NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL 

AERONAUTICS COMMITTEE 

TERMS OF REFERENCE 

The Aeronautics Committee (hereinafter, "Committee") is a standing committee of the NASA 

Advisory Council supporting the advisory needs of the NASA Administrator, the NASA 

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), and other NASA Mission Directorates, as 

required. The scope of the Committee includes all NASA aeronautics research-related programs, 

projects, activities,andfacilities. Inaddition toresearch,thescopeencompassesconsiderations 

of thedevelopmentofnear-termenablingtechnologies and systems,aswell asdevelopments, 

with the potential to provide long-term improvements in future operational systems. 

Per NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 1150.11, Federal Advisory Committee Act Committees, the 

Committee will be managed under procedures that ensure the same spirit of openness and public 

accountability that is embodied by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). This includes 

public meetings as appropriate and public access to Committee records. 

MEMBERSHIP 

The membership of the Committee will consist of leading authorities with relevant expertise 

drawn from industry, academia, independent researchers, and Government institutions. The 

Administrator, in consultation with the Council Chair, will appoint the members and Chair of the 

Committee. Appointments will be for a two-year term, with reappointment and replacement at 

the discretion of the Administrator, made in consultation with the Council Chair. The 

Committee Chair will select a Vice Chair, in consultation with the Council Chair, from among 

the members of the Committee. The Committee will have between 5-15 members. The 

Administrator, in consultation with the Council Chair, may establish subcommittees under this 

Committee, as necessary. The terms of reference for subcommittees shall be subject to the 

approval of the Administrator. The ARMD Associate Administrator, following consultation 

with the Administrator, shall appoint the members of any subcommittees. The subcommittees 

shall report to the Committee. 

MEETINGS 

The Committee will meet approximately three times a year, usually in advance of the
 

Council meetings. Committee meeting agendas will be approved pursuant to NPD 1150.11, by
 

the Committee Executive Secretary, after coordination with the Committee Chair, and
 

willbe responsive torequests from theAdministrator,the CouncilChair,and the ARMD
 

Associate Administrator. TheCommitteeChairalsoservesasaCouncilmember and
 

participates in every Council meeting. In the event of a necessary absence by the Committee
 

Chair, the Vice Chair will represent the Committee in the Council meeting. The Vice Chair is
 

not a member of the Council. The Committee Executive Secretary will publish notices of
 

upcoming Committee meetings in the Federal Register at least 15 calendar days prior to each
 

meeting.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORTING 

The Committee Chair will report on the Committee's findings and draft recommendations to the 

Council for deliberation at the Council's public meetings. Records of each Committee meeting, 

including meeting agenda, presentations, minutes, and list of attendees, will be kept by the 

Committee Executive Secretary. The meeting agendas, presentations, and minutes from 

Committee public meetings will be posted to the Committee Web site for public access. After 

certification of the minutes by the Committee Chair and Committee Executive Secretary (not to 

exceed 90 days following the meeting), the minutes will be posted to the Committee Web site. 

In addition, the Committee Executive Secretary will keep detailed financial records, member 

appointment records, and other pertinent records throughout the year and provide annual 

summary input on the Committee's activities to the Council Executive Director for NASA's 

required annual fiscal year report on its FACA advisory committees to the General Services 

Administration. The Committee Executive Secretary will also coordinate with the members to 

ensure that all legal/ethics requirements pertaining to Special Government Employee 

appointments are met. These requirements include, though are not limited to, timely filing of 

financial disclosure reports and ethics training by a representative of NASA's Office of 

General Counsel (OGC) and seeking advice from the NASA OGC Ethics Team for any 

questions concerning Government ethics requirements that may arise. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 

The Committee Executive Secretary will be appointed by the ARMD Associate Administrator, in 

consultation with the Committee Chair and following coordination with the Council Executive 

Director. The Committee Executive Secretary will work with the Committee Chair to coordinate 

meetings, agendas, speakers, etc. for Committee meetings. Staff support and travel funds for the 

Committee Chair and members will be provided by ARMD. Other NASA Mission Directorates 

may provide support for specific activities, as appropriate. 

DURATION 

The Committee Terms of Reference will be evaluated every two years at the time of formal 

renewal of the NASA Advisory Council Charter and are subject to formal renewal at that time by 

the Administrator. If the Council's Charter is terminated or expires, the Committee will 

terminate. The Committee may be terminated at the discretion of the Administrator. If the 

Committee terminates, the Committee Terms of Reference also terminate, and all appointments 

to the Committee terminate. 

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
 

Charles F. Bolden, Jr. Date 

NASA Administrator