Washington, D.C. -- With three days before the formal unveiling, more than 1,200 federal employees have already registered their interest online in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Candidate Development Program, and over 11,000 individuals have visited the program's website for additional information. Online registration for e-mail updates is located at http://apps.opm.gov/fedcdp, or through a link at OPM's USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov.

On November 15, federal employees and the general public will be able to formally register their interest online in OPM's highly anticipated preparatory program for future government executives.

The Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program (FED CDP), says OPM Director Kay Coles James, will be a productive vehicle in preparing the next generation of federal executives, while expanding outreach efforts to a more diverse pool of qualified individuals.

As expected, the inaugural class of the program has generated strong interest. Since its unveiling last week, more than 11,000 individuals have visited OPM's websites (http://apps.opm.gov/fedcdp) or www.usajobs.gov for information on the program, with more than 1,200 potential candidates registering online for e-mail updates.

Specific information about the FED CDP can be obtained at www.opm.gov/ses/fedcdp.

"The Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program will be the springboard for many of the government's future executives and leaders," said James. "I challenge every organization or stakeholder group interested in the future strength, qualifications and diversity of the Senior Executive Service to communicate news of this program to their membership immediately. The comprehensive structure of the FED CDP will further develop the leadership skills and attributes that candidates must demonstrate prior to their acceptance into the program. At the program's conclusion, graduates will be ready to make an immediate impact on the smooth and efficient operation of programs across government. Agency managers must prepare now to incorporate these qualified graduates as they refine agency succession and human capital plans to meet future needs."

The FED CDP is open to current federal employees and the general public who want to pursue an ambitious career path and can demonstrate one year of previous supervisory experience at the GS-14 level or above, or comparable non-federal supervisory experience.

OPM's immensely popular USAJOBS website (www.usajobs.gov) contains a link for job seekers to obtain information about the FED CDP. The link is an additional feature to the site, which each day advertises approximately 17,000 federal job openings.

The Senior Executive Service (SES) is the federal government's top cadre of managers. Its members manage many of the nation's most important programs in national security and defense; science and technology; agriculture and the environment, intelligence and information technology; and many other critical areas.

Participants in the FED CDP will be challenged by a gauntlet of formal training, competitive, real-life programs and mentoring relationships. Before graduating from the 14-month program, class members will demonstrate their leadership skills and agility as they are immersed in actual programs, requiring a demonstration of their problem-solving, team-building and people skills.

The following is a list of organizations and stakeholders groups OPM has contacted about the acceptance of applications for the Fed CDP:

American Association of People with Disabilities

National Organization on Disability

National Council on Disability

Interagency Subcommittee on Disability Statistics

National Council on Independent Living

National Federation of the Blind

Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government

National Association of the Deaf

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Blinded Veterans Association

Disabled American Veterans

AMVETS

Vietnam Veterans of America

Non Commissioned Officers Association

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Blinded American Veterans Foundation

Military Order of the Purple Heart

Jewish War Veterans

American Legion

National Veterans Legal Service

Catholic War Veterans

Reserve Officer Association

American GI Forum

Retired Enlisted Association

Fleet Reserve Association

Military Officers Association

Association for Service Disabled Veterans

Reason Foundation

Brookings Institution

RAND Institute

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

National Association of Asian American Professionals

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

American Indian Higher Education Association

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

National Association of Colleges and Employers

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration

Federally Employed Women

Executive Women in Government

National Association of Women Judges

Small Agency Council

Chief Human Capital Officers

Chief Information Officers

Chief Financial Officers

National Bar Association

American Society for Training and Development

American Society for Public Administrators

League of United Latin American Citizens

National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives

Aspira Association, Inc.

Hispanic National Bar Association

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

Association of Latinos in Finance and Accounting

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science

National Society of Hispanic MBAs

Coalition for Fairness for Hispanics in Government

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

National Hispanic Medical Association

Mana-A National Latina Organization

SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc.

Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

National Hispanic Corporate Council

National Hispanic Leadership Agenda

National Council of La Raza

National Image, Inc.

Latino Coalition

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute

Mexican-American Women's National Association

Hispanic College Fund

American Enterprise Institute

Council for Excellence in Government

Partnership for Public Service

International Personnel Management Association

National Academy of Public Administration

Senior Executives Association

Black in Government

African American Federal Executives Association

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

National Forum of Black Public Administrators

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

African American Association for Affirmative Action

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Association of Black in Energy

Association of Black American Ambassadors

Association of Black Psychologists

Black Leadership Forum, Inc.

Black Patriots Foundation

Black Women's Agenda

Conference of Minority Transportation Professionals

Executive Leadership Council and Foundation

Metropolitan Consortium for Minorities in Engineering

National Association of Black Accountants, Inc.

National Black Leadership Roundtable

National Pan-Hellenic Council

National Forum for Black Public Administrators

National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and

Chemical Engineers

Federal Asian Pacific American Advisory Council

Asian American Government Executives

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance

India Abroad Center for Political Awareness

Japanese American Citizens League

Korean American Coalition

National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium

National Congress of Vietnamese Americans

National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, Inc.

Organization of Chinese Americans

Asian Pacific American Institute Congressional Studies

Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute

Asian American Government Executives Network

Coalition of Asian Pacific American Federal Employee Organizations

Society of American Indian Government Employees

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