A murder board, also known as a "scrub-down",[1] is a committee of questioners set up to critically review a proposal and/or help someone prepare for a difficult oral examination.
The term originated in the U.S. military, specifically from the Pentagon,[1] but has spread to academic and government appointment contexts.
NASA contends the murder board was created by Hans Mark, Director of Ames Research Center from 1969 to 1977,[2] derived from the earlier concept of the tiger team.
The board's goal is to kill the well-prepared proposal on technical merit; holding back even the least suspicion of a problem is not tolerated.
[citation needed] In U.S. politics, murder boards are used in preparing candidates for debates and presidential appointees for Senate confirmation hearings.