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.
In May 2026, the Department of Defense published a notice renewing the DAF SAB as a discretionary federal advisory committee.
History The 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.
DAF SAB Chairs No. Name Term of Office Began Ended 1 Theodore von Kármán (Chairman Emeritus −1963) 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 201422 Werner J.A. Dahm 2014 2017 23 James Chow 2017 2020 24 Nils Sandell 2022 2025
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