Registrar (left)
USMA Board of Visitors
The United States Military Academy Board of Visitors, established in 1815, inquires into the state of morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the Academy that the Board decides to consider.
The Board operates under the provisions of 10 US Code 7455 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972.
Minutes from past BOV meetings and annual reports are publicly available on the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Database or by contacting the Executive Secretary/Designated Federal Officer at bov@westpoint.edu.
2026 Board of Visitors Membership
Appointed from Congress
- Senator Joni Ernst (Iowa)
- Senator Jerry Moran (Kansas)
- Senator Elissa Slotkin (Michigan)
- Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia)
- Senator Gary Peters (Michigan)
- Representative Steve Womack (Arkansas) - 2026 Chair
- Representative Patrick Ryan (New York) - 2026 Vice Chair
- Representative Sanford Bishop, Jr. (Georgia)
- Representative Stephanie Bice (Oklahoma)
- Representative Pat Harrigan (North Carolina)
Appointed by the President
- Representative Wesley Hunt (Texas)
- Lieutenant General (Retired) Michael Flynn
- Major General (Retired) Dan Walrath
- Mr. David Bellavia
- Dr. Meaghan Mobbs
- Ms. Maureen Bannon
2026 Meetings
| Meeting Designation | Date | Time | Location | Federal Register Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organizational Meeting | Monday, February 23, 2026 | Washington, DC | View January 2026 Federal Register Notice | |
| Fall/Annual Meeting | Friday, October 9, 2026 | 9 am - noon | West Point, NY | View October 2026 Federal Register Notice |
2027 Meetings - Dates TBD
Please contact the Board of Visitors for any accessibility issues with Federal Register Notices
Meeting Minutes / Annual Reports
| Year | Organizational Meeting | Summer Meeting | Annual Meeting | Annual Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | View February 23, 2026 meeting minutes | NA | View October 9, 2026 meeting minutes | |
| 2025 | NO MEETING | View July 11, 2025 meeting minutes | NO MEETING | View 2025 Annual Report |
| 2024 | View March 6, 2024 meeting minutes | View July 26, 2024 meeting minutes | View November 23, 2024 meeting minutes | View 2024 Annual Report |
Please contact the Board of Visitors for any accessibility issues with meeting minutes or annual reports
Federal Register Notices, minutes from past meetings, and annual reports are available on the FACA Database or contact bov@westpoint.edu
Provision and Charter
AN EXTRACT OF THE UNITED STATES CODE
SECTION 7455. Board of Visitors
(a) A Board of Visitors to the Academy is constituted annually of-
(1) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or the designee of such chair;
(2) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or the designee of the ranking member;
(3) two other members of the Senate designated by the Majority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(4) two other members of the Senate designated by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(5) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or the designee of such chair;
(6) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or the designee of the ranking member;
(7) two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
(8) two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and
(9) six persons designated by the President.
(b) The persons designated by the President serve for three years each except that any member whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed. The President shall designate two persons each year to succeed the members whose terms expire that year.
(c) If a member of the Board dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for the unexpired portion of the term by the official who designated the member.
(d) The Board shall visit the Academy annually. With the approval of the Secretary of the Army, the Board or its members may make other visits to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board or to consult with the Superintendent of the Academy.
(e) The Board shall inquire into the morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the Academy that the Board decides to consider.
(f) Within 60 days after its annual visit, the Board shall submit a written report to the President of its action, and of its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Any report of a visit, other than the annual visit, shall, if approved by a majority of the members of the Board, be submitted to the President within 60 days after the approval.
(g) Upon approval by the Secretary, the Board may call in advisers for consultation.
(h) While performing his duties, each member of the Board and each adviser shall be reimbursed under Government travel regulations for his travel expenses.
(i) (1) A majority of the members of the Board may call an official meeting of the Board once per year.
(2) A member may attend such meeting
(A) In person, at the Academy; or
(B) Remotely, at the election of such member.
Charter
United States Military Academy Board of Visitors
1. Advisory Committee’s Official Designation: The committee shall be known as the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors (USMA BoV).
2. Authority: The Secretary of War, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455 and in accordance with 5 U.S.C. ch.10 (commonly known as “the Federal Advisory Committee Act” or “FACA”) and 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.50(a), renews the charter for the USMA BoV, which established this a non-discretionary advisory committee.
3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: The USMA BoV provides independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the United States Military Academy (USMA), as set forth in paragraph four below.
4. Description of Duties: The USMA BoV, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(e), shall inquire into the morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and any other matters relating to the USMA that the USMA BoV decides to consider. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §§ 7455(d) and (f), the USMA BoV shall visit the USMA annually. With the approval of the Secretary of the Army, the USMA BoV or its members may make other visits to the USMA in connection with the duties of the USMA BoV or to consult with the Superintendent of the USMA. Within 60 days after its annual visit, the USMA BoV shall submit a written report to the President and to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives of its action, and of its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Any report of a visit, other than the annual visit, shall, if approved by a majority of the members of the USMA BoV, be submitted to the President and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives within 60 days after the approval.
