Editing Gemini Observatory (section)

== Governance and oversight ==
The Observatory is governed by the Gemini Board, as defined by the Gemini International Agreement.  The Board sets budgetary policy bounds for the Observatory and carries out broad oversight functions, with advice from a Science and Technology Advisory sub-Committee (the STAC) and a Finance sub-Committee. The U.S. holds six of the 13 voting seats on the Gemini Board.  The U.S. members of the Board typically serve three year terms and are recruited and nominated by the [[National Science Foundation]] (NSF), which represents the US community in all aspects of Gemini operations and development.  Gemini is currently managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc., on behalf of the partnership through an award from NSF.  AURA has operated Gemini since its construction in the 1990s.

NSF serves as the Executive Agency and acts on behalf of the international participants.  NSF has one seat on the Gemini Board; an additional NSF staff member serves as the Executive Secretary to the board.  Programmatic management is the responsibility of an NSF Program Officer.  The Program Officer monitors operations and development activities at the Observatory, nominates U.S. scientists to Gemini advisory committees, conducts reviews on behalf of the partnership, and approves funding actions, reports, and contracts.