We are pleased that PIDB member William (Bill) Leary will participate as a panelist at the National Declassification Center’s next public forum.
The forum’s theme is NDC Prioritization: What Secrets Do People Want to See? This is an excellent opportunity for Mr. Leary to discuss the PIDB’s recent supplemental report, Setting Priorities: An Essential Step in Transforming Declassification, and offer commentary on the six recommendations in the report that support the need for new declassification policies that include topic-based declassification.
The forum will be held on Friday, April 10, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives Building (700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC). We encourage you to attend the forum, which is free and open all who are interested in access to historical records(enter via the Special Events entrance on Constitution Ave and 7th street, NW). You can find more information on the forum here.
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero will provide opening remarks and NDC Director Sheryl Shenberger will update the public on NDC prioritization practices and ongoing declassification progress.
The forum will feature a panel of experts addressing the topic “What Secrets Do People Want to See?” Other panelists include historians from Government agencies, researchers, and representatives from Civil Society groups. The forum will conclude with a question and answer session.
Session highlights include:
- An overview of the role of provenance in archival holdings processing and arrangement, by Rick Peuser, Supervisory Archivist.
- “Approaches to Prioritization” panel discussion with experts: David Robarge, chief historian, CIA; Stephen Randolph, The Historian, Department of State; Katherine Hawkins, National Security Fellow, OpenTheGovernment.org; Nate Jones, FOIA Coordinator, National Security Archive; William Burr, Senior Analyst, National Security Archive; and Bill Leary, Public Member, Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB).
For additional information or to submit questions in advance question, contact Don McIlwain at don.mcilwain@nara.gov or (301) 837-0587.