AC 40.2017

September 28, 2017

MEMORANDUM TO FEDERAL SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIALS FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND AGENCY RECORDS OFFICERS: Guidance on Senior Agency Officials for Records Management

I am pleased to announce the release of NARA Bulletin 2017-02: Guidance on Senior Agency Officials for Records Management. The Bulletin clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the Senior Agency Official for Records Management (SAORM). The Bulletin pulls together, in one place, all guidance on the pivotal SAORM position. This includes relevant information from the joint OMB-NARA Managing Government Records Directive (M-12-18), NARA’s Frequently Asked Questions about Senior Agency Officials (SAOs) Appointments, and OMB Circular A-130.

The Bulletin outlines the roles and responsibilities of the position, while also making clear the expectation that the SAORM serve in a more strategic role whereas the Agency Records Officer should generally serve in a more operational role. The Bulletin also stresses the need for coordination and ongoing collaboration between the SAORM and the Agency Records Officer. The SAORM bridges the gap between the agency head and the Agency Records Officer in order to provide strategic direction for the agency’s records management program.

If you have any questions about this Bulletin, please contact PRMD@nara.gov.

LAURENCE BREWER
Chief Records Officer
for the U.S. Government