Future Leaders in Infections and Global Health Threats (FLIGHT)
Applications are paused for the CDC FLIGHT program, Class of 2024. Please check this website in Fall 2024 for information on the CDC FLIGHT, Class of 2025 application process.
Developing scientific leaders to improve global health security & domestic preparedness.
Future Leaders in Infections and Global Health Threats (FLIGHT) is a CDC leadership program that prepares participants, known as FLIGHT officers, to address global public health threats. Scientific leadership is critical to public health and to CDC’s mission in driving actions to improve global health security and domestic preparedness. To continue our success in delivering programs with demonstrated public health impact, CDC must recruit, develop, and retain clinical health professionals with the ability to lead multidisciplinary scientific teams to address a variety of infectious disease threats. The FLIGHT application period opens in September of each year.
FLIGHT Program Training:
Launched in 2019, this 3-year program allows FLIGHT officers to gain the skills to be effective scientific leaders who translate public health science and research into successful infectious disease programs with global applications.
The FLIGHT program combines didactic and experiential training, such as skill assessments, educational seminars, professional coaching, global rotations, programmatic work, and leadership networking, to help officers meet performance and public health service requirements and build leadership and scientific skills.
FLIGHT Officers:
FLIGHT officers are selected from recent graduating classes of CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS). This now includes physicians, veterinarians and doctoral scientists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens, and candidates with clinical qualifications must also have an unrestricted license to practice their clinical specialty.
The following are the benefits officers receive while in the FLIGHT program:
- Training, mentorship, and coaching in public health leadership development
- Access to experienced coach consultants from outside of CDC for personal leadership development
- Opportunities to shadow senior CDC leaders
- Experience conducting science or research, leading people, managing projects, developing partnerships, and practicing influential communication