Voyagers Program

Overview of the Voyagers Program

The ACT-IAC Voyagers Program is a leadership development program for rising leaders in government and industry with high potential for future advancement. The objective of the program is to prepare mid-level managers for their future roles in industry and government. Educational courses are based on the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Executive Core Qualifications and the program focuses on creating true collaboration through a 1:1 ratio of government to industry participants.

Important Dates

  • May 5, 2025 - Applications open for the 2026 Class
  • June 18, 2025 - Pre-Application Seminar
  • August 1, 2025 - Applications close. All applications must be submitted by 5PM EST.  
  • August 20-30, 2025 - Notifications completed for all applicants.
  • September 10, 2025 - Virtual Voyagers Class Orientation

Tuition Fees

  • Government Voyagers - $4750
  • Industry Voyagers - $5495
    • Only applicants from current IAC member companies in good standing are permitted to apply for and participate in the Voyagers Program
    • Only 1 person per IAC member company may apply

The ACT-IAC Professional Development programs are highly competitive, and we encourage organizations and agencies to only submit their top candidates. 

Voyagers 2026 Calendar

Take a look at the Voyagers 2026 Program Calendar and verify you can attend all the mandatory events.

Supporting Documents

You will need to upload 3 documents as part of your application.

  1. Current Resume
  2. Sponsorship Agreement
  3. Code of Conduct

Having trouble seeing the application? Make sure you are logged into your ACT-IAC web account first. If you have any specific concerns or questions, please email Aarthi Ramesh, Manager, Professional Development, [email protected] and we’ll be happy to address your questions. Thank you for being a valued contributor to the ACT-IAC community and for continuing to help us make a positive difference in the federal technology community.

Unique Differentiators

The ACT-IAC Voyagers program is unlike any other leadership development program and provides participants with:

  • A facilitated open and trusted partnership with a 1 to 1 ratio between government and industry who collaborate in a not for attribution environment that allows both sides to “walk in the others shoes”
  • A mentoring program with a member of the Fellows community.
  • Stretching your comfort zone while teambuilding with your cohort in presenting Voyagers Got Talent
  • Experiential leadership training based on OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)
  • Enhanced leadership and communication skills to help empower your team and organization
  • Opportunity to collaborate with other high achievers who are facing similar challenges and helping their agencies and organizations to develop meaningful solutions
  • Led by practicing senior government and industry professionals
  • Up to 80 Continuous Learning Points
Applicant Demographics

The successful Voyager will have:

  • In general 7-14 years of experience in progressively responsible positions across a multitude of business activities, government candidates should be Grade 11-13, and newly promoted GS-14's.
  • Mid-level career experience with a path to senior leadership in the next 6-10 years.
  • A well-rounded background in their discipline and experience across a range of business activities.
  • The ability to dedicate 10-15 hours per month for Voyagers activities during the program duration and attend all required sessions in person.
  • Candidates who have recently “switched” from government to industry or industry to government, should have at least 1 year of experience “on the other side” as the program is designed to share what it is like to walk in each others’ shoes.
  • Be recommended by a sponsor within their organization or agency.

Participant fee is $4750 for government and $5495 for industry. 

This includes all meals, facilities and overnight accommodations for the offsites outside of the DC area. ACT-IAC understands and is accustomed to helping agencies navigate uncertain budgets for more information contact Aarthi Ramesh, Manager, Professional Development, [email protected]. 

*Please note only one person per industry member company should apply and can be accepted. Industry applicants must be from a member company in good standing.

This is a highly competitive program and agencies/companies are encouraged to nominate only their strongest candidates.

Testimonials

"Voyagers illuminates the path open to mid-career professionals to affect real change towards accelerating mission outcomes in government and provides the mentorship required to navigate that path successfully." 

Frederick Freeman, USDA, Voyagers 2024 Graduate

"Voyagers '24 was an amazing opportunity to connect with colleagues across government and industry and learn from experts in fun and educational ways on what it takes to be a high-quality leader."

Richelle Young, FAA, Voyagers 2024 Graduate

"What may seem like a 'check the box' activity, really turned out to be a truly formative experience for both my personal and professional life."

Stacy Langbauer, Acuity, Inc., Voyagers 2024 Graduate

"For all those that approach leadership and development programs with a healthy dose of skepticism, I hope I can reach you. When I was approached to consider applying for Voyagers, I was admittedly skeptical because by this point I'd had my fair share of leadership or leadership adjacent programs under my belt--having joined AmeriCorps right out of undergrad, followed by the Peace Corps, and recently having completed a two-year acquisition development program at GSA, but honestly I can say that Voyagers surprised me. Every single time I had exposure to the cohort, I walked away wanting to be a better version of myself both personally and professionally. The access to the leadership team was also a unique draw that I realize now I wish I had taken advantage of from the get-go. These people genuinely care about your growth and it is palpable at every engagement. I am approaching my graduation as a Voyager as the beginning. The ability to call on any of these people with questions or concerns is invaluable and I plan to tap into this network for years to come."

Joan Baer, GSA, Voyagers 2024 Graduate