John F. Kennedy
November 10, 1961

Memorandum on the Need for Greater Coordination of Regional and Field Activities of the Government.
Memorandum for Heads of Department and Agencies

“As an integral part of present steps to increase the effectiveness and economy of Federal agencies, I want coordination of government activities outside of Washington significantly strengthened.”

The Federal Executive Board (FEB) serves as the local Federal ambassador to federal communities in 28 field locations across the United States. Similar to the President’s Cabinet in our Nation’s Capital, Federal Executive Board (FEB) membership becomes automatic and mandatory by virtue of the incumbent being the senior agency official within each FEB’s geographic boundaries. The Dallas-Fort Worth “Cabinet” consists of the highest ranking Federal leaders for 80 Federal Departments and Independent Agencies located in the North Central Texas area. There is a total population of 220 federal offices in the DFW area.

FEBs support and promote national initiatives of the President and the Administration and responds to local needs of Federal departments and agencies outside the beltway. Over 88% of the Federal workforce work in field locations outside of the Washington, DC area. The FEB serves as a vital connection to intergovernmental coordination identifying common ground and building cooperative relationships. FEBs have a long history of establishing and maintaining valuable communication links and have been providing a balanced perspective for more than 50 years. Today, the Boards are even more relevant than at any other time in history. As the local Federal ambassador, the FEB identifies opportunities for partnerships with intergovernmental and community organizations. Interagency collaboration is no longer just a wise choice; it has become necessary as a matter of survival. We no longer have the luxury of deciding if we want to work together, but we must determine how we will accomplish our common goals.

The Federal Executive Board’s programs are not just for executives. Although the senior agency representative is the actual member of the Executive Board, agencies are encouraged to allow employees at all levels within their organizations to serve as an FEB contact, participate in FEB activities, participate as a committee chair, and incorporate FEB shared services into their agency missions working together to meet the needs of the public we serve.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Federal Executive Board covers a 16-county jurisdiction that includes the following counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise counties.

Finally, all Federal Executive Boards operate in three primary Strategic Goals: 

1. Emergency Preparedness, Employee Safety & Security
2. Workforce Development and Support
3. Strategic Partnership