[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34498-34500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14149]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to 
announce that it is renewing the charter for the Board of Visitors for 
the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (``the 
Board'').

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This committee's charter is being renewed 
under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 
U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 
1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b) (``the Sunshine Act''), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(d).
    The Board is a nondiscretionary Federal advisory committee that 
shall provide independent advice and recommendations on matters 
pertaining to the operations and management of the Western Hemisphere 
Institute for Security Cooperation (``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 current 
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.
    c. Determine whether the instruction under the curriculum of the 
Institute appropriately emphasizes human rights, 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 and the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Army. The Secretary 
of

[[Page 34499]]

Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of the Army 
may act upon the Board's advice and recommendations.
    The Department of Defense (DoD), through the Secretary of the Army, 
shall provide support, as deemed necessary, for the performance of the 
Board's functions and shall ensure compliance with the requirements of 
the FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as 
amended) (``the Sunshine Act''), governing Federal statutes and 
regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.
    Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2166(e), the Board shall be comprised of 14 
members; six of whom will, to the extent practicable, have professional 
experience in academia, religious institutions, and human rights 
communities. The remaining members, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2166(e), 
shall include the following regular government employee (RGE) members:
    a. Two Members of the Senate (the Chair and Ranking Member of the 
Armed Services Committee or a designee of either of them);
    b. Two Members of the House of Representatives (the Chair and 
Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee or a designee of either 
of them);
    c. One person designated by the Secretary of State;
    d. The senior military officer responsible for training and 
doctrine in the U.S. Army (or designee); and
    e. The Combatant Commanders with geographic responsibility for the 
Western Hemisphere (U.S. Northern and Southern Command) (or the 
designees of those officers).
    Those individuals, whose appointments to the Board will be 
designated or affirmed by the Secretary of Defense or Deputy Secretary 
of Defense, will be appointed for a term of service of one-to-four 
years, and their appointments will be renewed on an annual basis 
pursuant to DoD policies and procedures. None of these members, unless 
authorized by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of 
Defense, may serve more than two consecutive terms of service on the 
Board, to include its subcommittees. Board members, who are not full-
time or permanent part-time federal employees, shall be appointed as 
experts or consultants, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Sec.  3109, to serve as 
special government employee (SGE) members. Those individuals serving on 
the Board who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees 
shall be appointed to serve as regular government employee (RGE) 
members, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a). All members of the Board are 
appointed to provide advice to 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.
    The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Army, shall appoint the Board's Chair from the total membership. In 
addition, The Secretary of the Army, at the request of the Board and 
with the approval of the Secretary of Defense or Deputy Secretary of 
Defense, may appoint non-voting subject matter experts or consultants 
to assist the Board or its subcommittees on an ad hoc basis. These non-
voting subject matter experts or consultants are not members of the 
Board or its subcommittees, will not engage or participate in any 
deliberations by the Board or its subcommittees, and do not have the 
ability to vote as members of the Board or its subcommittees. These 
non-voting subject matter experts or consultants, if not full-time or 
permanent part-time federal employees, will be appointed as experts and 
consultants, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Sec.  3109, to serve as SGEs, whose 
appointments must be renewed on an annual basis. Those individuals who 
are full-time or permanent part-time federal employees shall be 
appointed to serve as RGE non-voting subject matter experts or 
consultants.
    With the exception of reimbursement of official Board-related 
travel and per diem, Board members and any non-voting experts or 
consultants shall serve without compensation.
    The Department, when necessary and consistent with the Board's 
mission and DoD policies and procedures, may establish subcommittees, 
task forces, or working groups 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 Secretary of the Army, as the Board's Sponsor.
    Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered 
Board, and shall report all of their recommendations and advice solely 
to the Board for full and open 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 
Board. No subcommittee or any of its members can update or report, 
verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board, directly to the DoD or 
any Federal officers or employees.
    The Board shall establish and maintain two permanent subcommittees, 
whose members shall be comprised of individuals with professional 
experience in academia, religious institutions, and human rights 
communities. Each subcommittee shall be comprised of no more than eight 
members.
    a. Subcommittee on Education: Provides independent advice and 
recommendations for the Board's consideration on the Institute's 
curriculum and the current challenges faced by our international 
partners' government, military, and law enforcement agencies, to 
determine if new topics should be considered for inclusion; also makes 
recommendations on adjustments to the curriculum or courses that are no 
longer applicable.
    b. Subcommittee on Outreach: Provides independent advice and 
recommendations for the Board's consideration on developing an outreach 
plan of action to strengthen support for the Institute among 
influential officials from our international partners to increase 
student and instructor attendance and encourage burden sharing; 
strengthen support for the Institute from key U.S. military, civilian, 
governmental and interagency personnel to sustain funding levels and 
expand the Institute's role; and develop an outreach plan to identify 
new partner nations that may be interested in sending students, 
instructors, guest lectures, or liaison officers to the Institute.
    The Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense will 
appoint subcommittee members to a term of service of one-to-four years, 
with annual renewals, even if the member in question is already a 
member of the Board. Subcommittee members shall not serve more than two 
consecutive terms of service, unless authorized by the Secretary of 
Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
    Subcommittee members, if not full-time or permanent part-time 
federal employees, will be appointed as experts or consultants, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Sec.  3109, to serve as SGE members. Those 
individuals who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees 
shall be appointed to serve as RGE members, pursuant to 41 CFR Sec.  
102-3.130(a). All subcommittee members are appointed to provide advice 
for the Board's consideration to 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 the exception of 
reimbursement of official travel and per diem, subcommittee members 
shall serve without compensation.

[[Page 34500]]

    All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the 
Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and 
established DoD policies and procedures. The 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 DFO is required to be in attendance at all 
meetings of the Board and any subcommittees, for the entire duration of 
each and every meeting; however, in the absence of the DFO, a properly 
approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Board according to 
established DoD policies and procedures, shall attend the entire 
duration of all meetings of the Board or its subcommittees.
    The DFO or the Alternate DFO, shall call all meetings of the Board 
and its subcommittees; 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 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 the Board of Visitors for the Western Hemisphere 
Institute for Security Cooperation.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the DFO 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 DFO can be obtained from 
the GSA's FACA Database--http://www.facadatabase.gov/.
    The DFO, 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 DFO, 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: June 12, 2014.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2014-14149 Filed 6-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P