Partners Program

Does your agency or company have you on the fast track? Has your organization identified you for promotion to the Senior Executive Service (SES) or C-level ranks within the next 3-5 years? Are you currently performing as a leader in the Federal Technology marketplace? Would collaborating with government and industry professionals on your workplace challenges help you push your career to the next level? If you answered yes to these questions, then the ACT-IAC Partners Program could be the executive development program for you.

The ACT-IAC Partners Program is the technology industry’s flagship executive development program for leaders in both Government and industry. The program’s goal is to prepare Government and industry leaders for their roles at the SES and company officer levels. The ACT-IAC Partners program is unlike any other executive development program and provides the following experiences:

A 1:1 ratio of Government to Industry participants
A facilitated open and trusted partnership between Government and industry over a nine-month program that allows both sides to “walk in the others shoes”
Real-world leadership training based on OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)
Access to the ACT-IAC Fellows – the premier, trusted collaborative network of over 500 accomplished government and industry executives focused on solving governments toughest challenges

This is a highly competitive Program and agencies/companies are encouraged to nominate only their strongest leaders.

In addition to completing the application process, applicants must be nominated by their respective agency or company signifying the applicant’s potential for future advancement within their organization. Each applicant is evaluated by a panel of government and industry executives on their individual professional leadership accomplishments and how strongly these accomplishments relate to OPM’s ECQs

After successful completion of this nine-month foundational program, individuals will continue their executive development as ACT-IAC Fellows, a trusted collaborative network made up of over 500 government and industry executives,

Government applicant criteria:

Senior federal employees (Grade 15 or a High Step 14) who are involved with business transformation, IT management, program implementation, development, or acquisition. (Grade 14 and below should review the qualifications for the Voyagers Program)
Applicants should be identified as “promotable” to the SES ranks and considered to be competitive for SES selection within the next 3-5 years
Applicants should be currently serving in leadership roles that deal with significant people issues, multiple processes, and complex technologies
Must be able to dedicate 2-3 days per month for Partner activities between February and October

Industry applicant criteria:

Applicants should be currently serving in leadership roles that deal with significant people issues, multiple processes, and complex technologies and be promotable to corporate officer levels at the VP, S.VP. President, COO, CTO, CIO, and CEO levels within the next 3-5 years
Fifteen plus (15+) years of experience in progressively responsible positions across a multitude of business activities – including program/project management, technology management, financial management, procurement, business development, and marketing.
Recognized as current leaders in the government technology community through their current role/position in their company and their active participation in this market.
Familiar with the issues and concerns of the federal technology community
Must be able to dedicate 2-3 days per month for Partner activities between February and October.

Course Curriculum:

Both Industry and Government participants will be required to complete a set of requirements during the program year (February--October) which will include, but not be limited to:

Attendance at scheduled six of Partners Breakfast Panels for your team.
Attendance at least one ACT-IAC meeting with your Partner.
Attendance at two 2 ½ day off sites and the Executive Leadership Conference (ELC).
Attendance at the Leadership Development Day and Teambuilding Day. (1 full day)
Attendance at the two planned Partner educational sessions.
Meeting at least twice with your Program Group (a.k.a. “Pod”) outside of a scheduled Partner session during the program year.

Please note that these Partner Objectives are designed to encourage team building and deeper level partnerships; thus attendance is highly encouraged and will be noted as part of your completion of the requirements. During the first six months, if you’re not an active participant, I may be dismissed without refund. Remember – those who participate and contribute, reap the rewards.