AN EXTRACT OF THE UNITED STATES CODE 

SECTION 7455. Board of Visitors 

(a) A Board of Visitors to the Academy is constituted annually of- 

     (1) the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or his designee; 

     (2) three other members of the Senate designated by the Vice President or the President pro tempore of the Senate, two of whom are members of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 

     (3) the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or his designee; 

     (4) four other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom are members of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and

     (5) six persons designated by the President. (b) The persons designated by the President serve for three years each except that any member whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed. The President shall designate two persons each year to succeed the members whose terms expire that year.

 (c) If a member of the Board dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for the unexpired portion of the term by the official who designated the member. 

(d) The Board shall visit the Academy annually. With the approval of the Secretary of the Army, the Board or its members may make other visits to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board or to consult with the Superintendent of the Academy. 

(e) The Board shall inquire into the morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the Academy that the Board decides to consider. 

(f) Within 60 days after its annual visit, the Board shall submit a written report to the President of its action, and of its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Any report of a visit, other than the annual visit, shall, if approved by a majority of the members of the Board, be submitted to the President within 60 days after the approval. 

(g) Upon approval by the Secretary, the Board may call in advisers for consultation. 

(h) While performing his duties, each member of the Board and each adviser shall be reimbursed under Government travel regulations for his travel expenses

Charter 

United States Military Academy Board of Visitors 

1. Advisory Committee’s Official Designation: The committee shall be known as the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors (USMA BoV). 

2. Authority: The Secretary of Defense, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455 and in accordance with chapter 10 of title 5, U.S.C. (commonly known as “the Federal Advisory Committee Act” or “FACA”) and 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.50(a), renews the charter for the USMA BoV, which was established as a non-discretionary advisory committee. 

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: The USMA BoV provides independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the United States Military Academy (USMA), as set forth in paragraph four below. 

4. Description of Duties: The USMA BoV, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(e), shall inquire into the morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and any other matters relating to the USMA that the USMA BoV decides to consider. 

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §§ 7455(d) and (f), the USMA BoV shall visit the USMA annually. With the approval of the Secretary of the Army, the USMA BoV or its members may make other visits to the USMA in connection with the duties of the USMA BoV or to consult with the Superintendent of the USMA. Within 60 days after its annual visit, the USMA BoV shall submit a written report to the President of its action, and of its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Any report of a visit, other than the annual visit, shall, if approved by a majority of the members of the USMA BoV, be submitted to the President within 60 days after the approval. 

5. Agency or Federal Officer Receiving the Advisory Committee’s Advice/Recommendations: The USMA BoV reports to the President of the United States. The Secretary of the Army, in accordance with Department of Defense (DoD) policy and procedures, may act upon the USMA BoV’s advice and recommendations. 

6. Support: The DoD, through the Department of the Army and the Superintendent of the USMA, provides the necessary support for the USMA BoV. 

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The estimated annual operating cost, to include travel, meetings, federal staff payments, and contract support, is approximately $118,500. The estimated annual personnel cost to the DoD is 0.50 full-time equivalents. 

8. Designated Federal Officer: The USMA BoV’s Designated Federal Officer (DFO) shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD civilian Federal officer or employee, or active-duty member of the Armed Forces, designated in accordance with DoD policy and procedures. The USMA BoV’s DFO shall ensure that all activities of the USMA BoV comply with the FACA, the FACA Final Rule (41 C.F.R. 102-3), DoD policies and procedures, and other applicable laws and regulations. 

The USMA BoV's DFO is required to attend all USMA BoV meetings for the entirety of each meeting. However, in the absence of the USMA BoV's DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly designated to the USMA BoV in accordance with established DoD policy and procedures, shall attend the entire duration of all USMA BoV meetings. 

The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, approves or calls all meetings of the USMA BoV; approves all meeting agendas; and adjourns any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing regulations or DoD policy and procedures. The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall fulfill the requirements under section 1009(b) of title 5, U.S.C., subject to section 552(b) of title 5, U.S.C. 

The DFO shall maintain information on the activities of the USMA BoV and provide such information to the public, as applicable, in accordance with existing statutes, Federal regulations, and DoD policies and procedures. When authorized by the Secretary of the Army as the Sponsor, the DFO shall establish and maintain a public facing website for the USMA BoV in accordance with existing statutes, 41 C.F.R § 102-3.120(b), and DoD policies and procedures. 

The DFO shall ensure advisory committee members receive the appropriate training (e.g., FACA overview, ethics training) for efficient operation and compliance with the FACA and FACA Final Rule. 

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The USMA BoV shall meet at the call of the USMA BoV’s DFO, in consultation with the USMA BoV’s Chair and the Secretary of the Army. The estimated number of meetings is three per year. 

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(i)(1) and (2), a majority of the members of the USMA BoV may call an official meeting of the USMA BoV once per year and a member may attend such a meeting in person, at the USMA, or remotely, at the election of such member. 

10. Duration: The need for this advisory committee is on a continuing basis; however, the duration of the USMA BoV is subject to the Termination Section below. 

11. Termination: The USMA BoV will terminate upon rescission of 10 U.S.C. § 7455. 

12. Membership and Designation: The USMA BoV, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(a), shall be constituted annually and composed of the following 15 members: 

   a. The Chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or designee; 

   b. Three other members of the Senate designated by the Vice President or the President pro tempore of the Senate, two of whom are members of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 

   c. The Chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or designee; 

   d. Four other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom are members of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and 

   e. Six persons designated by the President of the United States. 

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(b), USMA BoV members designated by the President shall serve for three years each, except that any member whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed by the President. The President shall designate two persons each year to succeed the members whose terms expire that year. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(c), if a member dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for the unexpired portion of the term by the official who designated the member. 

USMA BoV members who are not full-time nor permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active-duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 3109 to serve as special government employee (SGE) members. USMA BoV members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active-duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be designated pursuant to 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.130(a) to serve as regular government employee (RGE) members. The USMA BoV members shall select the Chair and Vice Chair from the total membership. 

Each USMA BoV member is appointed to exercise his or her own best judgment, without representing any particular point of view, and to discuss and deliberate in a manner that is free from conflicts of interest. 

Except for reimbursement of official USMA BoV-related travel and per diem, members serve without compensation.

13. Subcommittees: The DoD has determined that subcommittees are not authorized for this advisory committee. 

14. Recordkeeping: The records of the USMA BoV will be managed in accordance with General Record Schedule 6.2, Federal Advisory Committee Records, or other approved agency records disposition schedule, as well as the appropriate DoD policy and procedures. These records will be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552). 

15. Filing Date: November 8, 2024