The Eisenhower Leader Development Program starts with a competitive selection process at West Point. Every year, scores of senior captains apply to the program from across the Army, and only the officers with the strongest records of proven leadership and highest intellectual potential are selected.
This year, 21 officers and one NCO graduated Friday in the Haig Room, to include two guest officers who participated in the ELDP: 1st Lt. Christos Tamouridis from the Greek Army and Maj. Kimberly Guest from the U.S. Air Force, and the first USMA NCO graduate, Sgt. 1st Class Donnie Seidle.
The ELDP is an intensive master’s program comprised of 45-credit hours spread across three academic semesters: summer, fall and spring.
Students must take a total of 15 courses, including four courses taught by USMA faculty from the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, Department of History and the Department of Mathematics, and 11 courses taught by Teachers College–Columbia University faculty and taken alongside of their civilian student peers on campus in Manhattan.
The ELDP program's major themes include leader development, coaching, organizational culture, cross-cultural leadership, socialization, the history of West Point, group dynamics and leading organizational change.
ELDP culminates with a comprehensive examination requiring candidates to integrate and show mastery of all topics, plus strong critical thinking and communication abilities.
Successful completion of this rigorous program results in a Master of Arts in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University.
At the completion of the Eisenhower Program, graduates are assigned to serve in various capacities across West Point, the operational Army and Allied militaries.
Most graduates become company tactical officers in the Corps of Cadets, while others become company tactical officers at the USMA Preparatory School, instructors in various USMA departments, special staff in the Simon Center for Professional Military Ethic, operations officers in the Center for Junior Officers, and in key billets in the U.S. Army’s special operations forces.
Photos by Jorge Garcia/PV