Appendix B. FGDC Structure and Membership — Federal Geographic Data Committee

The explosive growth of technologies that produce and leverage geospatial information has created enormous opportunities as well as considerable challenges for the Federal Government.

The effective use of geospatial information requires close coordination among the many agencies involved in its development. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A–16 was originally issued in 1953, revised in 1967, and revised again in 1990 and 2002. It created the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) as the interagency coordinating body to promote development, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data. By Executive Order 12906 in 1994, the FGDC was charged to develop the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

The NSDI encompasses the technology, policies, standards, and human resources necessary to acquire, process, store, distribute, and improve utilization of geospatial data for a variety of users nationwide. The FGDC’s leadership role is critical as the importance of geospatial capabilities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government is recognized.

OMB Circular A-16 (revised August 2002) incorporates Executive Order 12906 and reaffirms the FGDC’s role to provide leadership for the NSDI with the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of the Nation’s geospatial data. In 2008, the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) was established as a Federal advisory committee sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

FGDC Structure

The FGDC is governed by a steering committee that sets its high-level strategic direction. An Executive Committee of officials from agencies with a major geospatial component in their mission provides additional guidance to the steering committee. Advice and recommendations on Federal and national geospatial programs come from the NGAC. The Coordination Group advises on the FGDC’s day-to-day business, which is carried out by the FGDC Secretariat located at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va.

The FGDC infrastructure also includes committees, agency-led working groups and subcommittees, and collaborating partners representing organizations from State, Tribal, and local governments, as well as industry and academic and professional groups. All initiate and support the following activities crucial to expanding the NSDI:

Developing and establishing the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse on the Internet.
Developing and implementing standards.
Creating a national digital geospatial data framework. The framework covers seven fundamental geographic themes: geodetic control, elevation, orthoimagery, transportation, hydrography, governmental units, and cadastral information.
Promoting collaborative relationships for sharing geospatial data among non-Federal partners.
Developing policies and processes to better harmonize collective action.

Chart showing the structure of the Federal Geographic Data Committee.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the policy-level interagency group responsible for overseeing OMB Circular A–16-related activities and implementation of the NSDI. It provides executive leadership and establishes policy to coordinate geospatial activities between, among, and within Federal agencies. The Committee meets three to four times per year in Washington, D.C., and is composed of senior agency officials for geospatial information (SAOGIs).

The Secretary of the Interior or designee chairs the FGDC Steering Committee, which is composed of representatives from Federal organizations, including the Executive Office of the President and Cabinet-level and independent Federal agencies. The Deputy Director for Management of the OMB or designee serves as Vice Chair.

A subset of the Steering Committee, the Executive Committee, meets more frequently and is responsible for providing guidance and helping move forward critical decisions. The Executive Committee makes recommendations to the Steering Committee and provides a focal point for coordination with the NGAC.

2008 Steering Committee Members
Chair, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior	www.doi.gov	?James E. Cason
Vice Chair, Administrator, Electronic Government and Information Technology (IT), Office of Management and Budget	www.omb.gov	?Karen S. Evans
U.S. Department of Agriculture	www.usda.gov	?Charles R. Christopherson, Jr.*
U.S. Department of Commerce	www.commerce.gov	?Joseph F. Klimavicz*
U.S.Department of Defense	www.defenselink.mil	?Steven P. Wallach*
U.S. Department of Education	www.ed.gov	*Mark Schneider
U.S. Department of Energy	www.doe.gov	*Tom Pyke
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	www.dhhs.gov	*John L. Teetet
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development	www.hud.gov	*Darlene F. Williams
U.S. Department of Homeland Security	www.dhs.gov	?Richard F. Mangogna*
U.S. Department of the Interior	www.doi.gov	*James E. Cason
U.S. Department of the Interior	www.doi.gov	Tim Petty
U.S. Department of Justice	www.usdoj.gov	*Vance E. Hitch
U.S. Department of Labor	www.dol.gov	*Patrick Pizzella
U.S. Department of State	www.state.gov	*Susan Swart
U.S. Department of Transportation	www.dot.gov	*Dr. Steve Dillingham
U.S. Department of the Treasury	www.treasury.gov	*Peter McCarthy
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	www.va.gov	*Mark Gorenflo
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	www.epa.gov	?Molly A. O'Neill*
Federal Communications Commission	www.fcc.gov	Julius Knapp
General Services Administration	www.gsa.gov	*Diane L. Herdt
Library of Congress	www.loc.gov	*Dr. John Hébert
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	www.nasa.gov	?Charles J. Gay*
National Archives and Records Administration	www.archives.gov	*Michael J. Kurtz
National Science Foundation	www.nsf.gov	*Jarvis Moyers
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	www.nrc.gov	*Darren Ash
Office of Personnel Management	www.opm.gov	*Janet L. Barnes
Small Business Administration	www.sba.gov	*Michael P. McHale
Smithsonian Institution	www.si.edu	vacant
Social Security Administration	www.socialsecurity.gov	vacant
Tennessee Valley Authority	www.tva.gov	*Roy Teal
U.S. Agency for International Development	www.usaid.gov	*Michael Hess
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers	www.usace.army.mil	James C. Dalton