5. Agency or Federal Officer Receiving the Advisory Committee’s Advice/Recommendations: The USMA BoV reports to the President of the United States. The Secretary of the Army, in accordance with Department of War (DoW) policy and procedures, may act upon the USMA BoV’s advice and recommendations.
6. Support: The DoW, through the Department of the Army and the Superintendent of the USMA, provides the necessary support for the USMA BoV.
7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The estimated annual operating cost, to include travel, meetings, federal staff payments, and contract support, is approximately $121,000.
i. The estimated annual fully burdened personnel cost to the DoW is 0.50 full-time equivalents at $72,000, which includes basic pay with cost-of-living allowance. Other Federal costs for the USMA BoV are $19,000.
ii. The USMA BoV will be comprised of 18 members and estimated government compensation associated with RGE members’ official time dedicated to committee activities is $12,000.
iii. The estimated reimbursement costs for the USMA BoV staff and members are $18,000.
8. Designated Federal Officer: The USMA BoV’s Designated Federal Officer (DFO) shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoW civilian Federal officer or employee, or active-duty member of the Armed Forces, designated in accordance with 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.120 and DoW policy and procedures.
The USMA BoV's DFO, or in the absence of the USMA BoV's DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly designated to the USMA BoV in accordance with established DoW policy and procedures, will:
a. Ensure that the USMA BoV and its staff operate in accordance with the FACA, 41 C.F.R. part 102-3 (“the Final Rule”), and fully complies with all applicable statutes, regulations, and DoW policies and procedures pertaining to the management of DoW Federal advisory committees.
b. Attend all USMA BoV meetings for the entirety of each meeting.
c. Approve or call all meetings of the USMA BoV.
d. Prepare and approve all meeting agendas.
e. Adjourn any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing regulations or DoW policy and procedures.
f. Fulfill the requirements under section 1009(b) of the FACA and maintain information on the activities of the USMA BoV and provide such information to the public, as applicable.
g. Ensure advisory committee members receive the appropriate training (e.g., FACA overview, ethics training) for efficient operation and compliance with the FACA and Final Rule.
9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The estimated number of meetings is three per year.
Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(i)(1) and (2), a majority of the members of the USMA BoV may call an official meeting of the USMA BoV once per year and a member may attend such a meeting in person, at the USMA, or remotely, at the election of such member.
10. Duration: The need for this advisory committee is on a continuing basis; however, the duration of the USMA BoV is subject to the Termination Section below.
11. Termination: The USMA BoV will terminate upon rescission of 10 U.S.C. § 7455.
12. Membership and Designation: The USMA BoV, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(a), shall be constituted annually and composed of the following 18 members:
a. The Chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate or designee;
b. The Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate or designee;
c. Two other members of the Senate designated by Majority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
d. Two other members of the Senate designated by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
e. The Chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or designee;
f. The Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or designee; g. Two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
h. Two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and
i. Six members designated by the President.
Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(b), USMA BoV members designated by the President shall serve for three years each, except that any member whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed by the President. The President shall designate two persons each year to succeed the members whose terms expire that year. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 7455(c), if a member dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for the unexpired portion of the term by the official who designated the member.
USMA BoV members who are not full-time nor permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active-duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 3109 to serve as special government employee members. USMA BoV members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal civilian officers or employees, or active-duty members of the Uniformed Services, shall be designated pursuant to 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.130(a) to serve as regular government employee members. The USMA BoV members shall select the Chair and Vice Chair from the total membership.
Each USMA BoV member is appointed to exercise their best judgment, without representing any particular point of view, and to discuss, deliberate, and act in a manner that is free from conflicts of interest and consistent with Federal ethics laws and regulations. Except for reimbursement of official USMA BoV-related travel and per diem, members serve without compensation.
13. Subcommittees: The DoW has determined that subcommittees are not authorized for this advisory committee. If later, the Secretary of the Army proposes establishment of subcommittees for the USMA BoV, then the Department of the Army and the DoW will comply with 41 C.F.R. §§ 102-3.35 and 102-3.80.
14. Recordkeeping: The records of the USMA BoV are subject to the Federal Records Act and will be managed in accordance with General Record Schedule 6.2, Federal Advisory Committee Records, other approved agency records disposition schedule, as well as the appropriate DoW policy and procedures. These records will be available for public inspection and copying, subject to 5 U.S.C. § 552.
15. Filing Date: November 6, 2026
Please contact the Board of Visitors for any accessibility issues with provision or charter.