FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOD - 414 - Defense Science Board - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Defense Science Board	Agency Name	Department of Defense
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	414
Original Establishment Date	12/31/1956	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://dsb.cto.mil/
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	40
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Executive Director
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	5/6/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Elizabeth
Date Of Renewal Charter	5/6/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	J.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Kowalski
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(703) 571-0079
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(703) 697-1860
Specific Establishment Authority*	Secretary of Defense Determination	Designated Federal Officer Email*	elizabeth.j.kowalski.civ@mail.mil
Effective Date Of Authority*	6/26/1978
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Defense Science Board (DSB) advises the Secretary and/or the Deputy Secretary of Defense, through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, on scientific, technical, manufacturing, acquisition process, and other matters of special interest to the Department of Defense (DoD). The DSB directly supports the National Defense Strategy and the Secretary's top priorities by conducting studies, directed via approved terms of reference. Through discussion and deliberation, the DSB provides independent advice and recommendations in the form of briefings and reports.
How is membership balanced?*	The DSB, composed of members designated from civilian life by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, makes recommendations on issues in areas such as science, technology, manufacturing, and matters of special interest to the DoD. The Board is composed of a balanced group of senior appointees representing a broad spectrum of the industrial, manufacturing, academic, and scientific communities who are recognized authorities in their fields of expertise. The Board consists of a core membership of 40 members augmented by ad hoc consultants who serve as special government employees on designated Task Forces.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The full Board meets approximately four times per year, in addition to meeting for Summer Study meetings. The majority of in-depth investigation is accomplished by DSB Task Forces, Permanent Subcommittees, and Summer Studies, which usually meet once a month to accumulate data for the final report. The Task Forces, Subcommittees, and Summer Studies are chartered by terms of reference issued by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Secretary of Defense determined that the independent advice on broad scientific and technical issues provided by the Board cannot be obtained from any other DoD advisory committee due to the unique and valuable talent, skills, and expertise of the members.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Meetings are not closed to the public unless the DoD determines the items on the planned agenda meet the closed-meeting provisions of Title 5, United States Code, Section 552b(c). Pursuant to DoD policy, closed meetings can only be authorized by the DoD Sponsor, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and only after consultation with the Office of the DoD General Counsel.
Recommendation Remarks	The following data was not reported in the FY24 Annual Comprehensive Review (ACR): Task Force on Balancing Openness and Security Across the DoD Academic Research Enterprise subcommittee completed work/activities 6/15/2023. John Harvey, member, Permanent Subcommittee on Nuclear Weapons Surety, appointment end date 8/27/2024. Charles McMillan, member, Permanent Subcommittee on Nuclear Weapons Surety, appointment end date 9/6/2024. Task Force on 21st Century Industrial Base for National Defense Subcommittee, completed work/activities 9/11/2024. Task Force on Commercial Space System Access and Integrity Subcommittee completed work/activities 5/1/2024. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 5/1/2024: Mandy Vaughn; Bradford Tousley; Ellen Pawlikowski; Dhanurjay Patil; John Parker; Daniel Hastings; Laetitia de Cayeux; James Carlini; Alison Brown; David Brenizer; Kari Bingen; Michael Appelbaum. Task Force on Department of Defense Dependencies on Critical Infrastructure Subcommittee completed work/activities 12/11/2023. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 12/11/2023: David McRee; Paul Welch; James Tegnelia; James Shields; Erik Limpaecher; Paul Kern; Huban Gowadia. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 4/2/2024: Kevin Doxey; Judith Miller; Kathryn Condello. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 5/10/2024: Robert Butler; Guy Beougher. Task Force on Future Cyber Warfighting Capabilities of the Department of Defense Subcommittee, completed work/activities 3/13/2024. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 5/7/2024: Robert Giesler; Christopher Day; Timothy White; Mark Russell; David Ross; Charles Moore; Arthur Money; Richard Ledgett; Samuel Kinch; Melissa Hathaway; Priscilla Guthrie; Glenn Gaffney; Donald Duncan; Robert Butler. Task Force on Position, Navigation, and Timing Control Subcommittee completed work/activities 10/31/2023. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 10/31/2023: Scott Stadler; Edward Powers; Anthony Kourepenis; George Klaus; Brent Grime; Willem de Vries; David Brenizer; John Betz. Task Force on Secure Electronic Processing Subcommittee completed work/activities 4/1/2024. