Background
The Army Science Board (ASB), organized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1977, provides the Army with independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the Army’s scientific, technological, manufacturing, logistics and business management functions, as well as other matters the Secretary of the Army deems important to the Department of the Army.
The Board is composed of 20 voting and 20 non-voting members, each serving three-year terms, and consultants who serve one-year terms. Membership is carefully monitored to ensure that diverse disciplines and points of view are represented. The Secretary of the Army appoints the Chair and Vice Chair from the ASB membership. The ASB Chair also serves as a non-voting observer to the Defense Science Board. ASB membership is augmented by a small number of consultants who are appointed to provide specialized expertise for ASB studies.
Terry Alger was nominated and accepted as a Consultant in August 2019. His initial term was renewed in September 2020 and will extend until September 2021. As a Consultant, he will be tasked with research projects and reporting requirements for the ASB that will be used by the Secretary of the Army to inform decisions on selected topics relevant to the national defense. This Staff Renewal IR project will be used to account for his labor as he represents SwRI on the ASB.
Accomplishments
Alger participated in several activities during his time on the ASB. His primary assignment was as a member of the Armor / Anti-Armor Study. This study was focused on understanding the threat that faces the US Army on the 2040 battlefield and how the Army should approach modernizing their Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) to address this threat. Alger worked with a multi-disciplinary team of subject matter experts to make recommendations on technology platforms and modernization needs for this notional vehicle.
In addition to working with the ASB to help define the needs for the NGCV, Alger participated in a small study to help streamline the on-boarding process for new ASB Consultants and members as part of a 6-Sigma analysis of the administration of the ASB. Due to his area of specialization (IC engines and transportation technology), Alger has also participated in several deep-dive technical reviews of Propulsion and Mobile Energy programs within the Department of the Army’s research portfolio.