The Prokaryote Advisory Committee is chartered to offer advice, guidance and counsel on the effective management and strategic objectives of the microbial and metagenome programs and report back to them. The Committee is chartered to render advice, guidance, and counsel on the effective management and strategic objectives of the Programs. The Committee serves as the Programs' key external advisory panel and as advocates of Program strategy, operations, and scientific relevance and quality. The Committee does not perform management functions nor does it direct the Programs' management teams on how to operate and manage the Programs.