Codification of Department of Defense Science, Technology, and Innovation Board

Subchapter I of chapter 303 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 4068. Department of Defense Science, Technology, and Innovation Board (a) Advisory board established The Secretary of Defense shall, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, establish and maintain a Science, Technology, and Innovation Board (in this section referred to as the Board) for the purposes set forth in subsection (b). (b) Purpose (1) In general The purpose of the Board is to advise, in response to taskings, the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the other Under Secretaries of the Department of Defense on matters relating to science, technology, research, engineering, manufacturing, acquisition process, and other matters that are of special interest to the Department of Defense. (2) Matters of concern to the Board; identification of technologies The Board shall— (A) be concerned with the pressing and complex technology problems facing the Department of Defense in such areas as research, engineering, and manufacturing; and (B) ensure the identification of new technologies and new applications of technology in those areas to strengthen national security. (c) Charter The Board shall maintain a public charter describing its functions, which shall be updated periodically as the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering considers necessary. (d) Agency providing support; staff (1) In general The Board shall report to the Secretary of Defense through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. (2) Executive Director and support staff The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall provide the Board with an Executive Director and the necessary support staff to manage the day-to-day operations of the Board and its ad hoc task forces. (3) Compliance officer The Board shall have a designated Federal officer to ensure compliance of the Board with all Department of Defense policies and procedures and relevant Federal regulations. (4) Detailees and liaisons The Board may accept detailees from the military departments or components of the Department of Defense to serve as Armed Forces liaisons to the Board and support Board activities. (e) Membership (1) Composition The Board shall be composed of not more than 50 members as full board members, who shall be eminent authorities in the fields of science, technology, innovation, and other matters germane to scientific, technological, and innovation topics of special interest to the Department of Defense. (2) Terms (A) The appointment of Board members shall be approved by the Department of Defense Appointing Authority for a term of service of one to four years, with annual renewals, in accordance with Department of Defense policy and procedures. (B) No member, unless approved by the Department of Defense Appointing Authority, may serve more than two consecutive terms of service on the Board, including its subcommittees, unless a waiver is approved by the Under Secretary. (3) Leadership The Department of Defense Appointing Authority shall appoint the leadership of the Board from among the members of the Board, in accordance with Department of Defense policy and procedures, for a term of service of one to two years, with annual renewal, which shall not exceed the term of a member's appointment to the Board. (4) Compensation of members Except for reimbursement for official Board-related travel and per diem, members of the Board members shall serve without compensation. (f) Subcommittees, task forces, panels, or working groups (1) In general (A) When necessary and consistent with the Board’s mission, the Board may establish subcommittees, task forces, panels, or working groups (hereafter referred to as subcommittees) to support Board activities. (B) The establishment of subcommittees shall be based upon a written determination, which shall include terms of reference, by the Department of Defense Appointing Authority or the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, as the Board’s sponsor. (2) FACA and compliance All subcommittees operate in accordance with chapter 10 of title 5 (commonly known as the Federal Advisory Committee Act), governing Federal statutes and regulations, and Department of Defense policy and procedures. (3) Operations (A) A subcommittee shall not work independently of the Board and shall report all of its recommendations and advice solely to the Board for its thorough deliberation and discussion at a properly noticed and open Board meeting, unless the meeting must be closed in accordance with one or more of the exemptions found in section 552b of title 5. (B) A subcommittee has no authority to make decisions and recommendations, orally or in writing, on behalf of the Board. (4) Appointment to subcommittees Individual appointments to serve on subcommittees, which are separate and distinct from appointments to the Board itself, shall be approved by the Department of Defense Appointing Authority for a term of service of one to four years, with annual renewals, in accordance with Department of Defense policy and procedures. (g) Frequency of meetings The Board shall meet not less frequently than four times each year on a quarterly basis to update the Secretary and senior leadership on the activities of the Board..