FGDC Seeks Nominations for National Geospatial Advisory Committee

The Department of the Interior and the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) are seeking nominations for appointment to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC). Nominations received through this call for nominations may be used to fill vacancies on the NGAC that will become available in 2015 and 2016.

The NGAC provides recommendations and advice to the federal government on national geospatial policy issues and the management of national geospatial programs and allows the federal government to hear views and opinions that are representative of partners in the geospatial community. The NGAC was established by the Department of the Interior on behalf of the FGDC under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

Nominations for appointment to the NGAC should be submitted electronically to ngacnominations@fgdc.gov by July 17, 2015. Nominations may come from employers, associations, professional organizations, or other geospatial organizations. Nominations should include a resume providing an adequate description of the nominee’s qualifications, including information that would enable the Department of the Interior to make an informed decision regarding meeting the membership requirements of the Committee and permit the Department of the Interior to contact a potential member. Nominees are strongly encouraged to include supporting letters from constituents, trade associations, alliances, and/or other organizations that indicate the support by a meaningful constituency for the nominee. Additional information may be requested from nominees.

The NGAC includes up to 30 members, selected to generally achieve a balanced representation of the viewpoints of the various types of entities involved in national geospatial activities. NGAC members are appointed for staggered terms. Individuals who are Federally registered lobbyists are ineligible to serve on all FACA and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils in an individual capacity. The term "individual capacity" refers to individuals who are appointed to exercise their own individual best judgment on behalf of the government, such as when they are designated Special Government Employees, rather than being appointed to represent a particular interest.

Final selection and appointment of NGAC members will be made by the Secretary of the Interior. Members of the Committee serve without compensation. However, members may be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses incurred while attending Committee meetings in accordance with the Federal travel regulations as implemented by the Department of the Interior.

The NGAC operates under the requirements of FACA. The purpose of FACA, which was enacted by the Congress in 1972, is to ensure that advice rendered to the executive branch by the various advisory committees, task forces, boards, and commissions formed over the years by Congress and the President, is both objective and accessible to the public. FACA formalized a process for establishing, operating, overseeing, and terminating these advisory bodies. The U.S. General Services Administration is responsible for implementing FACA. Additional information about FACA may be found at the FACA Web site (www.gsa.gov/faca).

Additional information about the NGAC may be found on the NGAC web page at www.fgdc.gov/ngac.

Contact

  • For additional information or questions, please contact John Mahoney (jmahoney [at] usgs.gov, 206-220-4621), or Ivan DeLoatch (ideloatch [at] usgs.gov, 703-648-5752)