*Designated Senior Agency official for Geospatial Information
?Executive Committee Members

Coordination Group

The FGDC Coordination Group advises on the day-to-day business of the FGDC, carrying out the interagency coordination and implementation of the NSDI at the operational level. It also facilitates and oversees the work of the FGDC subcommittees and working groups. The Coordination Group meets monthly in Washington, D.C., and is composed of representatives from Federal agencies and collaborating partners.

2008 Coordination Group Members
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Geospatial Projects Manager	Dennis Crow
Natural Resources Conservation Service	Marisa Capriotti
U.S. Forest Service	Betsy Kanalley
Farm Service Agency	Shirley Hall
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau	Randy Fusaro
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	Tony LaVoi
U.S. Department of Defense
Business Domain	David LaBranche
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency	Mark DeMulder
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Nancy Blyler
U.S. Department of Education	vacant
U.S. Department of Energy	David Morehouse
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	vacant
U.S. Department of Homeland Security	Scott McAfee
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development	Jon Sperling
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management	Don Buhler
Minerals Management Service	Jim Fulmer
National Park Service	Joe Gregson
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service	Doug Vandegraft
U.S. Geological Survey	Bob Pierce
U.S. Department of Justice
National Institute of Justice	Lew Sanford Alt: Rani Balasubramanyam
U.S. Department of Labor	vacant
U.S. Department of State	Ray Milefsky
U.S. Department of Transportation	Mark Bradford
U.S. Department of the Treasury	vacant
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Dat Tran Alt: Pheakdey Lim
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	Wendy Blake-Coleman
Federal Communications Commission	Donald Campbell
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission	Susan Tseng
General Services Administration	John D'Alessandro Alt: Sandra Downie
Library of Congress	Colleen Cahill and Jacqueline Nolan
National Academy of Sciences	Maria Uhle
National Archives and Records Administration	Brett Abrams
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	Francis Lindsay
National Capital Planning Commission	Shane Dettman
National Science Foundation	vacant
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	vacant
Office of Personnel Management	vacant
Small Business Administration	vacant
Smithsonian Institution	vacant
Social Security Administration	vacant
Tennessee Valley Authority	Charles Smart
U.S. Agency for International Development	vacant

National Geospatial Advisory Committee

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee was established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is an advisory body that provides advice and recommendations on Federal geospatial policy and management issues and a forum to convey views representative of partners in the geospatial community. NGAC membership includes representatives from 28 Government and nongovernmental organizations. The NGAC holds public forums to discuss geospatial activities and solicits input from State, Tribal, regional, and local governments, academic institutions, and the private sector.

National Geospatial Advisory Committee Mission Statement

The mission of the NGAC is to provide advice on strategies regarding the creation, management, and dissemination of cohesive geospatial data, information, and knowledge to enable commercial, academic, and nonprofit organizations and all levels of government to more effectively—

Empower and serve the public
Protect the homeland
Foster economic growth
Advance science
Manage the Nation’s resources
Govern the Nation
Prepare for and respond to emergencies

2008 National Geospatial Advisory Committee Members
Anne Hale Miglarese, NGAC Chair	Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
Steven P. Wallach, NGAC Vice Chair	National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Sean Ahearn	Hunter College?City University of New York
Timothy M. Bull Bennett	North Dakota Association of Tribal Colleges
Michael Byrne	State of California
Allen Carroll	National Geographic Society
David J. Cowen	University of South Carolina
Jack Dangermond	ESRI
Donald G. Dittmar	Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Dennis B. Goreham	State of Utah
Kass Green	The Alta Vista Company
Randy Johnson	Hennepin County, Minnesota
Randall L. Johnson	Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, Minnesota
Jerry J. Johnston	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Barney Krucoff	District of Columbia
Timothy Loewenstein	Buffalo County, Nebraska
David F. Maune	Dewberry
Charles Mondello	Pictometry International
Zsolt Nagy	State of North Carolina
Kim Nelson	Microsoft Corporation
Matthew O'Connell	GeoEye
John M. Palatiello	Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors
Jay Parrish	State of Pennsylvania
G. Michael Ritchie	Photo Science
David Schell	Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.
Eugene A. Schiller	Southwest Florida Water Management District
Christopher Tucker	ERDAS, Inc.
Ivan B. DeLoatch, NGAC Designated Federal Officer (DFO)	Federal Geographic Data Committee

Secretariat Staff

The FGDC Secretariat Staff provides support for the FGDC subcommittees and performs the following tasks:

Administers the FGDC standards program.
Initiates and participates in FGDC Subcommittees and working groups.
Drafts policies and procedures for consideration and approval by the Coordination Group, Steering Committee, and Executive Committee.
Provides support to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC).
Administers the NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP).
Administers the FGDC International Spatial Data Infrastructure program.
Manages the NSDI training and outreach program.
Maintains the FGDC web site.
Manages all administrative requirements associated with scheduling and conducting meetings.
Undertakes staff analysis, technical development, and other activities on behalf of the Coordination Group.

