50 USC 3041a - Director of the National Reconnaissance Office

United States Code

USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025

§ 3041. Appointment of officials responsible for intelligence-related activities

§ 3042. Repealed.

U.S. Code
Notes

§ 3041a.

Director of the National Reconnaissance Office

(a)

In general

There is a Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

(b)

Appointment

The Director of the National Reconnaissance Office shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(c)

Functions and duties

The Director of the National Reconnaissance Office shall be the head of the National Reconnaissance Office and shall discharge such functions and duties as are provided by this chapter or otherwise by law or executive order.

(d)

Advisory Board

(1)

Establishment

There is established in the National Reconnaissance Office an advisory board (in this section referred to as the “Board”).

(2)

Duties

The Board shall—

(A)

study matters relating to the mission of the National Reconnaissance Office, including with respect to promoting innovation, competition, and resilience in space, overhead reconnaissance, acquisition, and other matters; and

(B)

advise and report directly to the Director with respect to such matters.

(3)

Members

(A)

Number and appointment

(i)

In general

The Board shall be composed of up to 8 members appointed by the Director, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense, from among individuals with demonstrated academic, government, business, or other expertise relevant to the mission and functions of the National Reconnaissance Office, and who do not present any actual or potential conflict of interest.

(ii)

Membership structure

The Director shall ensure that no more than 2 concurrently serving members of the Board qualify for membership on the Board based predominantly on a single qualification set forth under clause (i).

(iii)

Notification

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Director appoints a member to the Board, the Director shall notify the congressional intelligence committees and the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10) of such appointment.

(B)

Terms

Each member shall be appointed for a term of 2 years. Except as provided by subparagraph (C), a member may not serve more than three terms.

(C)

Vacancy

Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until a successor has taken office.

(D)

Chair

The Board shall have a Chair, who shall be appointed by the Director from among the members.

(E)

Travel expenses

Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5.

(F)

Executive secretary

The Director may appoint an executive secretary, who shall be an employee of the National Reconnaissance Office, to support the Board.

(4)

Meetings

The Board shall meet not less than quarterly, but may meet more frequently at the call of the Director.

(5)

Charter

The Director shall establish a charter for the Board that includes the following:

(A)

Mandatory processes for identifying potential conflicts of interest, including the submission of initial and periodic financial disclosures by Board members.

(B)

The vetting of potential conflicts of interest by the designated agency ethics official, except that no individual waiver may be granted for a conflict of interest identified with respect to the Chair of the Board.

(C)

The establishment of a process and associated protections for any whistleblower alleging a violation of applicable conflict of interest law, Federal contracting law, or other provision of law.

(6)

Reports

Not later than March 31 of each year, the Board shall submit to the Director and to the congressional intelligence committees a report on the activities and significant findings of the Board during the preceding year.

(7)

Nonapplicability of certain requirements

The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 1

 See References in Text note below.

shall not apply to the Board.

(8)

Termination

The Board shall terminate on August 31, 2027.

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title I, § 106A, as added Pub. L. 113–126, title IV, § 411(a), July 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 1409; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXIV, § 6433(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2200; Pub. L. 117–263, div. F, title LXIV, § 6431, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3532; Pub. L. 118–159, div. F, title LXIII, § 6304, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2473.)

cite as: 50 USC 3041a