[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11496-11497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4440]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 2166(e), 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(a), the 
Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for 
the Board of Visitors for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security 
Cooperation (hereafter referred to as ``the Board'').
    The Board shall provide the Secretary of Defense, through the 
Secretary of the Army, with independent advice and recommendations on 
matters pertaining to the operations and management of the Institute.
    The Board shall: (a) Inquire into the curriculum, instruction, 
physical equipment, fiscal affairs, and academic methods of the 
Institute; other matters relating to the Institute that the Board 
decides to consider; and any other matter that the Secretary of Defense 
determines appropriate; (b) Review the curriculum to determine whether 
it adheres to U.S. doctrine, complies with applicable U.S. laws and 
regulations, and is consistent with U.S. policy goals toward Latin 
America and the Caribbean; and (c) Determine whether the Institute 
emphasizes human rights, including the rule of law, due process, 
civilian control of the military, and the role of the military in a 
democratic society.
    The Board shall report to the Secretary of Defense through the 
Secretary of the Army.
    The Board shall be comprised of no more than fourteen members 
appointed by the Secretary of Defense. All Board member appointments 
must be renewed by the Secretary of Defense on an annual basis. The 
Board shall be comprised of: (a) Two Members of the Senate (the Chair 
and Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee or their designees); 
(b) two Members of the House of Representatives (the Chair and Ranking 
Members of the Armed Services Committee or their designees); (c) one 
person designated by the Secretary of State; the senior military 
officer responsible for training and education in the U.S. Army (or 
designee); the commanders of the combatant commands with geographic 
responsibility for the Western Hemisphere (U.S. Northern Command and 
U.S. Southern Command (or designees); and (d) six persons designated by 
the Secretary of Defense, including, to the extent practicable, persons 
from academia, religious

[[Page 11497]]

institutions, and human rights communities.
    Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not 
full-time or permanent part-time federal employees, shall be appointed 
to serve as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 
3109 and shall serve as special government employee members. With the 
exception of travel and per diem for official Board related travel, 
Board members shall serve without compensation.
    The Secretary of Defense may approve the appointment of Board 
members for one to four year terms of service; however, no member, 
unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense, may serve more than two 
consecutive terms of service. This same term of service limitation also 
applies to any DoD authorized subcommittees.
    Whenever possible, appointments shall be staggered to avoid 
complete turnover of the Board's membership at one time. In addition, 
the Board may be assisted by non-voting subject matter experts or 
consultants. These consultants are designated at the request of the 
Board by the Secretary of the Army with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of Defense.
    Each Board member is appointed to provide advice on behalf of 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.
    The Department, when necessary, and consistent with the Board's 
mission and DoD policies and procedures may establish subcommittees 
deemed necessary 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 advisory committee's sponsor. Such subcommittees shall not work 
independently of the chartered Board, and shall report all their 
recommendations and advice to the Board for full deliberation and 
discussion. Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions on behalf 
of the chartered Board; nor can any subcommittee or its members update 
or report directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers 
or employees.
    All subcommittee members shall be appointed in the same manner as 
the Board members; that is, the Secretary of Defense shall appoint 
subcommittee members even if the member in question is already a Board 
member. Subcommittee members, with the approval of the Secretary of 
Defense, may serve a term of service on the subcommittee of one to four 
years; however, no member shall serve more than two consecutive terms 
of service on the subcommittee.
    Subcommittee members, 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 shall serve as special government 
employees, whose appointments must be renewed by the Secretary of 
Defense on an annual basis. With the exception of travel and per diem 
for official Board related travel, subcommittee members shall serve 
without compensation.
    All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the 
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), governing 
Federal statutes and regulations, and governing DoD policies/
procedures.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Deputy Advisory Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board shall meet at the call of the 
Board's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the Board's 
Chairperson. The estimated number of Board meetings is one per year.
    In addition, the Designated Federal Officer is required to be in 
attendance at all Board and subcommittee meetings for the entire 
duration of each and every meeting; however, in the absence of the 
Designated Federal Officer, the Alternate Designated Federal Officer 
shall attend the entire duration of the Board or subcommittee meeting.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to Board of 
Visitors for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation 
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 Board of Visitors for the Western Hemisphere 
Institute for Security Cooperation.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Board of Visitors for the Western Hemisphere Institute 
for Security Cooperation, and this individual will ensure that the 
written statements are provided to the membership for their 
consideration. Contact information for the Board of Visitors for the 
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation Designated 
Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
    The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will 
announce planned meetings of the Board of Visitors for the Western 
Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. The Designated Federal 
Officer, 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: February 22, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012-4440 Filed 2-24-12; 8:45 am]
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