The corporate authority of USRA is vested in its member universities through the USRA Council of Institutions, comprised of a representative from each member institution. The Council meets annually in Washington, D.C., to review the progress of the Association, provide policy guidance to the Board of Trustees, and elect members to the Board.

USRA's Board of Trustees appoints USRA officers and is responsible for setting corporate policy. One Board member-a faculty member or administrative officer at a member institution-is selected from each of USRA's nine geographic regions and serves a rotating three-year term. The Board also has three at-large members. The Chair of the Council of Institutions and USRA's president/chief executive officer serve as ex officio Board members. The Board holds three scheduled meetings per year.

Each USRA-managed institute, center, and program is overseen by a discipline-specific Science Council, a standing panel of independent experts who provide guidance in the technical disciplines relevant to the endeavor. Science Councils effectively serve as scientific boards of directors. Council members are appointed to three-year terms by the Board of Trustees on the basis of their scientific and technical expertise and standing within the academic community. Science Councils meet once or twice each year.

Operational management of each USRA institute, center, or program is delegated to a director or program manager who serves as the chief administrative officer. The director has responsibility for staffing and administration under the direction of USRA headquarters, and for providing scientific management under the guidance of the respective Science Council.