Army Science Board The Army Science Board does army science . The ASB is a Federal Advisory Committee organized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act . It is the Department of the Army senior scientific advisory body that was chartered in 1977 to replace the Army Scientific Advisory Panel . The ASB advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Army , the Chief of Staff of the Army , the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition , Logistics and Technology ( ASA ( ALT ) ) , the army staff , and major Army commanders on scientific and technological matters of concern to the Army . The Secretary of the Army delegates oversight authority to the ASA ( ALT ) , who functions as the ASB Director . Terms are generally three years with one reappointment . History . The Army Science Board ( ASB ) has served as the Army ’ s senior scientific advisory board . When it was chartered as a Federal Advisory Committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act in 1977 , the ASB replaced the Army Scientific Advisory Panel ( ASAP ) . Both the ASAP and the ASB grew out of the need for Army - specific guidance on scientific research and development ( R & D ) and the Army ’ s desire to maintain its strong technical advantage over other nations . From the founding of the Army through the early 1900s , the Army did not have an effective R & D program — production and procurement were emphasized and the R & D during this era was limited to product improvement . Prior to World War II , the Army ’ s R & D was controlled through the G - 4 as a function of the supply arms and services . In October 1943 , Secretary of War Henry Stimson indicated that he wanted scientific help in the war effort , resulting in the R & D branch ’ s reorganization and its elevation to division level in May 1944 . This elevation eliminated obstacles related to recruiting and retaining enough qualified scientific people , and provided them the clout to effectively perform their duties . Following World War II , despite General Dwight D . Eisenhower ’ s warnings that using scientific and technological resources solely for procurement purposes limited the usefulness of those resources and indications that separating R & D from procurement and production would benefit the military , concerns remained that the senior Army leadership lacked the vision to effectively guide the direction of R & D programs . However , funding and personnel limitations continued to direct R & D toward the necessary areas of procurement and production . A few years later , Dr . Donald Loughridge , the Army ’ s Senior Scientific Advisor , was concerned that the Army lacked an effective basic research program , resulting in its inability to attract desirable entry - level scientists to its laboratories . By April 1950 , Secretary of the Army Gordon Gray was also concerned with the Army ’ s R & D program and its ability to support warfighters in future wars . He did not believe that the United States could fight a war based solely upon soldiers , especially with the fall of China to communism . Shortly thereafter , Gray ’ s replacement , Secretary of the Army Frank Pace , evaluated the existing Army R & D program , which was then engaged in supporting the Korean War . In January 1951 , the evaluators recommended that a research advisory board be established to assist the Secretary of the Army in R & D matters . Based on this report , General Joseph Collins , Army Chief of Staff , recommended establishing an Army Scientific Advisory Committee as this research advisory board . By March , Pace approved establishing this board in principle and in November he took the first steps to obtain this scientific advice . Without formally establishing a committee , the Secretary appointed 10 outstanding scientists and industrialists as his scientific advisers . These pioneer advisers were : Following the Korean War , the Advisory Committee on Army Organization analyzed the Army ’ s organization with respect to its ability to support the nation in times of war and peace . This committee praised the scientific advisory group ’ s creation , indicating it was a significant step in bringing the best scientific ability and experience to the Army . In 1954 , the House Committee on Government Operations issued a report stating that the Army ’ s scientific advisory group was not being used effectively . Army Secretary Robert TenBroek Stevens , Pace ’ s successor , concurred with these recommendations and established plans to formalize the ASAP with a permanent charter , enlarge its membership and give it more latitude in its efforts . The ASAP — then with 25 members — held its first meeting November 16 – 17 , 1954 . During the meeting , the panel heard briefings on various areas involving the Army ’ s R & D efforts . By 1958 , the panel grew to 70 members and divided itself into eight different subpanels : Throughout its first 50 years , 590 people — including 50 women — have served as ASB members , resulting in more than 3 , 700 years of uncompensated , voluntary service to the Army . The ASB ’ s distinguished members also include two astronauts , three Olympians ( one with a silver medal in the long jump ) , one U . S . Ambassador to France and a member of the first expedition team to ascend Mount Minya Konka in Eastern Tibet , China .