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 10/31/2023: Peter Verga; Robert Wisnieff; William Schneider; Sanjay Raman; John Manferdelli; Paul Kaminski; Robert Grossman; Eric Evans. Task Force on Strategic Options Subcommittee, disestablished and converted into Permanent Subcommittee on Strategic Options on 10/5/2023, completed work/activities 11/8/2023. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 11/8/2023: David Whelan; William Schneider; Mark Russell; James Miller; John Manferdelli; Ronald Kerber; James Carlini. Task Force on Test and Evaluation Subcommittee completed work/activities 4/2/2024. The following subcommittee members' appointment end date was 4/2/2024: Heidi Perry; Stephen Lewia; Edward Greer; Panos Datskos. Task Force to Advise Implementation and Prioritization of National Security Innovation Activities Subcommittee completed work/activities 2/6/2024. The following subcommittee member's appointment end date was 4/2/2024: Michael Bayer.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	DSB recommendations often deal with new concepts and capabilites. Quite often, after additional study, DoD attempts to incorporate those concepts and capabilites that it finds relevant to its mission. Interest in previous studies remains strong.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The total savings is impossible to determine due to the complex mix of savings, cost avoidance, and increased capability.	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	2,349	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The DSB existed before FACA. The total number of recommendations since 1956 is approximate. In FY25 the DSB issued 196 recommendations. 2024 Summer Study on Advanced Capabilities for Potential Future Conflict: 38 recommendations Priority Focus Areas for National Defense 2025 to 2035: 117 recommendations Commercial Provision of Navigation Signals for Operational Use: 3 recommendations 21st Century Industrial Base for National Defense: 13 recommendations Emerging Biotechnologies and National Security: 16 recommendations Balancing Security, Reliability, and Technological Advantage in Generative Artificial Intelligence: 9 recommendations	Access Agency Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	45.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The DSB has been providing recommendations since 1956. DSB recommendations often deal with new concepts and capabilities. Quite often, after additional study, DoD attempts to incorporate those concepts and capabilities that it finds relevant into its mission. Interest in previous studies remains strong.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	30.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The DSB has been providing recommendations since 1956. Recommendations influence the Department and some are still under deliberation. DSB recommendations often deal with new concepts and capabilities. Quite often, after additional study, DoD attempts to incorporate those concepts and capabilities that it finds relevant to its mission. Interest in previous studies remains strong.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	The DSB requests comment from interested parties when issuing a report. Comments are published when received. The public can obtain information on Agency feedback in the posted unclassified meeting minutes for the Board.	Narrative Description*	The DSB advises the Secretary and/or the Deputy Secretary of Defense, through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, on scientific, technical, manufacturing, acquisition process, and other matters of special interest to the DoD.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$359,387.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$359,387.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$104,498.41	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$200,000.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$19,709.02	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$30,000.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$4,525.90	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$62,000.00
10. Other Costs	$2,174,430.05	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$6,000,000.00
11. Total Costs	$2,662,550.38	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$6,651,387.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/19/2025 3:32 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	2.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	2.00	Est Cost Remarks	Costs/estimated costs fluctuate depending on the number of studies directed to the DSB each FY.
Cost Remarks	"Contract Committee Staff Support" is the total expenditures for FY25 operating under a stop-work order from March 14, 2025 to the end of the FY. FY25 expenditures are lower than forecasted in the FY24 ACR estimates due to review of DoD advisory committees and direction to pause activities and cease expenditure of funds.

Interest Areas

Category Area Applied Science Applied Sciences Engineering Aviation Aviation Basic Science Basic Sciences Biology Chemistry Materials Research Microbiology Physics Business Industry Manufacturing Computer Technology Technology Applications Computers Information Technology Internet Semiconductors Systems Engineering Data Data Integrity Data Quality Education Education Emergency Disaster Assistance Energy Energy Nuclear Power Environment Environmental Issues Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences Food and Drugs Biotechnology Government Federal Government Health Biodefense Radiation Protection Safety International International Organizations Labor Employment National Defense National Security and Defense Overseas Security Issues Research Basic Research Research and Development Science and Technology Innovation Science and Technology Space Space and Aeronautics Trade Exports and Imports

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