[2] The ASB is composed of distinguished individuals from the private sector, academia, non-DoD government agencies, and former senior military officers.

Members are selected according to their preeminence in their respective fields, and are appointed to serve renewable three-year terms by the Secretary of the Army.

Both the ASAP and the ASB grew out of the need for Army-specific guidance on scientific research and development (R&D) and the Army's desire to maintain its strong technical advantage over other nations.

This elevation eliminated obstacles related to recruiting and retaining enough qualified scientific people, and provided them the clout to effectively perform their duties.

[3] Following World War II, despite General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s warnings that using scientific and technological resources solely for procurement purposes limited the usefulness of those resources and indications that separating R&D from procurement and production would benefit the military, concerns remained that the senior Army leadership lacked the vision to effectively guide the direction of R&D programs.

In 1954, the House Committee on Government Operations issued a report stating that the Army's scientific advisory group was not being used effectively.

Army Secretary Robert T. Stevens, Pace's successor, concurred with these recommendations and established plans to formalize the ASAP with a permanent charter, enlarge its membership and give it more latitude in its efforts.

Ambassador to France and a member of the first expedition team to ascend Mount Minya Konka in Eastern Tibet, China.