Future Leaders Development Conference

Empowering Tomorrow’s Transportation Leaders

The esteemed Future Leaders Development Conference (LDC) has been a cornerstone of Eno’s legacy, shaping visionary leaders for over 27 cohorts. This unique program offers a select group of the nation’s top graduate students in transportation an in-depth look into the development of national transportation policies. Participants engage in a week-long intensive experience in Washington, DC, where they interact with key policymakers, industry leaders, and fellow transportation enthusiasts.

We are thrilled to announce the return of the LDC in 2024, reigniting the spirit of leadership and innovation in a post-COVID world.

SAVE THE DATE: June 2-6, 2024

As an LDC Fellow, brace yourself for an immersive 5-day conference where you will:

Engage with dozens of Nationally Recognized Experts: Learn from the best as seasoned professionals share insights drawn from years of invaluable experience.
Participate in Candid Discussions: Dive into off-the-record conversations tackling the most challenging topics in the transportation industry today.
Gain Insider Perspectives: Get a unique “inside the beltway” look at how transportation policy is crafted and enacted at the federal level.
Expand Your Professional Network: Connect and collaborate with peers during panel discussions and enriching activities.
Cultivate Adaptive Leadership: Develop your ability to lead effectively in complex and changing environments, honing skills that will empower you to navigate the evolving landscape of transportation with agility and insight.

Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and equipped with the knowledge and connections to make a lasting impact in the world of transportation.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Program Schedule

The LDC agenda will cover topics such as:

State of Federal Transportation
Transportation Workforce Development and Labor Needs
Transportation Funding
Federal Technology Policy
Role of Freight Transportation
Aviation Industry
Transportation Lobbying
Local Mobility Transportation
Role of Transportation in Sustainability and Climate Change

Fellows in the LDC can expect:

During the 5 day conference Fellows can expect to:

Hear from more than 25 nationally recognized experts who will share their perspective from decades of experience
Participate in informal, off the record, conversations on hard hitting topics affecting the transportation industry
Gain a look “inside the beltway” on how transportation policy gets enacted at the federal level
Network with industry professionals during the panels and evening activities

Who Should Apply

The Eno Future Leaders Development Conference is designed for students in transportation-related programs, including engineering, planning, public policy, public administration, economics, management, and law. Students interested in any mode of transportation are encouraged to apply.

Candidates must be Graduate-level students pursuing a masters or doctoral degree and matriculate in 2024 academic year or beyond.

Each university is invited to nominate one student from each transportation-related discipline. Each college within the university is limited to one nomination. Universities with more than one transportation-related program may submit no more than two applications per university.

Your nominee should be an individual who demonstrates leadership ability and the potential to assume a senior role in a transportation-related organization in the future. The student must be able to attend the entire conference scheduled for June 2 – 6. International students can apply for the conference as long as they are nominated by a United States college/university and are currently attending.

How to Apply

All required application materials for each applicant must be posted to the Future Leaders Development Conference online application form.

Individuals interested in applying for the program must provide the following information:

Online Application:
Statement of Interest:
Updated Resume (2-page limit)
Nomination Letter
Optional Statement of Financial Support

A sample application and detailed instructions for the LDC application can be found here!

CLICK HERE FOR FULL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE APPLICATION

Eno’s Board of Regents will review all nominations and select the participants for the 2024 Conference. In making the selections, the Regents will consider each nominee’s accomplishments and demonstrated leadership ability, academic program, intent to pursue a career in transportation and interest in national transportation issues.

Applications can be completed by the student or the nominator. Applications must have all required documents to be considered complete. If you have questions or issues with the online forms, contact pdpsupport@enotrans.org

Examples of Outstanding Applications from the 2016 Class

Andisheh Ranjibari (Rodney Slater Award Recipient)

Jonathan Wood (Dr. Thomas D. Larson Fellowship Award Recipient)

Jack Cebe, Georgia Institute of Technology

Scholarships

ATTENTION WTS MEMBERS:

Each year, the Maggie Walsh, WTS International Board Chair Scholarship is given to one outstanding candidate and WTS member. WTS selects the candidate to attend Eno’s Future Leaders Development Conference from the already selected class of Eno Fellows.

ATTENTION COMTO MEMBERS:

For the third year, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) award will be given to one outstanding student who is a COMTO member or affiliate. COMTO selects the candidate to attend Eno’s Future Leaders Development Conference from the already selected class of Eno Fellows. Please note in your statement of interest if you or someone in your family is a COMTO member.

ATTENTION MASTERS DEGREE STUDENTS

For the fourth year, the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) will select a master’s degree student for a seat in the Eno LDC program. The student will be selected in conjunction with other CUTC awards.

If you have questions regarding the CUTC master’s degree seat in the Eno LDC program, please contact Dr. Tom O’Brien at Thomas.OBrien@csulb.edu

Logistics

The Eno Center for Transportation covers most costs for selected Eno Fellows. This includes round trip transportation to/from the Fellow’s University, room and tax costs for all conference nights, and some meals. Two Eno Fellows will share a room during the conference. Fellow’s have the option of extending their hotel stay at their own cost.

$229 for own room

Questions

For questions about the Future Leaders Development Conference, please contact us at publicaffairs@enotrans.org.

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Sponsoring a Fellow

For over 25 years, the nation’s top transportation graduate students have gathered in Washington, DC to attend the Future Leadership Development Conference (LDC) and become Eno Fellows. During this week-long intensive program, the Fellows meet with federal, state, and local officials, as well as public, private, and non-profit leaders across the industry. They get a first-hand look at how transportation policy is made, while engaging with leaders to discuss the latest developments and trends in the industry. You can support the critical workforce of the future through a named Eno LDC Fellowship, named for your company or organization.

Learn More

From Alumni

“The LDC program has at least two lasting impacts: teaching fellows how policy is made and how complex the process is, and establishing a network of fellows. Both of these can help fellows be more effective transportation professionals.”

“So many great conversations! Not only did I get to meet four (FOUR!) former secretaries of transportation, I got to nerd out with other Eno Fellows about transportation policy all week. Talking with so many smart, dedicated people really broadened my view of how we can and should make transportation decisions.”

“The LDC showed multiple pathways for researchers to influence policy. The decision-makers we met with said over and over that they don’t want to just hand down policy from on high. They are hungry for evidence and want to hear from people like me.”

“The remarkable aspect of the LDC program, in my mind, lies with the personal connections made with my peers. I find it incredibly rewarding to interact with my Eno Fellows at conferences and meetings all over the country, and hearing about all of their great successes.”

Shape Tomorrow’s Transportation: Join Eno Today

Dive into a century of pioneering transportation education and expertise. At Eno, we’re more than a think tank—we’re a dynamic community of professionals, policymakers, and innovators driving the future of transportation. Benefit from unparalleled research, independent policy insight, and transformative professional development programs. Join Eno today and be at the forefront of shaping national transportation policy and practices.

Special Thanks to our

Enterprise Members!

Eno is an independent, non-partisan think-tank that shapes public debate on critical multimodal transportation issues and builds an innovative network of transportation professionals.

1629 K Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
P: 202.879.4700

publicaffairs@enotrans.org