Carderock HR Specialist Graduates from Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program Part 2: Meredith Miller

Carderock HR Specialist Graduates from Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program Part 2: Meredith Miller

By Brittny Odoms

Human Resource Specialist Meredith Miller recently graduated from the Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program (DCELP), a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative designed to prepare entry-level and emerging civilian leaders for greater responsibility.

DCELP offers leadership development for employees in the GS-7 to GS-12 pay grades, focusing on self-awareness and leading teams, projects and people. The three-month program combines classroom instruction, mentoring, leadership coaching, group projects and simulations in Norman, Oklahoma.

For Miller, DCELP was more than professional development-it was a chance to challenge herself personally.

"I have a passion for helping people grow, and DCELP offered the chance to further develop skills of leading people, learning from mentors and peers, and then practicing those skills in real-world scenarios," Miller said. "The program's focus on self-knowing yourself and expressing yourself-pushed me into uncomfortable spaces that ultimately provided growth. It became a steppingstone to build my confidence and expand my perspective as I prepare for greater responsibility as a civil servant."

Miller said one of her biggest challenges came during the first week, when participants were asked to reflect deeply during the "Know Self" portion of the program.

"Digging into that material brought up some unresolved issues that I thought I had processed," she said. "It wasn't easy to confront them, but having the support of a safe environment allowed me to work through those challenges instead of avoiding them. That experience actually strengthened my journey through DCELP."

Through the program, Miller said she also discovered that leadership is not always about being in charge.

"One of the biggest lessons I took away was the importance of courageous followership in leadership," she said. "Leadership isn't just about having the title-it's about knowing when to step up and lead, and when to step back and follow. Understanding the value of being a courageous follower showed me that real leadership is about trust and supporting others when the situation calls for it."

Miller believes the program provides civilian employees across the DoD with tools that everyday work doesn't always make possible, especially opportunities for reflection and networking.

"The program really encourages you to step back and look at yourself as a leader-your strengths, your blind spots and how you show up for others," she said. "That kind of reflection is powerful because it builds confidence and self-awareness while connecting you with peers DoD-wide."

Her biggest takeaway was that leadership begins with self-awareness.

"The program challenged me to really examine who I am, how I communicate and how my actions impact others," Miller said. "That reflection has been eye-opening because it showed me that leadership isn't just about making decisions-it's about building trust, listening and being intentional in how I show up every day."

Miller credits the strong network of peers she built during DCELP for reminding her she wasn't on the journey alone. She said that sense of connection gave her both confidence and humility to continue growing as a leader.