§9455 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates a yearly Board of Visitors for the Academy made up of key members of Congress and six people the President names. The board includes the chair and ranking member of the Armed Services Committees in both the Senate and the House (or their designees), a few other senators and representatives picked by the party leaders (some of those picks must be on the Appropriations Committees), and six presidential appointees. Presidential appointees serve three years and keep serving until the President names a successor. At least two of the President’s appointees must be Academy graduates. If a member dies, quits, or is removed, the official who picked them names a replacement for the rest of the term. Missing two meetings in a row without approved excuse can be cause for removal; the chairman can remove non‑Congress members, while Congress members can be removed only by the official who named them. The Board must visit the Academy at least once a year and may visit more with the Secretary of the Air Force’s OK. Board members may enter the grounds and talk with cadets and staff for their work. The Board looks into things like morale, discipline, curriculum, equipment, finances, and other Academy matters. The Secretary of the Air Force and the Superintendent must give the Board full, law‑allowed information about problems. The Board makes recommendations and files a report twice a year to the Secretary of Defense (through the Secretary of the Air Force) and to the Armed Services Committees of both houses. With the Secretary’s approval the Board can bring advisers. Members and advisers get travel expenses paid. A majority can call one official meeting each year, and members may attend in person or remotely.

Title 10, §9455

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

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

(1)the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or the designee of such chair;

(2)the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or the designee of the ranking member;

(3)two other members of the Senate designated by the Majority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(4)two other members of the Senate designated by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(5)the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or the designee of such chair;

(6)the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or the designee of the ranking member;

(7)two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;

(8)two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and

(9)six persons designated by the President.

(b)(1)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 designated by the President. The President shall designate persons each year to succeed the members designated by the President whose terms expire that year.

(2)At least two of the members designated by the President shall be graduates of the Academy.

(c)(1)If a member of the Board dies or resigns or is terminated as a member of the Board under paragraph (2), a successor shall be designated for the unexpired portion of the term by the official who designated the member.

(2)(A)If a member of the Board fails to attend two successive Board meetings, except in a case in which an absence is approved in advance, for good cause, by the Board chairman, such failure shall be grounds for termination from membership on the Board. A person designated for membership on the Board shall be provided notice of the provisions of this paragraph at the time of such designation.

(B)Termination of membership on the Board under subparagraph (A)—

(i)in the case of a member of the Board who is not a member of Congress, may be made by the Board chairman; and

(ii)in the case of a member of the Board who is a member of Congress, may be made only by the official who designated the member.

(C)When a member of the Board is subject to termination from membership on the Board under subparagraph (A), the Board chairman shall notify the official who designated the member. Upon receipt of such a notification with respect to a member of the Board who is a member of Congress, the official who designated the member shall take such action as that official considers appropriate.

(d)The Board shall visit the Academy annually. With the approval of the Secretary of the Air Force, 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. Board members shall have access to the Academy grounds and the cadets, faculty, staff, and other personnel of the Academy for the purposes of the duties of the Board.

(e)(1)The Board shall inquire into the morale, discipline, and social climate, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the Academy that the Board decides to consider.

(2)The Secretary of the Air Force and the Superintendent of the Academy shall provide the Board candid and complete disclosure, consistent with applicable laws concerning disclosure of information, with respect to institutional problems.

(3)The Board shall recommend appropriate action.

(f)The Board shall prepare a semiannual report containing its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy, based on its meeting since the last such report and any other considerations it determines relevant. Each such report shall be submitted concurrently to the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Air Force, and to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

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

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

(i)(1)A majority of the members of the Board may call an official meeting of the Board once per year.

(2)A member may attend such meeting—

(A)in person, at the Academy; or

(B)remotely, at the election of such member.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 9355(a) 9355(b)10:1055.10:1056 (1st sentence).10:1056 (less 1st sentence).

June 29, 1948, ch. 714, §§ 1–6, 62 Stat. 1094;

June 30, 1954, ch. 432, § 732, 68 Stat. 356. 9355(c)10:1057. 9355(d)10:1058. 9355(e)10:1059(a). 9355(f)10:1059(b). 9355(g)10:1059(c). 9355(h)10:1060. In subsections (a) and (b), the word “designated” is substituted for the word “appointed” to make it clear that the positions described are not constitutional offices. Subsection (b) is substituted for 10:1056(e) (less 1st sentence). In subsection (c), the words “during the term for which such member was appointed” and “Such successor shall be appointed * * * who died or resigned” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (g), the words “as it may deem necessary or advisable to effectuate the duties imposed upon it by the provisions of section 1055–1060 of this title” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (h), the words “called for consultation by the Board in connection with the business of the Board” are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “two other members” for “one other member”. 2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–159, § 558(c)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which set out 5 categories of members of the Board of Visitors to the Academy, as constituted annually. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 118–159, § 558(c)(2), which directed insertion of “and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives” after “the President” both places it appeared, could not be executed because “the President” no longer appeared in subsec. (f) after the general amendment of this section by Pub. L. 108–375, § 543. 2021—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 117–81, § 554(c), substituted “is designated by the President” for “is designated”. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117–81, § 555(c), added subsec. (i). 2018—Pub. L. 115–232, § 806(a)(3), renumbered section 9355 of this title as this section. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–232, § 593, added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which read as follows: “The Board should meet at least four times a year, with at least two of those meetings at the Academy. The Board or its members may make other visits to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board. Board meetings should last at least one full day. Board members shall have access to the Academy grounds and the cadets, faculty, staff, and other personnel of the Academy for the purposes of the duties of the Board.” 2006—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–364 substituted “Board under paragraph (2)” for “board under paragraph (2)”. 2004—Pub. L. 108–375 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section contained provisions relating to membership of Board of Visitors in subsec. (a), term of office in subsec. (b), designation of successor in subsec. (c), frequency of Academy visits in subsec. (d), scope of Board inquiries in subsec. (e), submission of reports in subsec. (f), calling in of advisers in subsec. (g), and reimbursement for travel in subsec. (h). 1999—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 106–65 substituted “Committee on Armed Services” for “Committee on National Security”. 1996—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–106, § 1502(a)(12), substituted “National Security” for “Armed Services”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104–106, § 1061(e)(2), struck out “is entitled to not more than $5 a day and” after “each adviser”. 1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–579 required member whose term of office had expired to continue service until appointment of a successor.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by section 806(a)(3) of Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§9455 Board of Visitors

Summary

Title 10, §9455

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Citations & Metadata