National Advisory Committee for Seniors and Disasters Committee Members
Voting Committee Members
The National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and guidance to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and to the HHS Secretary. The Committee provides expert advice and guidance to enhance all-hazards public health and medical preparedness, response, and recovery aimed at meeting the unique needs of older adults.
Greg Santa Maria, DHSc Chair,
National Advisory Committee for Seniors and Disasters Board Member
Greg Santa Maria, DHSc, MA, NR-P, is the Executive Director of the South Dakota Health Care Coalition (SDHCC). In his role, he has oversight of the coalition ASPR HPP grant and works with four coalition chapters to enhance healthcare preparedness and response, protecting the residents of South Dakota. He has transitioned the SDHCC into one of the first healthcare coalitions with an Area Command, providing operational support to facilities during disaster. A visionary, Dr. Santa Maria speaks frequently at national conferences on innovative concepts in healthcare disaster management.
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The NACSD consists of at least seven non-federal voting members, including a Chairperson, including:
At least two non-federal health care professionals with expertise in geriatric medical disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery; and
At least two representatives from State, local, Tribal, or territorial agencies with expertise in geriatric disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery.
A voting member of the NACSD serves for a term of three years, except that the Secretary may adjust the terms of appointees who are initially appointed after the date of enacted of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 (June 24, 2019) in order to provide for a staggered term of appointment for all members.
A voting member may serve not more than three terms on the NACSD, and not more than two terms consecutively. Voting members may not be full-time or permanent part-time federal employees but will be appointed by the Secretary as Special Government Employees (5 U.S.C. § 3109). A member may serve after the expiration of his/her term until a successor has been appointed. Vacancies will be filled as members rotate out or resign using the same procedures as the initial selection process.
A quorum for the NACSD shall consist of a majority of the appointed voting members. Of the voting members, any who are disqualified from participating in an action on a particular issue shall not count toward the quorum.
The NACSD has up to 10 federal, non-voting members (ex officio), including the following officials or their designees:
The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response;
The Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority;
The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
The Commissioner of Food and Drugs;
The Director of the National Institutes of Health;
The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living;
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
The Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Representatives of such other Federal agencies (such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security) as the Secretary determines necessary to fulfill the duties of the Advisory Committee.
A quorum for the NACSD consists of a majority of the appointed voting members. Of the voting members, any who are disqualified from participating in an action on an issue will not count toward the quorum.
The Secretary may establish subcommittees and working groups to assist the NACSD explore topics within its purview. Subcommittees and working groups report directly to the NACSD and their findings and recommendations must be deliberated by the NACSD in a public meeting unless otherwise exempted. Subcommittees and working groups do not report directly to the HHS Secretary or the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
Subcommittee membership may be drawn in whole or in part from the NACSD, but must include at least one of the designated voting members. The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each subcommittee and will be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meeting.
