EOEB Agency LMD
Course Contacts
Marykate Dougherty
(202)358-1257

EXCEL Programs are offered to NASA Headquarters civil servant executives and emerging leaders who want to take advantage of opportunities to improve their business performance. The program is centered on the constructs of the competencies identified in the NASA Leadership Model and the Office of Personnel Management's Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's).  The programs are particularly designed to leverage and build upon the skills of employees who have the greatest potential for impacting NASA's performance.  OPM also provides an SES Guide. The deadline for submitting EXCEL nomination packages is August 2, 2012.

News and Events

• The HRMD Employee and Organizational Excellence Branch will host Information Briefings for the 2013 EXCEL Programs will be held at NASA HQ:
  
  
• Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Room 3P44,
  
  OR

• Thursday, June 28, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m., Room 3P44
  
  

How it Works?
Participants in the EXCEL Programs select a developmental opportunity of their choice from the NASA Pre-selected Listing of Programs and focus on developing any one of the competencies identified in the NASA Leadership Model or the ECQ's.  A primary requirement is that the desired learning activity must be tied to the Employee's Performance Plan, and the employee's Individual Development Plan (IDP). EXCEL Programs are based on the principles of continuous learning where employees take personal responsibility for targeting performance areas and planning, structuring, and identifying opportunities that will enable them to learn at their fullest.

Pre-selected Excel Programs
Applicants to the EXCEL Programs may select any executive or leadership development program from the institutions listed below that relate to any competency area of the NASA Leadership Model or the OPM ECQ's. Applicants may also select a program from an institution not listed below as long as the program ties to any competency area of the NASA Leadership Model or the OPM ECQ's:

• The Aspen Institute
• The Brookings Institution - Executive Education Programs
• Center for Creative Leadership
• Federal Executive Institute (FEI)
• George Washington University - Center for Excellence in Public Leadership
• Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School
• MIT Sloan Management - Executive Education Programs
• Office of Personnel Management-Management Development Centers
• The Partnership for Public Service: Excellence in Government Fellows Program
• University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School of Business - Aresty Institute of Executive Education
• University of Maryland University College-National Leadership Institute
• The Graduate School -- Center for Leadership and Management
• Other Institution of Nominee’s Choice

Candidate Selection Process
Candidates for EXCEL Programs are selected on a competitive basis by an Executive Review Panel. Accordingly, it is important to nominate employees who have demonstrated the potential to manage and lead the Agency in the future.  Early involvement and guidance from top management can facilitate the identification of employees who have the greatest potential for impacting NASA's performance.  To ensure that all qualified individuals have the opportunity to be considered, supervisors are strongly encouraged to consider the diversity of their organization when selecting and endorsing nominees.

Program Funding
All training related fees will be covered by the Human Resources Management Division’s Employee and Organizational Excellence Branch (HRMD/EOEB) and will not be charged to the participant's organization training allocation (many programs include lodging and meals in the program tuition). However, all travel costs will be the responsibility of the participant's organization.


Program Requirements
Once approved to participate in the EXCEL Programs, candidates are required to:

• Participate in a brief orientation that explains the components and requirements of the program,
• Attend the approved developmental program once registered by the Organizational Excellence Branch

If the participant does not show up for the approved developmental program, the participant's Office will be responsible for all training-related expenses incurred by the HRMD/EOEB.  A participant who cannot attend training should contact the HRMD/EOEB immediately upon learning of their need to cancel participation.

The HRMD/EOEB will fund only those developmental programs approved by the Executive Review Panel. Participants cannot change the developmental program identified on their nomination form after confirmation of acceptance into an EXCEL Program without prior approval.

Nomination Process

If you are interested in applying to the EXCEL Programs during the annual call for applicants, you will use the following nomination process:

Step 1: Meet with an HRMD/EOEB career counselor to discuss the IDP process and choosing at least one competency to focus on developing (assuring that it aligns with an aspect of the NASA Leadership Model or the OPM ECQ’s).

NASA Headquarters Career Counselors are available to assist with the IDP process.

Step 2: Identify a program of interest from the EXCEL Programs Pre-selected Listing or any other executive or leadership development program that relates to any competency area of the NASA Leadership Model or the OPM ECQ's.

Step 3: Meet with your supervisor to discuss interest and benefits of participating in EXCEL as it relates to the organization’s performance.

Step 4: Complete the EXCEL Nomination Form.

EXCEL Program’s Nomination Form:
In order to access and complete the EXCEL Program’s nomination form, please follow the instructions below:

• Click on the following web link: www.nef.nasa.gov
• Access the “Choose the Distribution Center” drop-down menu and select “NHQ Forms”
• Access the “Enter a Form Number” drop-down menu and enter “306”
• After you have accessed the form from NASA’s Electronic Forms website, you can save, edit and print the form to your hard drive.

Step 5: Forward the completed EXCEL Nomination form through your Office for approval.

• Tips for Completing a Competitive Application

Step 6: Submit your nomination package no later than August 2, 2012 to Tammy Bolden in the HRMD/Employee and Organizational Excellence Branch, Mailstop: 3Q53

Step 7: A member of the Employee and Organizational Excellence Branch will convene an Executive Review Panel whose role is to evaluate nominations, interview selected candidates and make final selection recommendations.

Step 8: A member of the Employee and Organizational Excellence Branch will notify the workforce of final candidates accepted into the EXCEL Program.

For questions related to the nomination process, please email Kim Haney-Brown at Kim.R.Haney-Brown@nasa.gov or call her at ext. 0433.

For questions related to package submission, please email Tamara Bolden at Tamara.Bolden-1@nasa.gov or call her at ext. 2271.

Back to Headquarters Training Opportunities