### SUBCHAPTER III—RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND FACILITIES

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1701(u)(3)(A), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2152, amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1842(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4244, which added this chapter, by adding subchapter heading. Heading was editorially conformed to the style used in this title.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Laboratory Quality Enhancement Program

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title II, §211, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2046, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title II, §218(a), (b)(1), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1329, 1330; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, §215(d)(6), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1594, provided that:

"(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall carry out a program to be known as the 'Laboratory Quality Enhancement Program' under which the Secretary shall establish the panels described in subsection (b) and direct such panels—

"(1) to review and make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to—

"(A) existing policies and practices affecting the science and technology reinvention laboratories to improve the mission effectiveness of such laboratories;

"(B) new initiatives proposed by the science and technology reinvention laboratories; and

"(C) new interpretations of existing statutes and regulations that would enhance the ability of a director of a science and technology reinvention laboratory to manage the facility and discharge the mission of the laboratory;

"(2) to support implementation of current and future initiatives affecting the science and technology reinvention laboratories; and

"(3) to conduct assessments or data analysis on such other issues as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

"(b) Panels.—The panels described in this subsection are:

"(1) A panel on personnel, workforce development, and talent management.

"(2) A panel on facilities, equipment, and infrastructure.

"(3) A panel on research strategy, technology transfer, and industry and university partnerships.

"(4) A panel on governance and oversight processes.

"(c) Composition of Panels.—(1) Each panel described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (b) may be composed of subject matter and technical management experts from—

"(A) laboratories and research centers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force;

"(B) appropriate Defense Agencies;

"(C) the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; and

"(D) such other entities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

"(2) The panel described in subsection (b)(4) shall be composed of—

"(A) the Director of the Army Research Laboratory;

"(B) the Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory;

"(C) the Director of the Naval Research Laboratory;

"(D) the Director of the Engineer Research and Development Center of the Army Corps of Engineers; and

"(E) such other members as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

"(d) Governance of Panels.—(1) The chairperson of each panel shall be selected by its members.

"(2) Each panel, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall transmit to the Science and Technology Executive Committee of the Department of Defense such information or findings on topics requiring decision or approval as the panel considers appropriate.

"(3)(A) Each panel described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (b) shall submit to the panel described in paragraph (4) of such subsection (relating to governance and oversight processes) the following:

"(i) The findings of the panel with respect to the review conducted by the panel under subsection (a)(1)(C).

"(ii) The recommendations made by the panel under such subsection.

"(iii) Such comments, findings, and recommendations as the panel may have received by a science and technology reinvention laboratory with respect to—

"(I) the review conducted by the panel under such subsection; or

"(II) recommendations made by the panel under such subsection.

"(B)(i) The panel described in subsection (b)(4) shall review and refashion such recommendations as the panel may receive under subparagraph (A).

"(ii) In reviewing and refashioning recommendations under clause (i), the panel may, as the panel considers appropriate, consult with the science and technology executive of the affected service.

"(C) The panel described in subsection (b)(4) shall submit to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering the recommendations made by the panel under subsection (a)(1)(C) and the recommendations refashioned by the panel under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.

"(e) Interpretation of Provisions of Law.—(1) The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, acting under the guidance of the Secretary, shall issue regulations regarding the meaning, scope, implementation, and applicability of any provision of a statute relating to a science and technology reinvention laboratory.

"(2) In interpreting or defining under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall, to the degree practicable, emphasize providing the maximum operational flexibility to the directors of the science and technology reinvention laboratories to discharge the missions of their laboratories.

"(3) In interpreting or defining under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consult and coordinate with the secretaries of the military departments and such other agencies or entities as the Under Secretary considers relevant, on any proposed revision to regulations under paragraph (1).

"(4) In interpreting or defining under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall seek recommendations from the panel described in subsection (b)(4).

"(f) Discharge of Certain Authorities to Conduct Personnel Demonstration Projects.—[Amended section 342(b) of Pub. L. 103–337, formerly set out as a note under section 2358 of this title.]

"(g) Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory Defined.—In this section, the term 'science and technology reinvention laboratory' means a science and technology reinvention laboratory designated under section 4121(b)of title 10, United States Code."

#### Defense Laboratory Modernization Pilot Program

Pub. L. 114–92, div. B, title XXVIII, §2803, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1169, as amended by Pub. L. 114–328, div. B, title XXVIII, §2806, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2715; Pub. L. 115–232, div. B, title XXVIII, §2808(a)–(c), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2265, 2266; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, §215(d)(4), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1594, which authorized using amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense for research, development, test, and evaluation, to fund certain military construction projects, was repealed by Pub. L. 117–263, div. B, title XXVIII, §2803(c), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2994. See section 2805(g) of this title.