FACACLASSIC

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DOD - 398 - Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy	Agency Name	Department of Defense
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	398
Original Establishment Date	8/10/1956	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.usafa.edu/about/bov/
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	Yes
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	17
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	11/8/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Raquel
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/8/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	L
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Rimpola
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	10 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 9455 rescission	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(703) 693-2767
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(703) 693-2767
Specific Establishment Authority*	10 U.S.C. § 9455	Designated Federal Officer Email*	raquel.rimpola@us.af.mil
Effective Date Of Authority*	8/10/1956
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Board of Visitors (BoV) business is primarily accomplished via visits to the Academy to observe training and receive updates on USAFA affairs but also may occur via meetings at other locations or virtually. The USAFA BoV makes recommendations directly to the USAFA Superintendent in order to address complex issues necessary to improve the operation of the Academy. In addition, the semi-annual report of USAFA BoV findings and recommendations is submitted concurrently to the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Air Force, and to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
How is membership balanced?*	The USAFA BoV membership is appointed by the President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chairmen of the Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee. The USAFA BoV is composed of members of the Senate and House of Representatives and presidentially appointed U.S. citizens. It is bipartisan. Each USAFA BoV member, based upon his or her own individual expertise, exercises his or her own judgment concerning matters before the USAFA BoV, does not represent any particular point of view, and discusses and deliberates in a manner that is free from conflicts of interest. The USAFA BoV function is one of gathering information as to the Academy's programs, discipline, curriculum, morale, and facilities.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	USAFA BoV meetings are typically held at least twice annually with one meeting being at the USAFA, as required per statute. USAFA BoV relevance has been demonstrated through numerous program changes effected by USAFA BoV recommendations. Examples include increased emphasis on airmanship and developmental programs, the profession of arms, performance measurement and assessment practices, and increased support for infrastructure/facilities requirements. USAFA BoV members bring varied perspectives and valuable insights to the Academy by virtue of their stature as prominent Americans, and as civilian and military leaders of the nation.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Federal statute (10 U.S.C. § 9455) required the Secretary of Defense to establish the committee.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Meetings are not closed to the public unless the DoD determines that items on the planned agenda meet the closed meeting provisions of 5 U.S.C.§ 552b(c). Pursuant to DoD policy, closed meetings can only be authorized by the DoD Sponsor, the Secretary of the Air Force, or designee, and only after consultation with the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force General Counsel.
Recommendation Remarks	The USAFA BoV met twice in FY25. New members were added as well as re-appointments rendered. The membership reflects current updates to 10 U.S.C. § 9455 and implements presidentially mandated legislative proposal related to presidential appointees to the USAFA BoV.

