Subcommittee Overview

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Biometrics and Identity Management serves as part of the internal deliberative process of the NSTC. Reporting to and directed by the Committee on Technology, the Subcommittee’s tasking is to:

• For Biometrics:

  • Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of interoperable federal biometric systems;

  • Develop and implement multi-agency investment strategies that advance biometric sciences to meet public and private needs;

  • Develop and adopt biometric standards as specified in the NSTC Policy for Enabling the Development, Adoption and Use of Biometric Standards;

  • Develop consensus strategic outreach plans for biometrics, including collaboration on www.biometrics.gov, the annual Biometric Consortium Conference and other events;

• For Identity Management (of which biometrics is a subset):

  • Identify cross-sector IdM issues, and develop and implement plans to address the federal government’s priority S&T needs

  • Facilitate the inclusion of privacy-protecting principles in IdM system design;

  • Promote a scientifically educated and aware public that properly understands IdM technologies, federal programs and issues;

  • Strengthen international and public sector partnerships to foster the advancement of IdM technologies.

The Subcommittee has three co-chairs:

• Jim Loudermilk (FBI)

• Chris Miles (DHS S&T)

• John Boyd (DOD)

Membership

The following NSTC departments and agencies are represented on the Subcommittee:

• Department of Commerce

• Department of Defense

• Department of Health and Human Services

• Department of Justice

• Department of State

• Department of Transportation

• Department of Treasury

• Department of Veterans Affairs

• Federal Trade Commission

• General Services Administration

• Intelligence Community

• Internal Revenue Service

• National Science Foundation

• Social Security Administration

The following organizations in the Executive Office of the President are also represented on the Subcommittee:

• Office of Management and Budget

• Office of Science and Technology Policy

• Office of the Vice President

• Homeland Security Council

• National Security Council

• Identity Management Task Force

From January-July of 2008, the Subcommittee chartered a subordinate Identity Management Task Force to assess the status of and challenges related to IdM technologies, and develop recommendations regarding Federal government’s science and technology needs in this area. The Task Force had three co-chairs:

• Duane Blackburn, OSTP

• Jim Dray, NIST

• Judith Spencer, GSA