Many military installations operate as small towns or cities with many of the same challenges and opportunities as their civilian counterparts. ICMA is partnering with the Army to prepare individuals to manage military installations through a city-county management fellowship.
The (CMSFP) is a tailorable program designed to enable Army participants to:
- Gain a better understanding of city/county management.
- Enable creation of enduring professional relationships with the leadership of a city or county.
- Collaborate with other senior professionals to exchange ideas and to discuss shared challenges, successes, and opportunities.
- Leverage resources of ICMA, such as certificate programs and one-on-one coaching, and share the Army’s story with colleagues outside the Department of Defense.
Members interested in hosting a fellow from the Army should contact Lynn Phillips at lphillips@icma.org.
The Fellowship
The CMSFP is a one-week (5-day), on-the-ground “shadowing” experience working with a city or county manager and his or her senior leaders. The experience will vary slightly based on the location, but generally each experience will include:
- Welcome meetings, city tour, lunch, and discussion with elected officials and senior management.
- Observation of community forums, seminars, and recognition ceremonies.
- Tours of airports, water and wastewater management facilities, emergency operations centers, police rides or station tours, parks and recreation facilities, administration facilities (city, town, or county hall), fleet management, public works, engineering, and capital projects, or other related facilities.
- Sessions on community engagement, strategic planning, community partnerships, empowering staff, resiliency, management techniques, managing policy, and administration are encouraged based on pilot experience after-action recommendations.
Included with the fellowship are the following additional resources:
- ICMA’s Management Assessment.
- ICMA membership (including all member resources).
- ICMA Annual Digital Conference registration.
- Partnered with a coach/mentor through ICMA CoachConnect.
- Pre-fellowship orientation, fellowship planning, discussion, and evaluation in Washington, D.C. (March or April).
Program Details
Eligibility: GS-14 to GS-15 (and equivalents on other pay plans, i.e., NF and GG) serving in deputy to installation commander and deputy depot commander or similar positions, including those who have served in such positions previously and those who possess potential to serve in such positions in the near future. Colonel and lieutenant colonel installation and deputy installation commanders are also welcome, pending support and staff availability.
Access: Program and additional educational products are acquired through ArmyIgnited.
Competencies Addressed: Varies based on individual’s fellowship.
May assist in development of executive core qualifications (ECQs): 1-Leading Change, 2-Leading People, 3-Results Driven, 4-Business Acumen, and 5-Building Coalitions.
Length: Varies.
Vendor/school: ICMA; icma.org.
Location: Varies.
Note: The activities and experiences provided by the fellowship program fulfill some of the requirements to earn the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation.
