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Reserve Forces Policy Board
Reserve Forces Policy Board
The board is supported by a staff consisting of a colonel or Navy captain from each of the six DoD
reserve components. These officers also serve as liaisons between their respective components and
the board. The law requires them “to perform their staff and liaison duties under the supervision of
the military executive officer of the board in an independent manner reflecting the independent
nature of the board".
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Chairmen
Name Tenure
Charles H. Buford 1952–53
Arthur S. Adams 1953–55
Milton S. Baker 1955–57
John Slezak 1957–77
Louis J. Conti 1977–85
First Chairman of the Reserve
William Hill Tankersly 1985–89 Forces Policy Board with Defense
John O. Marsh, Jr. 1989–94 Secretary George C. Marshall in
1952
Terrence M. O'Connell 1994–2001
Albert C. Zapanta 2002–04
William A. Navas, Jr. 2005–06
G. Kim Wincup 2006–09
William S. Greenberg 2009–11
Arnold L. Punaro 2011–present
Notable members
Marcia Anderson
Dennis C. Blair (1996–)
Dirk J. Debbink (2006–08)
Sharon K.G. Dunbar (2010–11)
Michael E. Dunlavey (1997–)
Martin H. Foery (1968–71)
John W. Handy
Grier Martin
Willard W. Millikan
John Nagl
Martha Rainville
Gene Taylor (2011–present)
Jeffrey W. Talley (2009–12)
James C. Van Sice
History
The board is one of the oldest advisory committees in the Department of Defense. In September 1949,
in response to inadequate recruitment and strength in the reserve program of the armed services,
Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson established a Civilian Components Policy Board. Under the
leadership of William T. Faricy, president of the Association of American Railroads, the board ranked
directly under the secretary, was on a level with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was empowered to give
instructions to the reserves of all of the services.[4]
On June 13, 1951, Secretary of Defense George Marshall re-designated the Civilian Components
Policy Board as the Reserve Forces Policy Board.[5] In July 1952, the U.S. Congress passed the Armed
Forces Act of 1952. This act established the Reserve Forces Policy Board as "the principal policy
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advisor to the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to the Reserve components". Passage of the
Reserve Officer Personnel Act of 1954 and the Reserve Bill of Rights and Revitalization Act of 1967
underscored the board's role and expanded its authority, responsibility, and membership. In 1995, a
member of the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was added to the board's membership.[6]
2011 restructuring
In October 2011, Chairman Arnold L. Punaro stated that, under its new authority, the board will be
much more independent, and objective, and will bring the talent of outside experts to provide timely
advice and recommendations directly to the Secretary of Defense.[11]
In 2013 the board released a report that faulted the USAF's effort to reduce its reserve components on
a cost basis, by pointing to the "unsustainable" costs of active duty forces as compared to reserve
units.[12]
References
1. Section 10301, Title 10, U.S. Code
2. Section 113(c)(2), Title 10, U.S. Code
3. Daniel, Lisa (October 17, 2011). "New Reserve Forces Board Chairman Looks Ahead" (http://ww
w.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=65682). American Forces Press Service. Retrieved
4 February 2012.
4. Beach, Clark, "Armed Reserves Get Civilian Probe", The News and Courier, Charleston, South
Carolina, September 11, 1949.
5. Letter from George C. Marshall, Secretary of Defense to Edwin H. Burgess, Chairman of the
Civilian Components Policy Board, June 13, 1951.
6. Annual Report of the Reserve Forces Policy Board for FY 2000 (http://osd.dtic.mil/ra/rfpb/preface.
html). Department of Defense. 2001. pp. Preface.
7. Commission on the National Guard and Reserves (2007). Second Report to Congress (http://ww
w.hsdl.org/?view&did=236368). Washington, D.C. pp. 83–88.
8. Section 514, Public Law 111-383
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External links
Reserve Forces Policy Board official website (http://ra.defense.gov/rfpb/)
Definition of DoD federal advisory committee (https://web.archive.org/web/20030412045358/htt
p://www.odam.osd.mil/omp/DoD_FACA.htm)
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