1. Committee’s Official Designation: The committee shall be known as the Department of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (DAF SAB). It was formerly known as the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.
2. Authority: The Secretary of Defense, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C., Appendix) and 41 C.F.R. §102-3.50(d), established this discretionary advisory committee.
3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: The DAF SAB shall provide independent advice and recommendations on matters supporting the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) scientific and technical enterprise, as set out in paragraph four below.
4. Description of Duties: The DAF SAB shall focus on a) conducting studies on topics deemed critical by the Secretary of the Air Force; b) recommending applications of technology to improve DAF capabilities; and c) providing independent reviews of the quality and relevance of the DAF science and technology (S&T) programs. All DAF SAB work, including subcommittee work, will be in response to written terms of references (ToR) approved by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense (“the DoD Appointing Authority”) or the Secretary of the Air Force unless otherwise provided for by statute or Presidential directive.

The DAF SAB is not established to advise on individual DoD procurements, but instead shall be concerned with the pressing and complex technological problems facing the DoD in such areas as research, engineering, organizational structure and process, business and functional concepts, and manufacturing, and will ensure the identification of new technologies and new applications of technology in those areas to strengthen national security. No matter shall be assigned to the DAF SAB for its consideration that would require any DAF SAB member to participate personally and substantially in any actions related to procurements or place him or her in the position of acting as a contracting or procurement official.

5. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The DAF SAB reports to the DoD Appointing Authority, through the Secretary of the Air Force, who may act upon the DAF SAB’s advice and recommendations in accordance with DoD policy and procedures.
6. Support: The DoD, through the Department of the Air Force, provides support for the DAF SAB’s functions and ensures compliance with the requirements of the FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act (“the Sunshine Act”) (5 U.S.C. § 552b), governing Federal statutes and regulations, and DoD policy and procedures.
7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The estimated annual operating cost for the DAF SAB, to include travel, meetings, federal and contract support, is approximately $840,622. The estimated annual personnel cost to the DoD is 1.4 full-time equivalents.
8. Designated Federal Officer: The DAF SAB’s Designated Federal Officer (DFO) shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD Federal civilian officer or employee, or active duty member of the Armed Forces, designated in accordance with DoD policy and procedures.

The DAF SAB’s DFO is required to attend all DAF SAB and subcommittee meetings for the entire duration of each meeting. However, in the absence of the DAF SAB’s DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, SAB in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, shall attend the entire duration of all DAF SAB and subcommittee meetings. The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, approves and calls all DAF SAB and subcommittee meetings; prepares and approves all meeting agendas; and adjourns any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public’s interest or required by governing regulations or DoD policy and procedures. 

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The DAF SAB shall meet at the call of the DAF SAB’s DFO, in consultation with the DAF SAB’s Chair and the Secretary of the Air Force. The estimated number of DAF SAB meetings is four per year.
10. Duration: The need for the DAF SAB is on a continuing basis; however, it is subject to renewal every two years.
11. Termination: The DAF SAB shall terminate upon completion of its mission or two years from the date this charter is filed, whichever is sooner, unless the DoD renews the DAF SAB in accordance with DoD policy and procedures.
12. Membership and Designation: The DAF SAB shall be composed of no more than 20 members, who are eminent authorities in the fields of science, technology, manufacturing, acquisition process, and other matters of special interest to the DAF. Membership will consist of talented private and public sector leaders with a diversity of background, experience, and thought in support of the DAF SAB mission).

The appointment of DAF SAB members shall be approved by the DoD Appointing Authority for a term of service of one-to-four years, with annual renewals, in accordance with DoD policy and procedures. DAF SAB members who are not full- time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 5U.S.C. § 3109 to serve as special government employee (SGE) members. DAF SAB members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be appointed pursuant to 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.130(a) to serve as regular government employee (RGE) members. No member, unless approved by the DoD Appointing Authority, may serve more than two consecutive terms of service on the DAF SAB, to include its subcommittees, or serve on more than two DoD Federal advisory committees at one time.

The DoD Appointing Authority shall appoint the DAF SAB’s leadership from among the membership previously approved to serve on the DAF SAB in accordance with DoD policy and procedures for a term of service of one-to-two years, with annual renewal, not to exceed the member’s approved appointment.

All members of the DAF SAB are appointed to exercise their own best judgment on behalf of the DoD, without representing any particular point of view, and to discuss and deliberate in a manner free from conflicts of interest. With the exception of reimbursement of official DAF SAB-related travel and per diem, DAF SAB members serve without compensation.

