AN I N T RO DU CTI ON

February 23, 2023
WHAT IS THE USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP (UAG)?

• The Users’ Advisory Group (UAG) is a Federal Advisory Committee governed by the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA)

• Intended to be industry and other non-Federal stakeholders’ voice to the NSpC

• Tasked with advising the NSpC with any and all space policy issues relevant to these stakeholders

• Charter last signed December 3, 2021, and runs for two years unless renewed. It established six new 

subcommittees:

• Exploration & Discovery

• Economic Development & Industrial Base

• Climate & Societal Benefits

• STEM Education, Diversity & Inclusion 

• Data & Emerging Technology

• National Security

• On September 8, 2022, General Lester L. Lyles (USAF, ret.) appointed Chair

• On December 16, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris, Chair of the NSpC, announced the 

individuals selected to serve on the UAG 

• February 23: 1st UAG meeting under new administration, 6th public meeting since 2017 
USERS’ ADVISORY GROUP CHARTER: 

Scope

• Scope: Provide advice and recommendations to the NSpC on matters related to space policy and 

strategy, including Government policies, laws, regulations, treaties, international instruments, 

programs, and practices across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors

• Function: Ensure that the interests of industry and other non-Federal entities involved in space 

activities, in particular commercial entities, are adequately represented in the NSpC 

• The UAG shall provide advice and recommendations on matters including, but not limited to:

• Strengthening U.S. leadership in space exploration

• Advancing norms of responsible behavior in space

• Safeguarding national security 

• Emphasizing cyber security 

• Addressing climate change and improving life on Earth 

• Promoting a globally competitive commercial space sector and regional economic development

• Encouraging international cooperation

• Removing systematic barriers and advancing equity for traditionally underserved communities 

• Building diverse space workforce for the future

• Promoting science, technology, engineering, and math opportunities for underserved students and 

professionals
UAG ORGANIZATION

(as of Feb. 2023)

Kate Marvel (Chair)

Nancy Colleton

Dave Kaufman

Patrick Lin

Robbie Schingler

Sian Proctor

Jeremy Williams

Misty Finical (DFO)

Eric Fanning (Chair)

Karina Drees

Bridget Chatman

Dawne Hickton

Dan Jablonsky

Dave Kaufman

Ron Lopez

Roosevelt 'Ted' Mercer

Melanie Stricklan

RJ Balanga (DFO)

Lance Bush (Chair)

Charlie Bolden

Tory Bruno

Theodore 'Ted' Colbert

Karina Drees

Gwynne Shotwell

Robert Smith

James Taiclet

Kathy Warden

Ben Ashman (DFO)

Dan Hastings (Chair)

Rajeev Badyal

Bridget Chatman

Nancy Colleton

Dan Jablonsky

Kate Marvel

Marla Perez-Davis

Robbie Schingler

Jeremy Williams

Cody Kelly (DFO)

Mandy Vaughn (Chair)

Lance Bush

Bridget Chatman

Marla Perez-Davis

Harold Lee Martin

Sian Proctor

Katrina Williams

Barbara Adde (DFO)

Exploration and 

Discovery

Economic 

Development and 

Industrial Base

Climate and 

Societal Benefits

Data and Emerging 

Technology

STEM Education, 

Diversity & Inclusion 

and Outreach

National 

Security

Lester Lyles (Chair)

Roosevelt 'Ted' Mercer

Charlie Bolden 

Tory Bruno

Eric Fanning

Theodore 'Ted' Colbert

Dave Kaufman

Patrick Lin

Ron Lopez

Robbie Schingler

Gwynne Shotwell

Bob Smith

James Taiclet

Mandy Vaughn

Kathy Warden

Barbara Adde (DFO)

UAG Executive Committee

Lester Lyles (UAG Chair)

Lance Bush

Eric Fanning

Kate Marvel

Dan Hastings

Mandy Vaughn

James. J. Miller (UAG Executive 

Secretary & DFO)

Barbara Adde (Deputy Executive 

Secretary)
UAG SUBCOMMITTEE FOCUS AREAS

• Exploration & Discovery

• Focus on review of the current Artemis program architecture & planning for any proposed changes 

• Examine cooperation and leverage of the various Space sectors in the Artemis program to enhance Jobs & the Economy

• Economic Development & Industrial Base

• Assess success in the broad outreach of the Space Enterprise to the full capacity of U.S. industrial base

• Climate & Societal Benefits

• Focus on assessing the role & opportunities for the Space Enterprise in addressing Climate Change and other Societal issues

• Data & Emerging Technology

• Ensure that Science is not a secondary objective of the Space Exploration program

• Examine the application of emerging technologies to the Space Enterprise

• STEM Education, Diversity & Inclusion and Outreach

• Focus on ensuring broad outreach and involvement of all Americans and all educational sectors - esp. HBCUs, MSIs, HSIs 

• Emphasis also on STEM, and Workforce Development, including the Skilled Technical Workforce

• National Security

• Focus on support to the National Security/ Intel Space Enterprise, especially the use of Commercial/Civil Space capabilities to 

meet National Security / Intel needs
WE 

WANT 

TO 

IMPROVE

Consider new partnership constructs

Future areas of exploration and scientific research

Bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles that need attention

Innovative technologies with potential space applications

Big ideas for advancing American leadership in space

Submit your inputs to: 

contact@spacecounciluag.org