The Sixteenth Public Meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces was held on Friday, February 14, 2020 in Arlington, VA.
Arlington, VA - The sixteenth public meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces ("DAC-IPAD" or "the Committee"), was held on Friday, February 14, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel, 801 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia.
The DAC-IPAD was established by the Secretary of Defense in February 2016, in accordance with section 546 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, as amended. The Committee is tasked to advise the Secretary of Defense on the investigation, prosecution, and defense of allegations of rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct involving members of the Armed Forces based on its review of such cases on an ongoing basis.
At this meeting the Committee received testimony from former military judges about their views on the current military justice system and military sexual assault cases including their perspectives on the conviction and acquittal rates for sexual assault. The Committee conducted final deliberations on its draft Fourth Annual Report. The Committee also received updates from the DAC-IPAD's Case Review, Policy, and Data Working Groups regarding each group's ongoing projects. Finally, DAC-IPAD staff provideb updates to the Committee on the military installation site visit plan for members in 2020; sexual assault court-martial attendance by Committee members; and the new tasks for the DAC-IPAD contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
The DAC-IPAD welcomes input from the public on these topics or other issues under its consideration. Requests to make public comment, submission of written comments or materials, and any other inquiries may be directed to Ms. Marguerite McKinney at
This meeting was open to the public. Seating for the meeting was limited and available on a first-come basis.
More information about the Committee, including the meeting agenda and materials, is available on its website at http://dacipad.whs.mil. In the event the Office of Personnel Management closes the government due to inclement weather or for any other reason, please consult the website for any changes to public meeting dates or time.