2008 Secretariat Staff
Staff Director	Ivan DeLoatch
Deputy Staff Director	Kenneth Shaffer
Senior Advisor to Staff Director	John Mahoney
Senior Program Analyst	Lew Sanford
Program Assistant	Carol Greenough
Program Assistant	Vanessa Hardnett
Secretary	Arista Salimi Mahar
Clearinghouse Coordinator	Doug Nebert
FGDC Interagency Liaison	Patricia Phillips
Framework and Cooperating States Coordinator	Milo Robinson
Metadata Coordinator	Sharon Shin
Standards Coordinator	Julie Binder Maitra
Training and Education/Tribal Liaison Coordinator	Bonnie Gallahan
NSDI CAP Coordinator	Brigitta Urban-Mathieux
Webmaster	Vaishal Sheth
Program Analyst	Roxanne Lamb

Thematic Subcommittees

OMB Circular A–16 enumerates 34 data themes of national significance and assigns responsibility for each of the themes to one or more Federal agencies. FGDC thematic subcommittees are established for nine of the data themes.

Federal agencies lead the thematic subcommittees; each subcommittee focuses on a particular NSDI spatial data theme. Lead agency responsibilities and new data themes may be added or altered by FGDC recommendation and OMB concurrence.

Definitions of the nine active thematic subcommittees appear in the table to the right.

Thematic Subcommittees by Lead Agency and Definition
Thematic subcommittee	Lead agency	Definition of spatial data theme
*Cadastral	DOI BLM	The geographic extent of past, current, and future right, title, and interest in real property; the framework to support the description of that geographic extent. Geographic extent includes survey and description frameworks.
Cultural and Demographic Statistics	DOC USCB	Geospatially referenced data that describe characteristics of people: nature of structures in which they live and work; economic and other activities they pursue; facilities they use to support their health, recreational, and other needs; environmental consequences of their presence; boundaries, names, and numeric codes of geographic entities used to report information collected.
*Geodetic Control	DOC NOAA	Common reference system for establishing coordinates for all geographic data. All NSDI framework data and users' applications data require geodetic control to accurately register spatial data. The National Spatial Reference System is the fundamental geodetic control for the United States.
Geologic	DOI USGS	Geologic mapping information and related geoscience spatial data that can contribute to a National Geologic Map Database as pursuant to Public Law 106-148.
Marine and Coastal Spatial Data	DOC NOAA	The subcommittee, through its member agencies and the FGDC, develops strategic partnerships, relevant standards, collaborative tools, and outreach that will enhance access to and utility of coastal and ocean framework data.
*Spatial Water Data (Advisory Committee on Water Information)	Co-leaders: DOI USGS and USDA NRCS	The Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) advises the Federal Government, through DOI USGS, on the coordination of Federal water information programs. The purpose of ACWI is to represent the interests of water information users and professionals on activities and plans related to Federal water information programs and the effectiveness of those programs in meeting the Nation’s water information needs.
*Transportation	DOT BTS	Used to model geographic locations, interconnectedness, and characteristics of transportation systems in the United States; includes physical and nonphysical components representing all modes of travel that enable movement of goods and people between locations.
Vegetation	USDA Forest Service	Collection of plants or plant communities with distinguishable characteristics that occupy an area of interest. Existing vegetation covers or is visible at or above land or water surface and does not include abiotic factors that tend to describe potential vegetation.
Wetlands	DOI FWS	Provides classification, location, and extent of wetlands and deepwater habitats; no attempt is made to define the proprietary limits or jurisdictional wetland boundaries of any Federal, State, or local agencies.

* Indicates framework theme.
Note: Abbreviations are defined in the glossary in Appendix D.

FGDC Working Groups

Working groups crosscut the subcommittees and focus on infrastructure issues common to many of the NSDI data themes. Descriptions of the active working groups are listed in the table below.

