The PMF Program was established by executive order in 1977 to attract to the federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines who have a commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. The two-year paid fellowship is a rigorous endeavor that includes 160 hours of formal classroom training, developmental assignments of four to six months, optional one-to-six-month rotations to other agencies and the potential for accelerated promotions. As employees of the U.S. government, they will have opportunities to network with other future leaders and federal workers.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me," said Hoffman, who graduated from Miami Law in December and who described himself as "very humbled" to have received the prestigious fellowship.
More than 80 federal agencies work with the PMF Program Office to hire Fellows each year and involve them in domestic and international issues such as public administration, foreign policy, technology, science, criminal justice, health, and Financial Management.
Bearing the Presidential seal, the PMF Program is the the U.S. government's main leadership development program. It selects the best candidates possible with the aim of developing a cadre of potential government leaders. Though many of the positions are in Washington D.C., the positions can be anywhere in the world, depending on the appointment.
The law school nominates students in a competitive process. Then the nominated students take an online skills test. Those with the highest scores become semi-finalists and must be interviewed in person. The top students are then named as finalists, and become Fellows when they start working.
Last year, Miami Law had one PMF finalist, Fredrick Hawkins, who is now at the Department of State.
For information on the Presidential Management Fellowship, take a look at www.pmf.gov.
