Committee Members

The Committee is composed of not more than 20 civilian members, representing a distribution of demography, professional career fields, community service, and geography. Members are selected on the basis of their experience in the military or with women's workforce issues. Members must be U.S. citizens, and are selected without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, mental or physical disability, age, marital status or sexual orientation. Active duty military including members of the National Guard or Reserves, and current federal government employees are not eligible for nomination or Committee membership.

For full committee membership bios, please visit our biography page.

Ex-Officio Representatives

Ex-Officios to DACOWITS are appointed as non-voting members of the Committee to provide program expertise and specific data on those areas under their cognizance. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness has designated a representative from Military Personnel Policy, Military Community and Family Policy, and Reserve Affairs. In addition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has designated the Director of the Center for Women Veterans as an ex-officio.

Service and Other Defense Points of Contact

Service Points of Contact are selected by each Service and the Office of the Secretary of Defense as official representatives of that agency. Length of tenure is determined by the selecting agency. Although non-voting participants, Service Points of Contact are required to provide on-the-spot information at the DACOWITS meetings, research and supply facts and data in response to requests for information, and assist in clarifying policies and developing recommendations. The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard are all represented in DACOWITS.

Other Defense Points of Contact are designated through the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. They include a representative from Health Affairs and the Joint Staff.