Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 5500.11
May 27, 1971
Certified Current as of November 21, 2003
Incorporating Change 1, August 15, 1972
ASD(M&RA)
SUBJECT: Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs
Reference: (a) Public Law 88-352, "The Civil Rights Act of 1964," 78 Stat. 241, July 2,
1964
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Directive is to effectuate the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (hereafter referred to as the "Act") to the end that no person in the United
States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination
under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance from any component
of the Department of Defense.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1. Component means the Office of the Secretary of a Military Department or a
Defense Agency.
2.2. Responsible Department official means the Secretary of Defense or other
official of the Department of Defense or component thereof who by law or by delegation
has the principal responsibility within the Department or component, for the
administration of the law extending such assistance.
2.3. The term United States
means the States of the United States, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Wake Island, the
Canal Zone, and the territories and possessions of the United States, and the term "State"
means any one of the foregoing.
