Leadership Blog

Texas A&M Forest Service Leadership Enrichment Program

Identifying existing leaders and developing future leaders for Texas A&M Forest Service are —and must be — some the highest priorities for our agency.

The Leadership Enrichment Program is designed to provide tools and techniques to those individuals who can best navigate leading the state forestry agency into the future in an age of fast-movement and change.

LEP launched in 2008 when agency officials recognized that the majority of its employees were nearing retirement and a need existed to grow new leaders. In developing the program, agency officials focused on the identification, development and retention of their most promising employees. The program is organized into cohorts of members whose leadership behaviors align with the agency’s objectives.

Each cohort meets regularly over an 18-month period and focuses on issues that reflect the realities of a state forestry agency. The group travels throughout the state to learn about the diverse services the agency offers. Group exercises allow for observations related to innovation, team orientation and assertiveness. Each cohort is given a project of critical importance to the agency and work in coordination with senior leaders to develop a solution.

The Leadership Enrichment Program fills a significant role in an employee’s future and the future of the agency. Often the success that a member may experience within the program is generally reflected in their regular work life after graduation from LEP. Many have since earned promotions to positions with higher levels of responsibilities.