Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Dan G. Blair announced the agency's Federal Executive Institute (FEI) is celebrating this month the graduation of the 20,000th participant from its flagship program, the Leadership for a Democratic Society (LDS). The FEI is the federal government's elite executive development center.

"For thirty-seven years, FEI has operated under a core set of values, but has changed to keep providing federal executives with a leading-edge leadership development experience," stated Blair. "This observance is a true milestone in the history of public service in the United States, and in the history of developing the best possible public servants."

The LDS is a four-week residential program offered ten times per year at the Institute's campus in Charlottesville, Virginia. The program is for members of the Senior Executive Service and GS-15s (or equivalent in other pay systems). Selected senior state, local, and international governmental executives also participate.

Dr. Thomas J. Towberman, FEI director, noted, "This milestone honors the hundreds of devoted and energetic staff and executives who have over the years brought their tremendous talents, values, and national pride to the LDS program."

The LDS program is custom-fit to each participant through individual instrumented feedback, the ability to choose from a variety of small group courses and large group plenary sessions, one-on-one coaching from a faculty facilitator, and assistance from program colleagues in small leadership development teams. The FEI has supported individuals in reaching their full leadership potential and has partnered with federal agencies to carry out their critical missions.

During the past year, the FEI offered another 140 seminars, custom designed leadership programs, and consulting services at locations throughout the country and overseas. For more information about the FEI, please visit the website at:  www.leadership.opm.gov.