--- kind: "section" citation: "10 U.S.C. § 4128" title: "10" title_heading: "Armed Forces" number: "4128" heading: "Laboratory Quality Enhancement Program" release: "119-102" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/4128" units: - "Subtitle A — General Military Law" - "Part V — Acquisition" - "Subpart E — Research and Engineering" - "Chapter 303 — Research and Engineering Activities" - "Subchapter III — Research and Development Centers and Facilities" --- # §4128. Laboratory Quality Enhancement Program - (a) **Program Required.—** - (1) The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall carry out a program under which the Secretary shall establish the panels described in [subsection (b)](#b) and direct such panels— - (A) to review and make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to— - (i) existing policies and practices affecting the [science and technology reinvention laboratories](#f) to improve the mission effectiveness of such laboratories; - (ii) new initiatives proposed by the [science and technology reinvention laboratories](#f); and - (iii) new interpretations of existing provisions of law that would enhance the ability of a director of a [science and technology reinvention laboratory](#f) to manage the laboratory and discharge the mission of the laboratory; - (B) to support implementation of current and future initiatives affecting the [science and technology reinvention laboratories](#f); and - (C) to conduct assessments or data analysis on the effectiveness of the authorities granted to the [science and technology reinvention laboratories](#f) and such other issues as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. - (2) The program carried out pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall be known as the “Laboratory Quality Enhancement Program”. - (b) **Panels.—** The panels described in this subsection are the following: - (1) A panel on personnel, workforce development, and talent management. - (2) A panel on [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), equipment, and infrastructure. - (3) A panel on research strategy, technology transfer, and industry and university partnerships. - (4) A panel on governance and oversight processes. - (c) **Composition of Panels.—** - (1) Each panel described in [paragraphs (1) through (3)](#b-1..b-3) of subsection (b) may be composed of subject matter and technical management experts from— - (A) laboratories and research centers of the [Army](/usc/10/7001.md), Navy, and Air Force; - (B) appropriate [Defense Agencies](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11); - (C) the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; and - (D) such other entities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. - (2) The panel described in [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4) shall be composed of— - (A) at least one [member](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) from each of the [science and technology reinvention laboratories](#f); and - (B) such other [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. - (d) **Governance of Panels.—** - (1) The chairperson of each panel established pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) shall be selected by the [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) of the respective panel. - (2) Each panel, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall transmit to the Science and Technology Executive Committee of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense such information or findings on topics requiring decision or approval as the panel considers appropriate. - (e) **Interpretation of Provisions of Law.—** - (1) The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, acting under the guidance of the Secretary, shall issue regulations regarding the meaning, scope, implementation, and applicability of any provision of a statute relating to a [science and technology reinvention laboratory](#f). - (2) In interpreting or defining under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the Under Secretary shall, to the degree practicable, emphasize providing the maximum operational flexibility to the directors of the [science and technology reinvention laboratories](#f) to discharge the missions of their laboratories. - (3) In interpreting or defining under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the Under Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consult and coordinate with the secretaries of the [military departments](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-8) and such other [agencies](/usc/10/4701.md?p=g-1) or entities as the Under Secretary considers relevant on any proposed revision to regulations under [paragraph (1)](#e-1). - (4) In interpreting or defining under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the Under Secretary shall seek recommendations from the panel described in [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4). - (f) **Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory Defined.—** In this section, the term “science and technology reinvention laboratory” means a [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense laboratory designated as a [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense science and technology reinvention laboratory under [section 4121 of this title](/usc/10/4121.md). ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title II, § 217(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1825.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Codification Another section 4128 was renumbered section 4129 of this title. ### Prior Provisions Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title II, § 211, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2046, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title II, § 218(a), (b)(1), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1329, 1330; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, § 215(d)(6), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1594, which was set out in a note preceding section 4121 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title II, § 217(b), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1827.