ALCOAST 312/21 - SEP 2021 2022-2023 WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS (WHF) PROGRAM

R 011502Z SEP 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 312/21
SSIC 1738
SUBJ:  2022-2023 WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS (WHF) PROGRAM
1. President Lyndon Johnson established the White House Fellows
Program in 1964 to offer opportunities to gifted and highly
motivated young Americans to experience, first hand, governance
at the highest levels. The White House Fellows Program seeks
talented individuals from all sectors of our national life -
private industry, academia, medicine, military, law, the arts,
and state and local government. Civilian federal government
employees are not eligible. The White House selects 11-19 Fellows
each year through a national competition process.
2. Fellows serve for one year as full-time special assistants to
high ranking officials of the executive branch, including cabinet
secretaries and senior members of the Executive Office of the
President. Fellows also participate in an extensive mandatory
education program that augments and enhances the work placement
experience by providing weekly speaker seminars, monthly community
service engagements, and trips to study U.S.policy in action both
domestically and internationally. Fellowships are awarded on a
strictly non-partisan basis.
3. Fellows are chosen based on substantial records of professional,
educational, and public service accomplishment as well as
demonstrated promise to serve in more senior capacities in the
future. Military Fellows typically hold a Bachelors and at least
one graduate degree, and serve in leadership roles in professional
and community service organizations. Biographies of the 2020-2021
White House Fellows are available at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://whff.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-2021
-White-House-Fellows-Bios-with-Photos.pdf

4. District Commanders and Commanding Officers should identify
eligible and high performing Coast Guard mid-grade officers and
enlisted members and personally encourage them to apply for this
program.
5. Twelve Coast Guard members have been selected to serve as White
House Fellows since program inception and six of them are still on
active duty and three are reservists. LCDR (Reserve) Travis Thul is
a member of the 2020-2021 WHF class and served in the Export-Import
Bank of the United States and the Executive Office of the Vice
President. LCDR Elizabeth Gillis is a member of the 2018-2019 WHF
class and served in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. LCDR
(Reserve) Brian Churchill also is a member of the 2018-2019 WHF
class and served in the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
LCDR Linden Dahlkemper is a member of the 2016-2017 WHF class and
served in the General Services Administration. LCDR LaShanda Holmes
is a member of the 2015-2016 WHF class and served in the Office of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
administrator. CAPT Kate Higgins-Bloom is a member of the 2014-2015
WHF class and served in the Office of the First Lady. CAPT (sel)
Anne OConnell is a member of the 2012-2013 WHF class and served on
the U.S. Domestic Policy Council. LCDR (Reserve) Clay Pell is a
member of the 2011-2012 WHF class and served on the U.S. National
Security Council. CAPT Holly Harrison is a member of the 2010-2011
WHF class and served in the Office of the NASA administrator.
CAPT (ret) Jonathan Spaner is a member of the 2002-2003 WHF class
and served on the White House Homeland Security Council Staff.
LCDR (ret) Tim Atkin is a member of the 1994-1995 WHF class and
served on the White House National Security Council Staff.
CDR (ret) Craig Coy is a member of the 1983-1984 WHF class and
served on the White House Domestic Policy Staff.
6. An informational session for interested applicants will be held 
virtually on Monday, 20 SEP 2021 from 1400-1530 ET. Several of the
WHF alumni listed above will discuss the application process, their
fellowship experiences, and answer questions. If you are interested
in participating in the session, contact the COMDT (CG-0921) POC
listed in paragraph 10.
7. The application process is managed entirely by the White House.
The Coast Guard plays no role in selecting candidates, therefore
Coast Guard applicants should not send applications via the chain of
command. However, individuals should inform COMDT (CG-0921) if they
intend to apply to the program. See POC information in paragraph 10.
8. Application forms and all related information are accessible via
the White House Fellows website:
(Copy and Paste URL into Browser)

https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/fellows/

Although the 2022-2023 schedule has not yet been announced, the
online application will be available 01 NOV 2021 and must be
submitted with all supporting documents by early JAN 2022. The
fellowship year runs approximately 23 AUG to 23 AUG inclusive.
9. COMDT (CG-0921) will sponsor applicants selected by the White
House Fellows Office for interviews. Individuals selected as
Fellows will work with CG Personnel Command to coordinate PCS
transfer arrangements.
10. POC: Direct additional questions to Michele Zauche at COMDT
(CG-0921), email: Michele.R.Zauche@uscg.mil.
11. RDML M.M. Dean, Director, Governmental and Public Affairs
(CG-092), sends.
12. Internet release is authorized.