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	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	Yes
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	In all the areas identified, the USAFA BoV remains in constant contact, is provided access for information gathering and sensing sessions, and works with various experts across the spectrum to discuss and review viable courses of action and provide independent advice and recommendations on matters relating, but not limited to, morale, discipline, social climate, curriculum, instruction, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and strategic communication to enhance USAFA programs. USAFA BoV action has influenced the inclusion of USAFA instructor copyright legislation into the draft FY25 National Defense Authorization Act. Moreover, the USAFA BoV is advising the Academy on character, culture, and climate; curriculum; and resources, which have positively influenced Academy strategic priorities and measures of effectiveness.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The USAFA BoV has embraced its role as an advisory structure and serves to ensure that all aspects of the Academy are reinvigorated, to include: Air and Space mindedness, curriculum, resources requirements, the admissions process, and increased cadet 4-class system. The USAFA BoV has been discussing all the areas identified and has been aggressively taking action to address them.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	None	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The USAFA BoV was established to provide advice and recommendations on the academic programs at USAFA to better improve the efficacy of operations at the Academy. Cost savings is not a primary objective for the USAFA BoV; instead, the focus is on enabling improved education for the both the Department of the Air Force and DoD. Cost savings is difficult to identify and quantify in costs; however, more efficient and effective USAFA operations may realize cost avoidance or savings.	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	17	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	23 October 2024 Committee Meeting: Six action items were carried into the meeting, zero were closed, and no new action items were opened. The recommendations were categorized into three criteria: Character, Climate, and Culture; Curriculum; and Resources. a. Character, Climate, and Culture 1. Develop a comprehensive prevention strategy rooted in a social-ecological framework, focusing on both general and Academy-specific risk and protective factors, to more effectively address harmful behaviors at USAFA. 2. Identify knowledge gaps requiring institutional-level research, such as research supporting Academy-specific protective factors and risk factors like perpetrator characteristics and patterns of behavior. 3. Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and accountability for leadership positions at all levels, including the cadet chain of command, permanent party, and headquarters, are essential. 4. Optimize the content, dosage, and delivery of prevention and response training, ensuring it is customized to the cadet population. To enhance the effectiveness of prevention programs and interventions, interpersonal and self-directed violence prevention training for cadets should be more relevant, engaging, and tailored to their developmental stage and needs. 5. Implement community-level prevention strategies that address unique risk and protective factors, such as promoting healthy social norms and creating protective environments. 6. Continue to invest in character development initiatives for all four classes, including those led by the Center for Character and Leadership Development (e.g., the National Character and Leadership Symposium) and research-based, cadet-led initiatives. 7. The Independent Review Commission Report on Sexual Assault in the Military (https://bit.ly/3zeuans) should be mandatory reading for cadets and permanent party personnel. b. Curriculum 1. Continue to develop and adapt curriculum to reflect the “Warfighter to Win” priority and provide progress updates on how the USAFA BoV can best support. 2. Continue to ensure the Wicked Problem Capstone Course encourages cadets to think critically about emerging threats and innovative counters to those threats. 3. Include cadets in efforts to craft solutions to defined problems aligned with the Let’s Be Clear initiative. 4. Establish training outcomes for all classes that ensure the comprehensive and individualized professional development of cadets throughout their four-year USAFA experience. 5. Conduct an annual review of education and training outcomes for each class as well as the effectiveness of training modalities to ensure they are sufficient to achieve USAFA and Department of the Air Force accession priorities. c. Resources 1. Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of USAFA’s long-term resource requirements to include the policy and processes by which Academy programs, operations, and capital investments are established, prioritized, and programmed in the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). 2. Fully fund USAFA across the FYDP to ensure leaders at the Academy can build a proactive plan to address key initiatives. Waiting until the year of execution to pay “must pay” bills is a recipe for failure. 3. The Department of the Air Force ensure priority resourcing and support for prevention and response programs, including dedicated prevention personnel and research-backed interventions supporting the strategy to reduce and prevent harmful behaviors. 4. Continue to leverage recent graduates and partner with other service Academy admissions programs, Academy Liaison Officers, Congressional staff, and alumni to support recruitment efforts in districts with few to no applicants or nominations. 5. In the upcoming year, the USAFA BoV will continue to prioritize and support resourcing plans for USAFA's high-priority projects, leveraging public/private partnerships and other funding sources.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	76.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	USAFA BoV participation in these issues has been crucial to their subsequent adoption. The ability to fully assess a percentage implementation across the life of the committee remains challenging as some recommendations either crosscut to other areas (i.e., budget or appropriations) or have enduring aspects that may cross annual reporting.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	12.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The USAFA BoV Chairman has refocused the committee's priorities in coordination with the SecAF, USAFA Superintendent, and USAFA BoV members. Recommendations will continue to be fully documented in the minutes and tracked to completion. The USAFA BoV Chairman regularly engages with the Secretary of the Air Force to discuss the USAFA BoV's current priorities: 1) Character, Climate & Culture, 2) Curriculum, and 3) Resources.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Secretary of the Air Force supplies feedback directly to the USAFA BoV. Additionally, close working relationships between the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Designated Federal Officer/Executive Secretary, USAFA, and the USAFA BoV Chairman facilitate rapid and regular feedback. Additionally, the Department of the Air Force Directorate of Legislative Liaison works tirelessly with the Congressional members of the USAFA BoV to ensure feedback is continual.	Narrative Description*	The USAFA BoV provides advice through the Secretary of the Air Force to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services for the House of Representatives and the Senate. The USAFA BoV's advisory role includes the morale, discipline, social climate, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the Academy the USAFA BoV decides to consider.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	8/15/2025 2:35 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Aviation Aviation Computer Technology Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Education Education Schools and Academic Institutions Training Legislation Legislation Regulations National Defense National Security and Defense Space Space and Aeronautics

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