Name: Scott Baird; Program: Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF); Education Level: Graduate Student
July 9, 2024
minute read time
The Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) is the federal government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree holders across all academic disciplines. Established 45 years ago by Executive Order, the PMF program has embodied the essential mission to recruit and develop a cadre of future government leaders drawn from all segments of society.
Eligible individuals apply to become Finalists, who have 12 months to secure an appointment as a Fellow, a two-year, full-time, paid fellowship at a federal agency.
The PMF Program creates a lasting bond among Fellows and Alumni through its ability to instill a spirit of public service that potentially leads to a career in government.
In Fall 2023, DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) welcomed three PMF participants to support numerous elements of the cleanup mission, including emergency management, cybersecurity and engineering.
Meet Scott Baird, an Emergency Management Analyst with EM’s Office of Emergency Management at the Paducah Portsmouth Program Office (PPPO) in Lexington, Kentucky – an EM field site that manages the DOE cleanup efforts at two gaseous diffusion plant sites – Portsmouth (Piketon), Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky. The PPPO mission is to accomplish Environmental Remediation, Waste Management, Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion, and Decontamination and Decommissioning at the Sites.
With 27 years of military experience in the U.S. Army, Baird became a PMF recipient as he pursued his master's in emergency management with a minor in Public Health. Baird had learned of the fellowship online and was eager to take part, as the mission inspired him to give back to our nation through his expertise.
Baird pictured at the 2024 Paducah Semi-Annual Exercise
As a fellow at PPPO, Baird's daily tasks focus on leading two field sites and their respective emergency management policies and procedures. "My main focus is the safety of our workers and the community as a whole. The policies and procedures I write, or change revolve around the safety aspect and concerns daily. A safe site is a safe community," Baird explains.
Baird credits his current DOE-EM PMF experience for providing him with a positive means to contribute to employee safety and well-being. From safety drills to reviewing site systems, Baird’s evaluations offer a vital perspective driven to create innovative and adaptable solutions in emergency management.
His current journey as a PMF recipient with DOE-EM has provided Baird with newfound insights into the Department's functions and helped him discover the powerful purpose and importance of his field's contributions to facilitating safe nuclear waste cleanup.
“I believe we’re brought into these positions through PMF to help bring more of a modern look to federal service. Our work directly affects how policies and procedures are developed and written for the best possible outcome. With that being said, this will bring change to the near future of how DOE-EM functions and competes with the changes of our government and society as a whole,” said Baird.