Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 178 / Friday, September 17, 2021 / Notices 51967 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Solicitation of Nominations for 

Appointment to the Research Advisory 

Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ 

Illnesses 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice of nominations for 

appointment to the Research Advisory 

Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ 

Illnesses. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) is seeking nominations of 

qualified candidates to be considered 

for appointment to the Research 

Advisory Committee on Gulf War 

Veterans’ Illnesses (RACGWVI) 

(hereinafter in this section referred to as 

‘‘the Committee’’). 

DATES: Nominations for membership on 

the Committee must be received no later 

than 5:00 p.m. EST on November 15, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be 

emailed to varacgwvi@va.gov. Please 

write Nomination for RACGWVI 

Membership in the subject line. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Karen Block, Designated Federal Officer, 

Gulf War Research Program, VA Office 

of Research and Development, 202–443– 

5791 or at Karen.Block@va.gov. A copy 

of the Committee charter and list of the 

current membership can also be 

obtained by contacting Dr. Block. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf 

War Veterans’ Illnesses was established 

to provide advice and make 

recommendations to the Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs on proposed research 

studies, plans and strategies related to 

understanding and treating the health 

consequences of military service in the 

Southwest Asia theater of operations 

during the 1990–91 Gulf War 

(Operations Desert Shield and Desert 

Storm). 

Membership Criteria and 

Qualifications: VHA is requesting 

nominations for upcoming vacancies on 

the Committee. The Committee is 

comprised of approximately 12 

members. Several members may be 

regular Government employees, but the 

majority of the Committee’s 

membership shall consist of nonFederal employees, appointed by the 

Secretary from the general public, 

serving as Special Government 

employees. 

The expertise required of Committee 

membership includes, but is not limited 

to: 

a. Gulf War Veterans; 

b. Representatives of such Veterans; 

and 

c. Members of the medical and 

scientific communities representing 

appropriate disciplines such as, but not 

limited to, epidemiology, immunology, 

environmental health, neurology and 

toxicology. 

Membership Requirements: The 

Committee meets at least once and up 

to three times annually. Individuals 

selected for appointment to the 

Committee shall be invited to serve a 

two to three-year term. The Secretary 

may reappoint Committee members for 

an additional term of service. 

Committee members will receive per 

diem and reimbursement for eligible 

travel expenses incurred. Selfnominations and nominations of nonVeterans will be accepted. Any letters of 

nomination from organizations or other 

individuals should accompany the 

package when it is submitted. 

To the extent possible, the Secretary 

seeks members who have diverse 

professional and personal qualifications 

including but not limited to subject 

matter experts in the areas described 

above. We ask that nominations include 

any relevant experience information so 

that VA can ensure diverse Committee 

membership. 

Requirements for Nomination 

Submission: Nominations must be typed 

(12-point font) and include: 

(1) A letter of nomination that clearly 

states the name and affiliation of the 

nominee, the basis for the nomination 

(i.e., specific attributes which qualify 

the nominee for service in this 

capacity), and a statement from the 

nominee indicating that he/she is a U.S. 

citizen and is willing to serve as a 

member of the Committee; 

(2) The nominee’s contact 

information, including name, mailing 

address, telephone numbers, and email 

address; 

(3) The nominee’s resume or 

curriculum vitae that is no more than 

three pages in length. The resume 

should show professional work 

experience, and Veterans service 

involvement, especially service that 

involves Gulf War Veterans’ issues; and 

(4) A one-page cover letter. The cover 

letter must summarize: 

a. The nominee’s interest in serving 

on the committee and contributions she/ 

he can make to the work of the 

committee; 

b. any relevant Veterans service 

activities she/he is currently engaged in; 

c. the military branch affiliations and 

timeframe of military service (if 

applicable); 

d. information about the nominee’s 

personal and professional qualifications 

and background that would give her/ 

him a diverse perspective on Gulf War 

Veterans’ matters; and 

e. a statement confirming that she/he 

is not a Federally registered lobbyist. 

The Department makes every effort to 

ensure that the membership of VA 

Federal advisory committees are diverse 

in terms of points of view represented 

and the committee’s capabilities. 

Appointments to this Committee shall 

be made without discrimination because 

of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, 

sexual orientation, gender identity, 

national origin, age, disability, or 

genetic information. Nominations must 

state that the nominee is willing to serve 

as a member of the Committee and 

appears to have no conflict of interest 

that would preclude membership. 

The Committee is authorized by 

Public Law 105–368 § 104, and operates 

under the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. 

Dated: September 13, 2021. 

LaTonya L. Small, 

Federal Advisory Committee Management 

Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20077 Filed 9–16–21; 8:45 am] 

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