The Fifteenth Public Meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces was held on Friday, November 15, 2019 in Arlington, VA.
Arlington, VA - The fifteenth 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, November 15, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Doubletree by Hilton Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Drive, 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 heard testimony from Mr. Don Christensen, President of Protect Our Defenders, who will provide his organization's perspective on military sexual assault prosecutions, discovery, and sentencing. The Committee conducted final deliberations and vote whether to approve the DAC-IPAD's Sexual Assault Case Adjudication Report for Fiscal Years 2015 through 2018. The Committee received a presentation by its Case Review Working Group on the working group's observations, findings, and assessments after having reviewed over 2,000 sexual assault investigative case files closed in fiscal year 2017 followed by Committee deliberations on the topics discussed. The DAC-IPAD's Referral Working Group provided a status update and the Committee conducted final deliberations on the Military Services' written responses to questions and testimony received at its August 23, 2019 public meeting related to sexual assault conviction and acquittal rates, victim participation in the military justice process and the referral process for sexual assault cases. The DAC-IPAD Director and staff provided updates to the Committee on the Department of Defense's recent sexual assault-related collateral misconduct report and the input provided by the Committee; the military installation site visit plan for DAC-IPAD members in 2020; and sexual assault court-martial observations and attendance by members of the Committee.
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.