EXETER -- Jeff William Eggers, a former Exeter resident, was recently awarded a prestigious White House Fellowship.

Eggers is a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander and is currently serving as executive officer of SEAL Team SEVEN, supervising more than 160 SEALs and support personnel who deploy globally in support of the war on terror. .

"It is truly an honor to have been appointed as a White House Fellow in the Class of 2006-2007. I look forward to the placement process in July when I will get the opportunity to work in and see how the government functions up close," said Eggers.

The White House Fellows Program, founded in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, is non-partisan and offers exceptional young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government.

White House Fellows typically spend one year working as full-time, paid special assistants to senior White House staff, cabinet secretaries, and other top-ranking government officials. Fellows also participate in an education program consisting of roundtable discussions with leaders from private and public sectors, and trips to study U.S. policy action both domestically and abroad.

Janet Eissenstat, director of The White House Fellows Program, explained that Eggers selection, as a fellow was a great accomplishment.

"I think the selection says a lot about Jeff and his leadership. It also says something about the contribution that he will make to his country. This will be a tremendous opportunity for Jeff to learn how to get results in Washington, D.C." Eissenstat said the competition for the fellow was intense.

"To become a White House Fellow, Jeff had to survive many rounds of selection including the regional competition followed by the national competition," she said.

In order to become a White House Fellow, one must exhibit a record of remarkable professional achievement, evidence of leadership skills, a strong commitment to public service, and the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute successfully at the highest levels of government.

The program has fostered leaders in many fields, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, former CNN President Tom Johnson and United Nations Foundation President and former US Sen. Timothy Wirth.

In addition to serving as a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander and in his role as executive officer of SEAL Team SEVEN, Eggers recently completed a tour in Iraq as the commander of Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-West where he was the senior special operations officer in the Anbar province of Western Iraq.

Recently, Eggers was also selected as the Naval Academy's Admiral Andersen Leadership speaker.