NASA Procedural Requirements

NPD 1000.3F Effective Date: January 20, 2025 Expiration Date: January 20, 2029

Subject: The NASA Organization

Responsible Office: Associate Administrator

Chapter 2: Agency Leadership, Organizational Structure, and Advisory Committees

2.1 Office of the Administrator

2.1.1 MISSION. This office provides overall leadership, planning, policy direction, management, and coordination for all NASA activities.

2.1.2 OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES.

2.1.2.1 The Administrator leads the Agency and is accountable to the President for all aspects of the Agency's mission, including establishing and articulating the Agency's vision, strategy, and priorities and overseeing successful implementation of all supporting policies, programs, activities, and performance assessments. The Administrator performs all necessary functions to govern NASA operations and exercises the powers vested in NASA by law.

2.1.2.2 The Deputy Administrator advises the Administrator on overall leadership, planning, and policy direction for the Agency. The Deputy Administrator performs the duties and exercises the powers delegated by the Administrator. The Deputy Administrator acts for the Administrator in his or her absence by performing all necessary functions to govern NASA operations and exercise the powers vested in NASA by law. The Deputy Administrator is also designated as the Chief Acquisition Officer, ensuring that the NASA mission is achieved through the management of the Agency's acquisition activities.

2.1.2.3 The Associate Administrator performs the duties and exercises the powers delegated by the Administrator and acts for the Administrator in the absence of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator. The Associate Administrator is responsible for integrating the technical and programmatic elements of the Agency. The Associate Administrator oversees the Agency's Centers, programs, Technical Authorities, and the NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight. The Associate Administrator oversees the planning, directing, organization, and control of the day-to-day Agency technical and programmatic operations, including establishing controls over Agency activities, providing a means for evaluating mission accomplishments, and correcting deficiencies.

2.1.2.4 The Chief of Staff is responsible for coordinating the management and execution of initiatives, programs, and policies in critical areas of concern to the Administrator and ensuring that the strategic goals and objectives established by the Administrator are achieved. The Chief of Staff directs the Office of the Administrator, oversees the Office of Executive Secretariat, and serves as a liaison to the White House staff.

2.1.2.5 The Deputy Associate Administrator is responsible for overseeing the strategy for mission support elements across the Agency. The Deputy Associate Administrator oversees the Agency's operational mission support functions through the Mission Support Directorate, Centers, and appropriate staff offices. Reporting to the Associate Administrator, the Deputy Associate Administrator performs and executes duties delegated by the Associate Administrator and acts for the Associate Administrator in his or her absence. In addition, this role builds and advances industry partnerships in support of the agency's long-range planning, development and partnering strategy.

2.1.2.6 The Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy and Strategy directs the Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy. This position is responsible for developing and shaping Agency policy in response to Administration direction, as well as coordinating strategy across the Agency, in support of the Administrator.

2.1.2.7 The Associate Administrator for Space Security Interests, in support of the Administrator, leads a broad security focus on NASA's civil space efforts within the larger national and global environment; and supports enterprise protection and assessment efforts, representing NASA and working with our federal agency partners to advance our national posture.

2.1.2.8 The Chief Program Management Officer, reporting to the Associate Administrator, is responsible for stewardship of the Program Management (PM) functions across NASA; including programmatic policy and tailoring, PM community of practice, program reviews, and independent assessment practices. The Chief Program Management Officer is the steward of NASA program/project management requirements (NPR 7120.5 and NPR 7120.8). The Chief Program Management Officer also holds responsibility for Agency compliance with the PM Improvement Accountability Act.

2.1.2.9 The mission statements for the offices and functions that provide support to the Office of the Administrator are included below.

a. Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy (OTPS). The OTPS provides data and evidence-driven advice to NASA leadership to assure an integrated enterprise approach to technology, policy, and strategy. The office supports and promotes the Administration's and NASA leadership's top policy agenda and priorities, providing special studies as needed. The OTPS maintains awareness of critical emerging issues, both internal and external to the Agency. The OTPS includes the position of the Chief Technologist, as a senior representative for NASA.

b. Office of Executive Secretariat (OES). The OES is responsible for ensuring that the Office of the Administrator decisions are timely, informed, fully documented, properly archived, and readily retrievable, and that commitments to certain key NASA external stakeholders are fulfilled. The OES implements the NASA governance system and documents and promulgates internal NASA policies and requirements, as well as external regulations codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. The OES manages Office of the Administrator clearance packages and correspondence, implements NASA's audit liaison program, and monitors compliance with Presidential Executive Orders.

2.1.2.10 The following Boards are chartered under the authority of the Administrator:

a. Executive Resources Board.
b. Inventions and Contributions Board (per 14 CFR Title 14 Chapter 5).
c. Contract Adjustment Board (per 14 CFR Chapter 5).

