Advantages
OSTP has a long history of identifying and elevating science and technology opportunities for the President to help shape policy, programmatic, and resource allocation decisions. OSTP advises the OMB on research and development programs for annual White House budgetary requests. For example, OSTP support was instrumental to the doubling of the NIH's budget between 1998 and 2003 (303). OSTP can lead important coordination activities and reports among different federal departments and agencies as well as external stakeholders (304). An Associate Director of Nutrition Science provides a key leader to the White House to improve coordination, communication, and strategic planning around key priority areas in nutrition science. The Associate Director would also work closely with and elevate the communication and impact of individual federal departments and agencies and the ICHNR. The Associate Director can hire advisors, special assistants, or White House fellows to deepen expertise and impact and can lead efforts to create new collaborations with the private sector, state and local governments, academic communities, and other countries. Legislative action is not required; the President can simply assign 1 of the 4 allocated Associate Director slots.