White House Leadership Development Program

At the #WHLDP, we are proud to create spaces where senior leaders, our dedicated Fellows, and accomplished alumni come together to explore strategies for navigating transitions effectively, ensuring one administration finishes strong and the next is positioned to begin governing on day one. In a landscape marked by complexity and change, these conversations are not just valuable—they're essential. Our recent convening served as a powerful reminder of the collective wisdom within this community. Leaders shared their experiences, challenges, insights, and opportunities of being a Fellow during a Presidential transition, one of the most unique and important experiences at the center of government. These moments of shared reflection and learning are at the heart of what WHLDP stands for - developing leaders who are equipped to guide others through change with clarity and resilience so every administration can carry out its priorities on behalf of the American people.? To our alumni who contributed to this meaningful dialogue, Christine Assili, David Armitage, and Noreen M. Hecmanczuk—thank you for your commitment to leadership excellence. Together, we’re shaping the future of public service leadership and delivering the government the American people deserve. #LeadershipMatters

Welcome to the #WHLDP Jason Chauvin, U.S. Department of Commerce. Jason is a Senior Engineer with the Sensors, Aerospace, and Marine Division at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). BIS advances national security through technology leadership and vigilant export controls. Jason is the spacecraft lead and a license officer with expertise in Category 7: Navigation and Avionics, Category 8: Marine, and Category 9: Aerospace and Propulsion of the Export Administration Regulation. We look forward to seeing what he will accomplish this year and beyond. #LeadershipMatters

?? Meet Dr. Yolanda J. Butler, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Dr. Butler has a history of senior-level responsibility and represents the agency on councils and working groups addressing the causes and conditions of poverty. She loves mentoring emerging leaders and is the executive sponsor of her agency’s Women in Leadership Employee Resource Group. Welcome to the #WHLDP, Yolanda. #LeadershipMatters

?? Mastering Leadership Presence: Leading from Within ?? At the #WHLDP, we’re committed to developing leaders who can navigate the complexity of federal service and make a lasting impact on our nation. By cultivating leadership presence in Leadership Lab #1, our Fellows are learning to lead from within, understanding how our state of mind significantly affects our work and our impact on others. Awareness of our internal environment is critical in navigating government challenges with resilience and innovative solutions. Key takeaways included: ?? Understanding that Performance = Potential - Interference. With the biggest interference often being our internal mindset. By becoming aware and shifting mindsets with compassion, our Fellows are unlocking their full leadership potential and impact. ?? The profound impact of somatic awareness. ?? Mastering level three listening—hearing more than what is spoken. ?? Crafting conversations that engage, influence, and co-create future possibilities through making clear requests. Leadership presence is more than just making a first impression—it’s about cultivating the self-awareness to consistently show up in a way that energizes and elevates you and those around you. Stay tuned as #Cohort10 continues their leadership journey at the center of government. ?? #LeadershipMatters Marvin Barnes, Marcos Bola?os, Ph.D., Dr. Yolanda J. Butler, Jason Chauvin, Dana Davis, Esq., Oliver Fischer, Stephanie Garcia, Robert Gladney, Latasha Hackworth, Anthony Lomelin, Katherine "Katie" MacKenzie, Kathleen Rousche, Meena Srivastava, Jessica Stephens, Jeffrey Whited, Anyana Banerjee, Patrick Dunlap Not pictured: Jeana Harbison

With gratitude for all who have served, especially the #WHLDP Fellows and Alumni. Thank you for your dedication and sacrifice. ???? #LeadershipMatters

Join us in welcoming Marcos Bola?os, Ph.D., to the #WHLDP. Marcos is a Safety and Operations Research Analyst for the Federal Aviation Administration. He is committed to keeping the national airspace system safe through rigorous data analysis that allows senior leaders and air traffic controllers to make data-driven decisions. We look forward to following his journey this year. #LeadershipMatters

Our Fellows are on the move. Join us in celebrating #WHLDP Alumni Adam K., who recently accepted a position as Chief Performance Officer for the Social Security Administration. Congratulations, Adam! ?? #LeadershipMatters

The #WHLDP welcomes Marvin Barnes from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as one of our newest Fellows! Marvin oversees the research and development activities of a team of scientists and engineers while managing the Propulsion Research and Development Laboratory at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. His leadership is pivotal in advancing propulsion technologies, including cutting-edge work in nuclear propulsion, nuclear materials development, and in-space propulsion. ???? #LeadershipMatters

A huge congratulations to not one but two of our #WHLDP alumni who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions in the tech space! ?? Michael Boyce, Director, U.S. Department of Homeland Security AI Corps, has been recognized with the ‘Most Inspiring Up and Comer’ award, highlighting his achievements over the past year and his trajectory as a next-generation leader in the federal IT community. ?? Noreen M. Hecmanczuk, Senior Advisor to the Federal Chief Information Officer at the White House, Office of Management and Budget, has been honored for her work behind the scenes in improving governmental services through technical innovation and modernizing the functionality of government. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate these two amazing leaders in our community and their achievements. #LeadershipMatters

Information is not transformation. That is why at the #WHLDP, we explore leadership practices that embed the learning deeper where change happens. From day two onward in our orientation program, fellows examined the conscious use of power and reflected on leadership lessons through art and interactive experiences. #Cohort10, what was your biggest takeaway? Share in the comments below! ?? A big thank you to all of our facilitators for making this week a success and to our Alumni community for your support, dedication, and commitment to uplifting our Fellows and fostering their growth. Your continued guidance and encouragement make a difference. #LeadershipMatters ?? Marvin Barnes, Marcos Bola?os, Ph.D., Dr. Yolanda J. Butler, Jason Chauvin, Dana Davis, Esq., Oliver Fischer, Stephanie Garcia, Robert Gladney, Latasha Hackworth, Jeana Harbison, Anthony Lomelin, Katherine "Katie" MacKenzie, Kathleen Rousche, Meena Srivastava, Jessica Stephens, Jeffrey Whited, Anyana Banerjee, Patrick Dunlap