The application for DOI employees to apply for Cohort 12 of the White House Leadership Development Program opens on February 3, 2026
The Office of Employee Development (OED) is pleased to announce that the application window for the White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP) will open on February 3, 2026. This is a highly competitive program for high-potential career GS-15 employees poised to enter the next generation of career senior executives. The WHLDP is sponsored by the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and the President’s Management Council (PMC) and supported by the Performance Improvement Council (PIC). It is a 1-year placement with weekly development programming.
WHLDP Fellows are placed in a development assignment that is aligned with the Fellow’s subject matter expertise working on challenging, cross-agency initiatives to develop the skillsets and networks that enterprise leaders need: a whole-of-government perspective, stakeholder collaboration and engagement, working across boundaries without formal authority, and working outside traditional agency structures. The WHLDP requires Fellows to leverage their skills to drive progress on mission-critical programs, such as the Cross-Agency Priority Goals, and deliver long-term strategic results.
All assignments are 12 months, non-reimbursable, and located in Washington, DC. Agencies are responsible for travel and/or relocation expenses that may be incurred for Fellows from outside the DC-area.
Please note that this is not a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program. There is no guarantee for placement into a Senior Executive Service (SES) position as a result of participation in this program. Participation does, however, provide experience that may be used in developing Executive Core Qualifications.
Only current permanent GS-15 employees are eligible to apply to the program.
Application Process
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is participating in the self-nomination process. All DOI applicants, including bureaus and offices, will apply directly to the WHLDP team.
A complete application package includes the following:
- Electronic application - Including answers to open-ended questions on enterprise leadership potential.
- Supervisor's approval form - Download, complete, and upload with your application (email doiu_lead@doi.gov if you have trouble accessing the form).
- 2-page Resume - Upload with your application. Tailor resume to this experience, limit it to 2 pages, and include security clearance status, if applicable.
Application Due Date: April 16, 2026, by 11:59pm EDT
Estimated Timeline (subject to change):
- Application window: February 3 to April 16, 2026
- Interviews: June to July 2026
- Program start: October 2026
DOI Information Session
DOI hosted an information session for DOI employees on February 5. The information session recording is now available for DOI employees. Email doiu_lead@doi.gov if you have trouble accessing the recording.
Resources
Please review the following resources for more information on the program:
The following WHLDP graduates are available to meet with individuals to share their experiences with the program. Please contact them directly if you would like to connect with any of the graduates.
- Paul Wagner, pwagner@usgs.gov
- Tina Roberts-Ashby, Tina_RobertsAshby@blm.gov
- Anthony Lomelin, anthony.lomelin@bia.gov
Contact Cheryl Eckhardt, DOI WHLDP Liaison, at cheryl_eckhardt@nps.gov, or doiu_lead@doi.gov for questions.