The Bureau of Reclamation announces the selection of Ms. Sue Fry, Special Assistant to the Mid-Pacific Regional Director, to participate in Reclamation's Leadership Development Program. The year-long program will include numerous executive-level training classes, a mentoring program, and a total of 90 days detailed to other Reclamation offices. Ms. Fry will begin the program in early 2007. Upon completion, the program offers a 2-year window for promotional opportunities to the graduates.

Ms. Fry was one of 10 employees selected for the program from a pool of 32 applicants from throughout Reclamation. The rigorous selection process took approximately a year and included an online assessment to test IQ, technical capabilities, and reading proficiency; an Office of Personnel Management 8-hour assessment; and an interview with the programs executive committee.

"This program will give me an opportunity to learn more about what goes on across Reclamation and will also assist in my personal and professional growth and development," said Ms. Fry. "The process itself was very revealing as I worked through the assessments; they gave me detailed information on my strengths and weaknesses."

Ms. Fry has been a special assistant to the Regional Director for the last 2 ½ years. Previously, she worked in the private sector for 2 years and for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) for 14 years. While with the COE, Ms. Fry worked in Washington, DC, for 2 years where she spent a year on Capitol Hill supporting Congress' Energy and Water Development Subcommittee and a year at the Pentagon.

Reclamation began the Leadership Development Program in 1997 to address anticipated losses within Reclamation's leadership ranks and new mission requirements resulting from agency restructuring. The first group of 35 participants completed the program in 1999.