Appendix B. FGDC Structure and Membership

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) operates under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A–16 (revised August 2002). The circular incorporates Executive Order 12906 and reaffirms the FGDC’s role to provide leadership for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and to coordinate the development, use, sharing, and dissemination of the Nation’s geospatial data. The effective use of geospatial information requires close coordination among the many agencies involved in its development.

The FGDC is an organized structure of Federal geospatial professionals and constituents that provide executive, managerial, and advisory direction and oversight for geospatial decisions and initiatives across the Federal Government. In accordance with OMB Circular A–16, the FGDC is chaired by the Secretary of the Interior or his/her designee, and the OMB Deputy Director for Management or his/her designee serves as Vice Chair.

FGDC Structure

The FGDC is governed by a Steering Committee that sets the FGDC’s high-level strategic direction. The Executive Committee, which is a subset of the Steering Committee, provides advice and guidance to the Chair and the Vice Chair.

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) is a Federal advisory committee that provides advice and recommendations on Federal and national geospatial programs. The FGDC Coordination Group conducts the FGDC’s day-to-day business. The FGDC Office of the Secretariat, which is located at the U.S. Geological Survey headquarters in Reston, Virginia, provides strategic support and management for FGDC committees, components, and initiatives.

The FGDC infrastructure also includes committees, agency-led working groups and subcommittees, and collaborating partners that represent State, Tribal, and local governments, as well as industry and academic and professional organizations. All participants initiate and (or) support the following activities that are crucial to expanding the NSDI and addressing national priorities:

• Providing advice and leadership in applying geospatial capabilities to address national priorities and Presidential initiatives.
• 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 (cadastral, elevation, geodetic control, governmental units, hydrography, orthoimagery, and transportation) and is used in concert with many other mission-specific data resources.
• 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 FGDC is governed by the Steering Committee, which is the policy-level interagency group whose central focus is to provide executive leadership for the coordination of Federal geospatial activities between, among, and within agencies. The Committee does this by establishing policy and providing guidance and direction to the member agencies, based on business best practices. The Steering Committee is responsible for overseeing OMB Circular A–16 related activities and for the implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. The FGDC Chair and Vice Chair lead the Committee, which is made up of senior agency officials for geospatial information (SAOGIs) and includes representatives from Federal organizations, including the Executive Office of the President, the Federal Executive Departments, and independent Federal agencies.

A subset of the Steering Committee, the Executive Committee, provides advice and guidance to the FGDC Chair and the Vice Chair on major Federal geospatial priorities and initiatives. The FGDC Chair and Vice Chair lead this committee, which includes representatives from the OMB and the seven Federal agencies that have the largest investments in geospatial technologies. The Executive Committee makes recommendations to the Steering Committee and provides a focal point for coordination with the National Geospatial Advisory Committee.

Main Report

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D