FGDC Working Groups by Lead Agency and Description
Working group	Lead agency	Description
Biological Data	DOI USGS BRD	The Biological Data Working Group promotes development and coordination of standards for biological data in order to increase compatibility in the development, use, sharing, and dissemination of biological data among government agencies and other interested institutions. The working group develops means to facilitate the sharing and consistent use of biological data standards and protocols, and encourages interagency partnerships in developing and implementing these standards and protocols. The working group helps integrate biological data standards activities into the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and the National Biological Information Infrastructure.
Clearinghouse	DOI USGS	FGDC is tasked by Executive Order 12906 to develop procedures for and assist in the implementation of a distributed discovery mechanism for digital geospatial data. Using the data elements defined in the FGDC Metadata Standard, governmental, nonprofit, and commercial participants publish their geospatial resources to the Clearinghouse Network.
Geospatial Enterprise Architecture Community of Practice	DOI USGS	The primary objective of the Geospatial Enterprise Architecture Community of Practice (COP) is to improve the understanding and integration of geospatial concepts by mainstream governmental business planners and technical practitioners through a variety of outreach mechanisms. The COP was convened through the request of the Architecture and Infrastructure Committee of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council and FGDC to develop guidance known as the "Geospatial Profile of the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA)."
Historical Data	NARA	The Historical Data Working Group promotes an awareness among Federal agencies of the historical dimension to geospatial data; to facilitate the long-term retention, storage, and accessibility of selected historically valuable geospatial data; and to establish a mechanism for the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of historically valuable geospatial data that have been financed in whole or part by Federal funds.
Homeland Security	DHS	The Homeland Security Working Group ensures that the NSDI supports the preparation for, prevention of, protection against, response to, and recovery from threats to the Nation's population centers and critical infrastructures that are of terrorist, criminal, accidental, or natural origin and related adverse events.
Marine Boundary	DOC NOAA and DOI MMS	The Marine Boundary Working Group fosters integrated approaches to the legal and geospatial descriptions of marine boundaries and mapping of marine boundary features within the territorial waters of the United States. The goals of the working group are to make maximum use of public resources to avoid duplicating efforts; provide a venue for communicating and coordinating on marine boundary activities; and to use standardized methodologies to produce more complete and usable marine boundary data, metadata, and charts.
Metadata	DOI USGS	The Metadata Working Group promotes and coordinates geospatial metadata activities among FGDC member agencies in support of the NSDI. The Metadata Working Group promotes awareness among FGDC member agencies of the metadata dimension to geospatial data; facilitates the evolution and revision of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata; and establishes a mechanism for the coordination, development, use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial metadata among FGDC member agencies.
Standards	DOI USGS	The FGDC Standards Working Group (SWG) actively promotes and coordinates FGDC standards activities. The SWG provides guidance on FGDC standards policy and procedures, facilitates coordination between subcommittees having overlapping standards activities, and reviews and makes recommendations on the approval of standards proposals, draft standards for public review, and draft standards for FGDC endorsement.

Note: Abbreviations are defined in the glossary in Appendix D.

Collaborating Partners

The FGDC involves public interest groups who participate within the committee structure to ensure that their needs are included in developing the NSDI. These collaborating partners include State, Tribal, and local governments; academic institutions; and a broad array of private sector geographic, statistical, demographic, and other business information providers and users. NSDI strives to build upon local data wherever possible.

Collaborating partnerships are open to public, private, and nonprofit organizations with missions complementary to the FGDC. Organizations interested in becoming partners are invited to send a written request to the FGDC Chair. Current non-Federal collaborating partners include the organizations listed to the right.

Collaborating Partners and Descriptions
Partner	Description
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM)	A nonprofit educational organization that advances the sciences of surveying and mapping and related fields to further the welfare of those who use and make maps.
Association of American Geographers (AAG)	A scientific and educational society whose members share interests in the theory, methods, and practice of geography and geographic education.
Cartographic Users Advisory Council (CUAC)	An organization of representatives from national and regional library organizations, dedicated to cartographic interests.
Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA)	A nonprofit educational association serving the global geospatial community.
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)	A professional and educational organization for chief appointed managers, administrators, and assistants in cities, towns, counties, and regional entities throughout the world.
National Association of Counties (NACo)	Advances issues with a unified voice before the Federal Government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.
National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)	Represents State CIOs and information resource executives and managers from the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 6 U.S. territories.
National League of Cities (NLC)	Strengthens and promotes cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance.
National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)	Provides a unified voice on geographic information and technology issues, advocates State interests, and supports its membership in their statewide initiatives.
Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.® (OGC)	A nonprofit, international, voluntary consensus standards organization of more than 365 companies, government agencies, research organizations, and universities; leads the development of standards for geospatial and location-based services.
University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS)	A nonprofit organization of more than 50 universities and other research institutions.
Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)	Facilitates the use and integration of information technologies to improve the quality of life in urban and regional environments.
Western Governors' Association (WGA)	Addresses important policy and governance issues in the West, advances the role of the western States in the Federal system, and strengthens the social and economic fabric of the region.

Note: Abbreviations are defined in the glossary in Appendix D.

Appendix B