Secretary Salazar Appoints 15 Members to National Geospatial Advisory Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has appointed 15 individuals to serve as members of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC), which provides recommendations on federal geospatial policy and management issues and advice on development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The NSDI promotes sharing of geospatial data throughout all levels of government, the private and non-profit sectors, and the academic community.

The new appointees to three-year terms on the NGAC are:

• * Mr. Dick Clark, State of Montana
• * Mr. Jack Dangermond, ESRI
• Ms. Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz, University of Mississippi
• * Dr. Jerry Johnston, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Ms. Laurie Kurilla, Ventura County, CA
• Dr. E. Donald McKay, State of Illinois
  
• * Ms. Anne Hale Miglarese, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Dr. Timothy Nyerges, University of Washington
• * Mr. Matt O'Connell, GeoEye
• Mr. Pat Olson, Aero-Metric, Inc.
• Mr. Mark Reichardt, Open Geospatial Consortium
• Mr. Anthony Spicci, State of Missouri
• Mr. Gary Thompson, State of North Carolina
• Mr. Gene Trobia, State of Arizona
• Mr. David Wyatt, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

* Re-appointed to a second term on the NGAC.

The NGAC provides a forum to convey views representative of partners in the geospatial community. The members of the NGAC report to the chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), which is the Federal interagency executive group responsible for providing leadership and direction in Federal geospatial programs. The FGDC is chaired by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary's designee.

The NGAC meets three to four times per year. The public is invited to comment and make suggestions at all committee meetings, which will be announced by publication in the Federal Register at least 15 days before the meeting date. The U.S. Geological Survey, a bureau of the Department of the Interior, provides support services for the NGAC. The NGAC functions solely as an advisory body.

Geospatial data and products, including maps, simulations, and databases, are invaluable tools in the effective management of utility infrastructures, transportation, energy, emergency management and response, natural resource management, climate analysis, disaster recovery, homeland defense, law enforcement, protection planning and other civilian or military strategic issues. The newly-appointed members of the NGAC represent the varied interests associated with geospatial programs and technology.

The NGAC was created under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which was enacted by Congress in 1972 to ensure that advice rendered to the executive branch by advisory committees, task forces, boards, and commissions formed by Congress and the President, be both objective and accessible to the public. The Act formalized a process for establishing, operating, overseeing, and terminating these advisory bodies.

Additional information about the NGAC, including a complete list of the 28 committee members, is available at www.fgdc.gov/ngac.