United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board
The Department of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides independent advice on matters of science and technology relating to the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Space Force (USSF) missions, reporting to the Secretary of the Air Force. In the past, it has provided advice on technologies such as supersonic aircraft, weather forecasting, satellite communications, medical research, crewless airplanes, and defenses against aircraft and missiles. Today, the SAB performs in-depth reviews of the Air Force Research Laboratory's science and technology research and performs studies on topics tasked by the Secretary and Chief of Staff. Members are appointed by the Secretary of Defense.[1]
| Federal advisory committee overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1944 |
Parent Department | United States Secretary of the Air Force |
| Website | Official website |
In May 2026, the Department of Defense published a notice renewing the DAF SAB as a discretionary federal advisory committee.[2]
History
editThe board was established in 1944 under the name Scientific Advisory Group with General Henry H. Arnold as the military director and Theodore von Kármán as the board chair. The group was asked to evaluate the aeronautical research and development programs and facilities of the Axis powers of World War II, and to provide recommendations for future United States Air Force research and development programs. The group's name was changed to the Scientific Advisory Board in 1946.[3]: 146
DAF SAB Chairs
edit| No. | Name | Term of Office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Began | Ended | ||
| 1 | Theodore von Kármán (Chairman Emeritus −1963[3]: 172 ) | 1946 | 1955 |
| 2 | Mervin Kelly | 1955 | 1956 |
| 3 | James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle | 1956 | 1959 |
| 4 | Donald L. Putt | 1959 | 1962 |
| 5 | H. Guyford Stever | 1962 | 1969 |
| 6 | Courtland D. Perkins | 1969 | 1973 |
| 7 | Robert G. Loewy | 1973 | 1977 |
| 8 | Gerald P. Dinneen | 1977 | 1978 |
| 9 | Courtland D. Perkins | 1978 | 1979 |
| 10 | Raymond L. Bisplinghoff | 1979 | 1982 |
| 11 | Eugene E. Covert | 1982 | 1986 |
| 12 | Robert W. Lucky | 1986 | 1989 |
| 13 | Edwin B. Stear | 1989 | 1990 |
| 14 | Harold W. Sorenson | 1990 | 1993 |
| 15 | Gene McCall | 1993 | 1996 |
| 16 | Natalie Crawford and William F. Ballhaus Jr. (co-chairs) | 1996 | 1999 |
| 17 | Robert W. Selden | 1999 | 2002 |
| 18 | Daniel E. Hastings | 2002 | 2005 |
| 19 | Heidi Shyu | 2005 | 2008 |
| 20 | John Betz | 2008 | 2011 |
| 21 | Eliahu Niewood | 2011 | 2014 |
| 22 | Werner J.A. Dahm[4] | 2014 | 2017 |
| 23 | James Chow[5] | 2017 | 2020 |
| 24 | Nils Sandell[6] | 2022 | 2025 |
Citations
edit- ↑ "Air Force Scientific Advisory Board". United States Air Force. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Renewal of Department of War Federal Advisory Committee—Department of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board". Federal Register. National Archives. 6 May 2026. pp. 24532–24534. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- 1 2 Dik A. Daso (2002). Architects of American Air Supremacy: General Hap Arnold and Dr. Theodore Von Kármán. University Press of the Pacific. p. various (see superscripts). ISBN 0-89875-861-0.
- ↑ Kullman, Joe (13 August 2014). "ASU engineering professor Dahm to lead Air Force Scientific Advisory Board". Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Current Fiscal Year Report: U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board". S. General Services Administration. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ↑ "Sandell sworn in as DAF Scientific Advisory Board Chair". Air Force. 16 March 2022.