Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 4500.54E
December 28, 2009
Incorporating Change 1, May 24, 2017
USD(P)
SUBJECT: DoD Foreign Clearance Program (FCP)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Directive:
a. Reissues and renames DoD Directive (DoDD) 4500.54 (Reference (a)) to update policy
and the assignment of responsibilities for the DoD FCP.
b. Incorporates and cancels Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum (Reference (b)).
c. Designates the Secretary of the Air Force as the DoD Executive Agent (EA) for the DoD
FCP in accordance with DoDD 5101.1 (Reference (c)).
d. Cancels DoD 4500.54-G (Reference (d)) and authorizes the EA for the DoD FCP to
publish a DoD foreign clearance guide Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) or successor publication
to issue detailed guidance and procedures on DoD aircraft diplomatic and DoD personnel travel
clearances, payment of aviation-related fees for DoD aircraft, sovereignty of U.S. military
aircraft, and other issues falling under the DoD FCP.
e. Establishes a Foreign Clearance Program Policy Council (FCPPC) to coordinate, as
necessary, DoD FCP policy within OSD and with other DoD Components.
2. APPLICABILITY. This Directive applies to:
a. OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities within the Department of Defense (referred to collectively as the “DoD
Components”).
b. DoD personnel assigned to international staffs or organizations.