13. Subcommittees: The DoD, when necessary and consistent with the DAF SAB’s mission and DoD policy and procedures, may establish subcommittees, task forces, or working groups (“subcommittees”) to support the DAF SAB. Establishment of subcommittees shall be based upon a written determination, to include terms of reference (ToR), by the DoD Appointing Authority or the Secretary of the Air Force, as the DAF SAB’s DoD Sponsor. All subcommittees operate in accordance with the FACA, the Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and DoD policy and procedures. If a subcommittee’s duration, as determined by the ToR, exceeds that of the DAF SAB and the DoD does not renew the DAF SAB, then the subcommittee shall terminate when the DAF SAB does.

Subcommittees shall not work independently of the DAF SAB and shall report all their recommendations and advice solely to the DAF SAB for its thorough deliberation and discussion at a publicly noticed and open DAF SAB meeting, subject to the Sunshine Act. Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions and recommendations, orally or in writing, on behalf of the DAF SAB. Neither the subcommittee nor any of its members may provide updates or report directly to the DoD or any Federal officer or employee, whether orally or in writing. If a majority of DAF SAB members are appointed to a particular subcommittee, then that subcommittee may be required to operate pursuant to the same notice and openness requirements of FACA which govern the DAF SAB’s operations.

An appointment to a subcommittee is separate and distinct from an appointment to serve as a member of the DAF SAB. Each subcommittee member is appointed to exercise his or her own best judgment on behalf of the DoD, without representing any particular point of view, and to discuss and deliberate in a manner that is free from conflict of interest. With the exception of reimbursement of official DAF SAB- and subcommittee-related travel and per diem, subcommittee members serve without compensation.

Individual appointments to serve on DAF SAB subcommittees shall be approved by the DoD Appointing Authority for a term of service of one-to-four years, with annual renewals, in accordance with DoD policy and procedures. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms of service on the subcommittee, unless approved by the DoD Appointing Authority. Subcommittee members who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active-duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 3109 to serve as SGE members. Subcommittee members who are full- time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be appointed pursuant to 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.130(a) to serve as RGE members.

The DoD Appointing Authority shall appoint subcommittee leadership from among the membership previously approved to serve on the subcommittee in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, for a term of service of one-to-two years, with annual renewal, not to exceed the member’s approved appointment.

The Secretary of the Air Force has established five permanent subcommittees. While the number of individuals appointed to each subcommittee may vary as determined by the DoD Appointing Authority, no individual subcommittee shall have more than 15 members, unless otherwise provided for in writing by the DoD Appointing Authority. Each subcommittee, when tasked in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, will provide its findings and recommendations to, and for consideration by, the DAF SAB on the subject matters described below:

1. Aeronautical Capabilities and Operations Subcommittee: This subcommittee, when tasked in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, shall address issues and provide advice and recommendations for the DAF SAB’s consideration on aeronautical capabilities and operations most relevant to the DAF. Individuals appointed to this subcommittee shall be nationally recognized experts in the areas of aeronautical technologies related to aeronautical capabilities and operations.
2. Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Subcommittee: This subcommittee, when tasked in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, shall address issues and provide advice and recommendations for the DAF SAB’s consideration on matters related to command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities most relevant to the Air Force. Individuals appointed to this subcommittee shall be nationally recognized experts in C4ISR, cloud computing and networking, software development and deployment, electronic warfare, satellite communications, sensing, AI/machine learning, cybersecurity, and related technologies.
3. Commercial Technology Trends and Opportunities Subcommittee: This subcommittee, when tasked in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, shall address issues and provide advice and recommendations for the DAF SAB’s consideration on matters relating to commercial technology trends and opportunities to leverage the counsel of private sector commercial technology industry leaders who can assist the DAF in the incorporation of these relevant commercial trends and opportunities. Individuals appointed to this subcommittee shall be nationally recognized leaders from the commercial technology industry.
4. Emerging Science Subcommittee: This subcommittee, when tasked in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, shall address issues and provide advice and recommendations for the DAF SAB’s consideration on matters relating to basic and emerging sciences most relevant to the DAF. Individuals appointed to this subcommittee shall be recognized experts in areas including physics, materials and manufacturing science, mathematics, human performance science, biology, medical sciences, electronics, electromagnetics, sensing, munitions, propulsion, directed energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
5. Space Capabilities and Operations Subcommittee: This subcommittee, when tasked in accordance with DoD policy and procedures, shall address issues and provide advice and recommendations for the DAF SAB’s consideration on matters relating to space capabilities and space operations. Individuals appointed to this subcommittee shall be nationally recognized experts in the areas of space capabilities and operations.

    

14. Recordkeeping: The records of the DAF SAB and its subcommittees will be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, Federal Advisory Committee Records or other approved agency records disposition schedule, and the appropriate DoD policy and procedures. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552).
15. Filing Date: May 20, 2022
16. ​Amendment Date: February 23, 2022