Organizational structure of ESA

Organizational structure of ESA is as follows:

1. Director general – DG:
   • The DG is the head of ESA’s management, the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency and its legal representative.
   • The DG is voted by 2/3 of the Council once in a 4 year period.
   • The DG implement programmes, executes policy and reports to the Council.
   • The DG is assisted by scientific, administrative and clerical staff and related personnel to perform the activities. The whole staff is generically named „The Secretariat“. 
2. The Council:
   • It is a governing body of ESA.
   • The ESA Council consists of representatives of each Member State and is headed by a Chairman, elected for 2 years.
   • Each Member State has one vote.
   • The Council meets quarterly at delegate level and every two to three years at ministerial level.
   • Its role is to take decisions regarding ESA’s activity and policy.
   • The Council is the head of 6 Programme boards and 6 Committees.

6 Committees – are devoted to the definition, management, running and control of mandatory activities:

• IPC (Industrial Policy Committee)
• AFC (Administration and Finance Committee)
• IRC (International Relations Committee)
• SEC (Security Committee)
• SPC (Science Programme Committee)
• ATB (Agency technology and product Transfer Board)

6 Programme boards – are devoted to the definition, to the management, to the running and to the control of the six optional programmes:

• PB-LAU (Launchers Programme Board)
• PB-HME (Programme Board for Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration)
• JCB (Joint Board on Communication Satellite Programmes)
• PB-NAV (Programme Board on Satellite Navigation)
• PB-EO (Earth Observation Programme Board)
• PB-SSA (Space Situationnel Awareness Programme Board)

ESA Council and its subordinate bodies (IMAGE SOURCE: ESA)