The White House Fellows program is a non-partisan federal fellowship established via executive order by President Lyndon B. Johnson in October 1964. The fellowship is one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service, offering exceptional Americans first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. The fellowship was founded based upon a suggestion from John W. Gardner, then the president of Carnegie Corporation and later the sixth secretary of health, education, and welfare.
White House Fellows spend a year working as a full-time, paid fellow to senior White House staff, cabinet secretaries, and other top-ranking government officials. Fellows also participate in an education program consisting of roundtable discussions with leaders from the private and public sectors. In some years, Fellows may also have the opportunity to study U.S. policy in action domestically, and potentially internationally. The selection process is very competitive and fellowships are awarded on a strictly non-partisan basis. Each year after the application period closes, the staff of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships (PCWHF) processes the applications and former fellows screen the applications to identify approximately one hundred of the most promising candidates. These selected individuals are then interviewed by several regional panels, which are composed of prominent local citizens. Based on the results of these interviews, the regional panelists and the director of the PCWHF select approximately thirty candidates to proceed as national finalists. Of the applications received, the PCWHF will interview those finalists and recommend between 11 and 19 individuals to the president for a one-year appointment as fellows. Selected civilians serve as Schedule A presidential appointees,[1] while military members will be assigned to duty at the PCWHF at 712 Jackson Place, Washington, D.C.[2]
Once fellows complete their year of service, they join hundreds of other fellows as alumni of the program. The White House Fellows Foundation and Association is the organization that represents the White House Fellows alumni efforts, leadership events and fundraising activities.
A total of 251 women have been selected as White House Fellows since the program’s creation in 1964. They represent 28% of the 879 people who have served as White House Fellows. The percentage of women has increased over time, as shown by the statistics below:
1960s: 7 of 86 – 8% women
1970s: 36 of 158 – 23% women
1980s: 33 of 135 – 24% women
1990s: 52 of 159 – 33% women
2000s: 38 of 131 – 29% women
2010s: 54 of 145 – 37% women
2020s: 31 of 63 – 49% women
A broad range of career backgrounds are represented. Fellows' professions include physicians, lawyers, teachers, military officers, scientists, non-profit leaders, engineers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, academics, and many more.
1981–1982 Paul V. Applegarth; CEO, Value Enhancement International; former Founding Managing Director, The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund; former Founding CEO, The Millennium Challenge Corporation (U.S. government corporation)
1988–1989 Jeff Colyer, Governor of Kansas, Plastic Surgeon, former representative, Medical Volunteer in Afghanistan, Iraq, Rwanda, Balkans, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, and Nairobi embassy bombing
1988–1989 Charles Patrick Garcia; chairman, Board of Visitors, United States Air Force Academy; Hispanic American leader; former CEO, Sterling Financial Group of Companies; best-selling author of A Message From Garcia and Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows[5]
The Presidents Commission on White House Fellowships (PCWHF) consists of the program office (the Director, staff, and White House Fellows) and the Commission (the commissioners and their Chairperson). The White House Fellows program is a subunit of the White House Office[9][10][11][12] and is located on the 18 acres of the White House grounds.[13][14] The Director of the PCWHF is appointed by the President, serves as the Designated Federal Officer for the Commission, and is supported by a team of staff members.[15] The Director is responsible for administering all aspects of the program.[16] The Commission meets twice a year and reports to the President of the United States through the Executive Office of the President.[15][17] The Commission's responsibility is to recommend candidates to the President for selection as White House Fellows. The commissioners help recruit a diverse group of applicants, screen the applicants, and makes recommendations to the President.[18]
Chairs of the Commission overseeing the White House Fellows Program include:
2021-Present: Demetra Lambrose
2017-21: Robert M. “Mike” Duncan
2014-16: Mary Zients
2009-14: John R. Phillips
2006-09: Myrna Blyth
2003-06: Julie Nixon Eisenhower
2001-03: Bradford Freeman
1994-2001: Marjorie Benton
1993-94: Nancy Bekavac
1990-93: Ronna Romney
1981-89: James B. Stockdale
1977-81: John W. Gardner
1975-77: Miles W. Kirkpatrick
1972-75: Francis L. Dale
1971-72: Charles B. Thornton
1969-71: Arthur S. Flemming
1968-69: William H. Hastie
1966-68: C. Douglas Dillon
1964-66: David Rockefeller
Commissioners overseeing the White House Fellows Program include:
Demetra Lambros, chairwoman and former counsel to President Joe Biden
Karen R. Adler, Senior Vice President of The Adler Group
^Garcia, Charles P. (April 9, 2009). Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows: Learn How To Inspire Others, Achieve Greatness and Find Success in Any Organization: Charles P. Garcia: 9780071598484: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN978-0071598484.
