatives within the Armed Forces. (8) The incorporation of private sector practices that have been successful in cultivating diverse leadership. (9) The establishment and maintenance of fair promotion and command opportunities for ethnic- and gender-specific members of the Armed Forces at the 0-5 grade level and above. (10) An assessment of pre-command billet assignments of ethnic- specific members of the Armed Forces. (11) An assessment of command selection of ethnic-specific members of the Armed Forces. (12) The development of a uniform definition, to be used throughout the Department of Defense, of diversity that is congruent with the core values and vision of the Department of Defense for the future workforce. (13) The existing metrics and milestones for evaluating the diversity plans of the Department of Defense (including the plans of the Military Departments) and for facilitating future evaluation and oversight. (14) The existence and maintenance of fair promotion, assignment, and command opportunities for ethnic- and gender-specific members of the Armed Forces at the levels of warrant officer, chief warrant officer, company and junior grade, field and mid-grade, and general and flag officer. (15) The current institutional structure of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity of the Department of Defense, and of similar officers of the Military Departments, and their ability to ensure effective and accountable diversity management across the Department of Defense. (16) The options available for improving the substance or implementation of current plans and policies of the Department of Defense and the Military Departments. No later than 12 months after the date on which the Commission first meets, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a report on its study. The Commission's final report shall include, as a minimum, the following: a. The findings and conclusions of the Commission; b. The recommendations of the Commission for improving diversity within the U.S. Armed Forces; and c. Such other information and recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate. In addition, the Commission may submit interim reports to the President and Congress as the Commission considers appropriate. In carrying out its study the Commission, pursuant to section 596(d)(3) of Public Law 110-417, may consult with appropriate private, for-profit, and non-profit organizations and advocacy groups to learn methods for developing, implementing, and sustaining senior diverse leadership within the Department of Defense. The Commission, pursuant to section 596(b) of Public Law 110-417 and amended by section 594 of Public Law 111-84, shall be comprised of no more than thirty members to include the following: a. The Director of the Defense Manpower Data Center; b. The Commandant of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute; c. An active commissioned officer from each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps; d. An active commissioned officer from the National Guard, and an active commissioned officer from the Reserves, each of whom serves or has served in a leadership position with either a Military Department command or combatant command; e. A commissioned officer or noncommissioned officer of the Coast Guard on active duty; f. A retired general or flag officer from each of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, a retired general or flag officer from the National Guard, and a retired general or flag officer from the Reserves; g. A retired flag officer of the Coast Guard; h. A retired noncommissioned officer from each of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, a retired noncommissioned officer from the National Guard, and a retired noncommissioned officer from the Reserves; i. Five retired commissioned officers who served in leadership positions with either a Military Department command or combatant command, of whom no less than three shall represent the views of minority veterans; j. Four individuals with expertise in cultivating diverse leaders in private or non-profit organizations; and k. An attorney with appropriate experience and expertise in constitutional and legal matters related to the duties and responsibilities of the commission. The appointment of the Director of the Defense Manpower Data Center and the Commandant of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute shall be based upon their ex-officio position within the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense shall appoint the remaining Commission members, who are not required to be appointed by ex-officio position. Commission members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not full-time or permanent part-time employees of the Federal Government, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and these individuals shall serve as special government employees, whose appointments shall be renewed on an annual basis. Pursuant to section 596(g)(1) of Public Law 110-417, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall appoint the two individuals who represent interests of the U.S. Coast Guard, see 13(e) and (g) above. All Commission members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission; however, each non-ex-officio appointment must be renewed by the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (as applicable) on an annual basis. Any Commission vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and shall be renewed on an annual basis. Commission members, who are not full-time or permanent part-time federal employees, shall serve without compensation. All Commission members shall be provided travel and per diem for official committee travel. The Secretary of Defense, pursuant to section 596(b)(3) of Public Law 110-417, shall designate one member as the chairman of the Commission. With DoD approval, the Commission 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), and other Governing Federal statutes and regulations. Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered Commission, and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the Commission for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered Commission; nor can they report directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or employees who are not Commission members. Subcommittee members, who are not Commission members, shall be appointed in the same manner as the Commission members. 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. 3019, and serve as special government employees, whose appointments must be renewed on an annual basis.