National Aeronautics Research and Development

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, including section 204 of the National Science 
                and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act 
                of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6613), section 101(c) of 
                the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
                Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-155), and 
                section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is 
                hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. National Aeronautics Research and 
                Development Policy. Continued progress in aeronautics, 
                the science of flight, is essential to America's 
                economic success and the protection of America's 
                security interests at home and around the globe. 
                Accordingly, it shall be the policy of the United 
                States to facilitate progress in aeronautics research 
                and development (R&D) through appropriate funding and 
                activities of the Federal Government, in cooperation 
                with State, territorial, tribal, local, and foreign 
                governments, international organizations, academic and 
                research institutions, private organizations, and other 
                entities, as appropriate. The Federal Government shall 
                only undertake roles in supporting aeronautics R&D that 
                are not more appropriately performed by the private 
                sector. The National Aeronautics Research and 
                Development Policy prepared by the National Science and 
                Technology Council should, to the extent consistent 
                with this order and its implementation, guide the 
                aeronautics R&D programs of the United States through 
                2020.

                Sec. 2. Functions of the Director of the Office of 
                Science and Technology Policy. To implement the policy 
                set forth in section 1 of this order, the Director of 
                the Office of Science and Technology Policy (the 
                ``Director') shall:

                    (a) review the funding and activities of the 
                Federal Government relating to aeronautics R&D;
                    (b) recommend to the President, the Director of the 
                Office of Management and Budget, and the heads of 
                executive departments and agencies, as appropriate, 
                such actions with respect to funding and activities of 
                the Federal Government relating to aeronautics R&D as 
                may be necessary to

(i) advance United States technological leadership in aeronautics;

(ii) support innovative research leading to significant advances in 
aeronautical concepts, technologies, and capabilities;

(iii) pursue and develop advanced aeronautics concepts and technologies, 
including those for advanced aircraft systems and air transportation 
management systems, to benefit America's security and effective and 
efficient national airspace management;

(iv) maintain and advance United States aeronautics research, development, 
test and evaluation infrastructure to provide effective experimental and 
computational capabilities in support of aeronautics R&D;

(v) facilitate the educational development of the future aeronautics 
workforce as needed to further Federal Government interests;

(vi) enhance coordination and communication among executive departments and 
agencies to maximize the effectiveness of Federal Government R&D resources; 
and

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(vii) ensure appropriate Federal Government coordination with State, 
territorial, tribal, local, and foreign governments, international 
organizations, academic and research institutions, private organizations, 
and other entities.

                Sec. 3. Implementation of National Aeronautics Research 
                and Development Policy. To implement the policy set 
                forth in section 1 of this order, the Director shall:

                    (a) develop and, not later than 1 year after the 
                date of this order, submit for approval by the 
                President a plan for national aeronautics R&D and for 
                related infrastructure, (the ``plan'), and thereafter 
                submit, not less often than biennially, to the 
                President for approval any changes to the plan;
                    (b) monitor and report to the President as 
                appropriate on the implementation of the approved plan;
                    (c) ensure that executive departments and agencies 
                conducting aeronautics R&D:

(i) obtain and exchange information and advice, as appropriate, from 
organizations and individuals outside the Federal Government in support of 
Federal Government planning and performance of aeronautics R&D;

(ii) develop and implement, as appropriate, measures for improving 
dissemination of R&D results and facilitating technology transition from 
R&D to applications; and

(iii) identify and promote innovative policies and approaches that 
complement and enhance Federal Government aeronautics R&D investment; and

                    (d) report to the President on the results of the 
                efforts of executive departments and agencies to 
                implement paragraphs (c)(i) through (iii) of this 
                section.

                Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) In implementing this 
                order, the Director shall:

(i) obtain as appropriate the assistance of the National Science and 
Technology Council in the performance of the Director's functions under 
this order, consistent with Executive Order 12881 of November 23, 1993, as 
amended;

(ii) coordinate as appropriate with the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget; and

(iii) obtain information and advice from all sources as appropriate, 
including individuals associated with academic and research institutions 
and private organizations.

                    (b) The functions of the President under subsection 
                (c) of section 101 of the National Aeronautics and 
                Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005, except 
                the function of designation, are assigned to the 
                Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
                Policy. In performing these assigned functions, the 
                Director shall, as appropriate, consult the 
                Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary 
                of Transportation, the Director of the Office of 
                Management and Budget, and other heads of executive 
                departments and agencies as appropriate. The Director 
                also shall ensure that all actions taken in the 
                performance of such functions are consistent with the 
                authority set forth in subsections (a) through (d) of 
                section 6 of Executive Order 13346 of July 8, 2004.
                    (c) This order shall be implemented in a manner 
                consistent with: (i) applicable law, including section 
                102A

(i) of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended (50 U.S.C. 403-1(i)), 
and subject to the availability of appropriations; and

(ii) statutory authority of the principal officers of executive departments 
and agencies as the heads of their respective departments and agencies.

                    (d) This order shall not be construed to impair or 
                otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the 
                Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, 
                administrative, and legislative proposals.

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                    (e) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any rights or benefits, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party 
                against the United States, its departments, agencies, 
                instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, 
                employees, or agents, or any other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    December 20, 2006.