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What it Takes to Join the SES

Presented by OPM's Center for Leadership Development, Federal Executive Institute 

May 10, 2023

Aspiring to become a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) may be in your near or long-term career goals. If you’re wondering what it takes to be an SES member, and how the role of the SES shapes our government, don’t miss this free one-hour webinar that will:

  • Familiarize you with the SES hiring process
  • Help you understand the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and how they apply to SES hiring
  • Give you strategies for writing strong ECQ narratives and resumes
  • Guide you to drafting a personal action plan to prepare for becoming a member of the SES



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Presenter: Michael Shonrock, Ph.D, SES

Michael Shonrock, Federal Executive Institute director

Michael Shonrock serves as the Director of the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) and has previously served as the FEI Dean of Faculty, FEI Supervisory Faculty, and FEI Senior Faculty Member for the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) within the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Before joining the Center for Leadership Development and Federal Executive Institute in October 2019, Michael has served over 30+ years in private and public higher education having served as the president of a private university, the  president of a public regional university, and the senior vice president at a research university along with serving as a senior faculty member for doctoral and masters in the schools of business and education.

Michael has served as a faculty member for the FEI Leadership for a Democratic Society (LDS) programs, the convenor for the SES Leading EDGE programs, the facilitator for the OPM Aspiring SES Lunch & Learn Webinars, and a co-coordinator for the new political Appointee Leadership Development Journey micro-learning series, assisted with numerous custom and open enrollment leadership development programs, along with executive coaching for senior leaders (GS-15’s and SES’s) within federal agencies.

Michael has chaired numerous national, state, and local boards of directors and has established multiple public-private partnerships with state and local governments. He has led the development of university and community strategic plans, has served as a senior leadership consultant for business and education, and has keynoted national and state professional association conferences.

Michael received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from the University of Kansas, his Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree from Pittsburg State University, and his Master of Science (MS) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees from Western Illinois University. Michael is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM).


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Last modified: Friday, July 21, 2023, 3:55 PM