[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22852-22854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09028]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Establishment of the National Commission on the Structure of the 
Air Force

AGENCY: DoD.

ACTION: Establishment of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: 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(a), the Department of Defense gives 
notice that it is establishing the charter for the National Commission 
on the Structure of the Air Force (hereinafter referred to as ``the 
Commission''). The Commission has been determined to be in the public 
interest.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is a non-discretionary 
federal advisory committee that no later than February 1, 2014, shall 
submit to the President and the Congressional defense committees a 
report containing a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions 
of the Commission as a result of the study required by Section 363(a) 
of the FY 2013 NDAA, together with its recommendations for such 
legislation and administrative actions it may consider appropriate in 
light of the results of the study.
    In considering the structure of the Air Force, the Commission shall 
give particular consideration to evaluating a structure that:
    a. Meets current and anticipated requirements of the combatant 
commands;
    b. Achieves an appropriate balance between the regular and reserve 
components of the Air Force, taking advantage of the unique strengths 
and capabilities of each;
    c. Ensures that the regular and reserve components of the Air Force 
have the capacity needed to support current and anticipated homeland 
defense and disaster assistance missions in the United States;
    d. Provides for sufficient numbers of regular members of the Air 
Force to provide a base of trained personnel from which the personnel 
of the reserve components of the Air Force could be recruited;
    e. Maintains a peacetime rotation force to support operational 
tempo goals of 1:2 for regular members of the Air

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Force and 1:5 for members of the reserve components of the Air Force; 
and
    f. Maximizes and appropriately balances affordability, efficiency, 
effectiveness, capability, and readiness.
    The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times 
and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 
Commission considers advisable to carry out its mission.
    The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or 
agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry 
out its duties. Upon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head 
of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the 
Commission.
    The Commission, pursuant to Section 362(b)(1) of the FY 2013 NDAA, 
shall be composed of eight members. In making appointments, 
consideration should be given to individuals with expertise in reserve 
forces policy. The Commission's membership shall include:
    a. Four appointed by the President;
    b. One appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services 
of the Senate;
    c. One appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate;
    d. One appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services 
of the House of Representatives; and
    e. One appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives.
    Pursuant to Section 362(b)(2) of FY 2013 NDAA, the appointments of 
the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 90 days 
after the enactment of the FY 2013 NDAA.
    If one or more appointments under Section 12, subparagraph (a) 
above is not made by the appointment date specified in Section 
362(b)(2) of the FY 2013 NDAA, the authority to make such appointment 
or appointments shall expire, and the number of members of the 
Commission shall be reduced by the number equal to the number of 
appointments so not made. If an appointment under Section 12, 
subparagraphs (b)-(e) above is not made by the appointment date 
specified in Section 362(b)(2) of the FY 2013 NDAA, the authority to 
make an appointment shall expire, and the number of members of the 
Commission shall be reduced by the number equal to the number otherwise 
appointable.
    Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 
vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be 
filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
    The Commission members shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from the 
total membership.
    Commission members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal 
officers or employees shall be appointed as regular government employee 
(RGE) members. Commission members who are not full-time or permanent 
part-time Federal officers or employees shall be appointed as experts 
and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and serve as 
special government employee (SGE) members.
    Consistent with Section 365(a) of the FY 2013 NDAA, each member of 
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under 5 U.S.C. 5315, for each day (including travel 
time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the 
duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are 
officers or employees of the United States shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that received for their services as 
officers or employees of the United States.
    The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 5 U.S.C., 
while away from their homes or regular places of business in the 
performance of services for the Commission.
    The DoD, when necessary and consistent with the Commission's 
mission and DoD policies/procedures, may establish subcommittees, task 
forces, or working groups to support the Commission. Establishment of 
subcommittees will be based upon written determination, to include 
terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary 
of Defense, or the DA&M, as the sponsor. All subcommittees, task 
forces, or working groups shall operate under the provisions of the 
FACA, the Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and 
established DoD policies and procedures.
    Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered 
Commission, and shall report all of their recommendations and advice 
solely to the Commission for full 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 
chartered Commission. No subcommittee or any of its members can update 
or report, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the committee, directly 
to DoD or any Federal officer or employee.
    All subcommittee members shall be appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense according to governing DoD policies and procedures even if the 
member in question is already a member of the Commission. Such 
individuals, if 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 shall serve as SGE members.
    Subcommittee members, with the approval of the Secretary of 
Defense, may serve a term of service for the life of the subcommittee. 
With the exception of travel and per diem for official travel related 
to the Commission or its subcommittees, subcommittee members shall 
serve without compensation.
    The Commission's Designated Federal Officer (DFO), pursuant to DoD 
policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and 
shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and 
procedures.
    In addition, the Commission's DFO is required to be in attendance 
at all meetings of the Commission and its subcommittees for the entire 
duration of each and every meeting. However, in the absence of the 
Commission's DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to 
the Commission according to DoD policies and procedures, shall attend 
the entire duration of meetings of the Commission and its 
subcommittees.
    The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall approve all meetings of the 
Commission and its subcommittees called by the Chair of the Commission; 
prepare and approve all meeting agendas; and adjourn 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 the 
National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force membership about 
the Commission's mission and functions. Written statements may be 
submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned 
meeting of National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force, 
and this individual will ensure that the written

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statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. 
Contact information for the National Commission on the Structure of the 
Air Force's 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 National Commission on the Structure 
of the Air Force. 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: April 12, 2013.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2013-09028 Filed 4-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P