The Fourth Public Meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces was held on Thursday and Friday, October 19-20, 2017 in Arlington, VA.
Arlington, VA - The fourth 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 Thursday, October 19, 2017, from 1:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, October 20, 2017, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at One Liberty Center, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite 1432, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
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.
On the first day of the meeting, the Committee heard testimony from a former senior airman who is a sexual assault survivor. The Committee received a briefing on the Department of Defense and Military Services' sexual assault-related expedited transfer policies for Service members who report sexual assault and heard from military special victims' counsel and victims' legal counsel about their experiences assisting clients with expedited transfer requests and their perspectives on the victims' counsel program.
On the second day of the meeting, the Committee heard from a panel of company, squadron, or Service equivalent-level commanders and their senior enlisted advisors about the sexual assault military justice and response training they received and their experience dealing with sexual assault allegations. The Committee also heard from a panel of special court-martial convening authorities regarding the sexual assault military justice and response training they received and their experience dealing with sexual assault allegations and making initial case disposition decisions. The Committee received an update from its Case Review Working Group on its initial review of sexual assault case files.
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. Julie Carson at
This meeting was open to the public. Seating for the meeting is limited and available on a first-come basis. Visitors must provide government-issued photo identification and pass through metal detector security screening for access to the facility.
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.