PMFS, THE PMAA, AND BUILDING COMMUNITY ACROSS A CAREER

By Maria De Fazio, PMAA Executive Director

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As the federal workforce continues to adapt to the post-COVID workplace, a longstanding leadership development pipeline, the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, is gaining renewed energy. And with the continued growth of the Presidential Management Alumni Association (PMAA), this network of accomplished, service-motivated former fellows continue to strengthen professional and personal ties.

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What is the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program?

The PMF Program is a leadership development program for recruiting advanced degree holders into federal service. This two-year, excepted service opportunity comes with a full salary and benefits. The fellowship includes several core elements: 160-hours of interactive training, a developmental rotation, career planning and development resources, mentoring, and networking and professional development opportunities. At the end of the Fellowship, agencies may convert Fellows into Career Service employees.

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The Office of Personnel Management selects finalists using a rigorous application and interview process. Finalists are available to hire for one year from the date of their selection. By hiring a PMF, agencies know they are bringing on qualified and driven new employees, from a variety of disciplines, who are eager to learn and develop professionally.

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‍Who are PMFs?

A diverse group of talented and motivated future leaders serve in this program, holding advanced degrees representative of seventy disciplines from more than 130 institutions. Far from being limited to headquarters positions, PMFs can be hired anywhere an agency would normally station employees. They are veterans, they are people with disabilities, they are on second careers, and they are starting their first professional job. They possess impressive skills and engage in serious work. The program is also open to those already in federal service, provided they meet the other qualifications. You can find a full list of qualifications and application instructions at www.pmf.gov.

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‍Not Just A Fellowship - A Community

After 45 years of developing future government leaders, the PMF program boasts an impressive array of alumni, including Agency Directors, Deputy Secretaries, Members of Congress, authors, consultants, professors, government contractors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and a variety of state and local government officials. More than a way to kickstart a career, the Fellowship creates a true sense of camaraderie and community, building networks across agencies, class years, and geographies. Alumni are a source of hiring opportunities, often act as mentors, and frequently share specialized knowledge and career advice.

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Incorporated in 2019, PMAA is an independent non-profit, leveraging that collective wealth of career experience and strengthening connections long after cohorts of Fellows have graduated. PMAA’s mission is to support the continued excellence of alumni, primarily by creating and hosting unique professional development, networking, and service opportunities. Frequent panels of industry experts, informal lunch and learns, happy hours, volunteer opportunities, book recommendations, and guest blog posts are all fixtures of PMAA’s work.

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To get connected to alumni, learn more about PMAA’s work, attend an event, or partner with PMAA, visit www.presidentialmanagementalumniassociation.org. 

All are welcome to join PMAA this Thursday at 6:30PM for a free, virtual Veteran’s Day event, Excellence: Hacking the Military to Civilian Service Transition. Register at the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/excellence-hacking-the-military-to-civilian-service-transition-tickets-445994640977 

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(Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Class of 2018 PMF fellows, Atlanta, GA)

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