Interior Department seeks nominations for National Geospatial Advisory Committee

The Interior Department is seeking nominations for membership on the newly formed National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC). The NGAC is being created to advise the federal government on management of national geospatial programs and 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 effort to establish the NGAC was initiated as a result of the Federal Geographic Data Committee’s (FGDC) Future Directions strategic planning effort, which was completed in 2005. The Future Directions governance report recommended establishing a new national geospatial coordination body comprising representatives of federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as representatives from the private and non-profit sectors. The NGAC will include approximately 20 to 25 members, who will be selected to generally achieve a balanced representation of the viewpoints of the various partners involved in national geospatial activities. The Secretary of the Interior will appoint committee members and their alternates to serve two-year terms.

Nominations for committee membership should be submitted electronically to ngacnominations@fgdc.gov by June 28, 2007. Nominations should include the following:
• a statement summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and interest in committee membership, and describing the nominee’s ability to represent a stakeholder group;
• a biographical sketch, resume, or vita;
• a list of three references or endorsements; and
• contact information for the nominee.

Committee members 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.

A draft charter for the NGAC is available here. To learn more about the Federal Geographic Data Committee, visit www.fgdc.gov. To learn more about the Geospatial Line of Business initiative, visit www.whitehouse.gov/omb/egov/c-6-8-glob.html.