2.1.3 SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

2.1.3.1 The Administrator chairs the Executive Council.

2.1.3.2 The Administrator designates the Agency Chief Operating Officer (COO), Performance Improvement Officer (PIO), and the Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO) to ensure the Agency's mission is achieved through management of activities in accordance with respective laws including the 2010 GPRA Modernization Act. The COO and PIO are responsible for activities as specified by OMB Circular No. A-11 and OMB Circular No. A-123. The CAO is responsible for activities as specified by 41 U.S.C § 1702(b). The GPRA Modernization Act requires all agency heads to designate a COO. Agency heads in consultation with the COO will designate a senior executive as the Agency PIO, who reports functionally to the COO. The Administrator has currently designated the Deputy Administrator to serve as the CAO, the Associate Administrator to serve as the Agency COO and the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Strategic Insights and Budget to serve as the PIO.

2.1.3.3 The Deputy Administrator is the alternate Chair for the Executive Council.

2.1.3.4 The Associate Administrator chairs the Agency Program Management Council and the Acquisition Strategy Council.

2.1.3.5 The Deputy Associate Administrator chairs the Mission Support Council.

2.1.4 LINE OF SUCCESSION. In the following order: Deputy Administrator; Associate Administrator; and Chief of Staff. The process for designating an Acting Administrator is set forth at 5 U.S.C. 3345 et. seq. and Presidential Memorandum dated January 16. 2009, "Designation of Officers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to Act as Administrator."

2.1.4.1 Under Section 202(b) of the Space Act, the Deputy Administrator shall act for and exercise the powers of the Administrator during his or her absence or disability. In the event that the Office of the Administrator becomes vacant, the Deputy Administrator shall serve as Acting Administrator immediately and automatically upon occurrence of the vacancy up to the appointment of a new Administrator, Presidential action under the Vacancies Reform Act, 5 U.S.C. 3345, or the expiration of authority under the Vacancies Reform Act. If both the Offices of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator are vacant or if the Office of the Administrator is vacant and authority for the Deputy Administrator to serve under the Vacancies Reform Act has expired, no individual can serve as the Acting Administrator without Presidential action unless otherwise authorized by law. However, in that event, all authorities of the Administrator that may be legally delegated are delegated to the incumbent official in the following order of precedence: Deputy Administrator; Associate Administrator; Chief of Staff; Center Director for Johnson Space Flight Center; Center Director for Kennedy Space Center; and Center Director for Marshall Space Flight Center. In consultation with the General Counsel, such official exercising authority under this delegation shall also request Presidential action for the appointment of an Acting Administrator.

2.1.5 DELEGATION AND REDELEGATION. Except as may be specified in laws, regulations, or directives, OICs and Center Directors have full authority to carry out the responsibilities of their offices, as defined in Chapters 4 and 5, and they may redelegate this authority as deemed appropriate.

2.2 The Official Agency-level Organizational Chart

2.3 NASA Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Committees.

2.3.1 In 1972, the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App., as amended) was enacted by Congress. FACA sets strict Government-wide requirements for the establishment, operation, oversight, and termination of any group established by statute or established or utilized by the President or by an agency official for the purpose of providing advice or recommendations to the President or on issues or policies within the scope of an agency official's responsibilities. Subject to a few exceptions, the FACA statute is triggered when the group being formed includes in its membership individuals other than officers or employees of the Federal Government or elected officers of State, local, or tribal governments or their designees acting in their official capacities.

2.3.2 NASA currently has twelve FACA advisory committees. The charters for NASA's advisory committees are maintained and renewed in accordance with the procedures stipulated in the FACA statute and subsequent implementing regulations, specifically 41 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 101-6 and 102-3, Federal Advisory Committee Management; Final Rule, dated July 19, 2001.

2.3.3 FACA requires an Advisory Committee Management Officer (ACMO) at each Executive Branch agency to provide agency-wide management oversight of its respective advisory committees, ensure agency compliance with FACA provisions, and administer the chartering process. Government-wide oversight of FACA advisory committees is provided by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The charters for FACA advisory committees are maintained by the ACMO and automatically expire after a two-year period unless renewed by the sponsoring agency.

2.3.4 NASA's own policies and procedures for its Federal advisory committees are documented in NPD 1150.11, Federal Advisory Committee Act Committees. The Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) serves as the responsible office. NASA FACA compliance, management oversight, and committee staff support are the responsibility of the Advisory Committee Management Division, OIIR, NASA Headquarters. In addition, the Agency ACMO resides in the latter organization.

2.3.5 The current eleven NASA-chartered FACA committees are shown below, along with their GSA committee numbers (charters can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/advisory-committee).

Table A. NASA-chartered FACA committees

Committee	GSA No.	Responsible Office
Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP)	136	Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR)
Applied Sciences Advisory Committee (ASAC)	80519	Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
Astrophysics Advisory Committee (APAC)	2596	Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
Biological and Physical Sciences Advisory Committee (BPAC)	84642	Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
Earth Science Advisory Committee (ESAC)	2597	Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
Heliophysics Advisory Committee (HPAC)	2598	Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
International Space Station Advisory Committee (ISSAC)	27808	Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR)
International Space Station National Laboratory Advisory Committee (INLAC) (administratively inactive)	70424	Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD)
NASA Advisory Council (NAC) Aeronautics Committee Human Exploration and Operations Committee Science Committee STEM Engagement Committee Technology, Innovation and Engineering Committee	1071	Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR)
National Space-Based Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board	29124	Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD)
National Space Council Users' Advisory Group (UAG)	2630	Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD)
Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC)	2599	Science Mission Directorate (SMD)

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