Gateway is searching for a new CEO.  The company expects to complete the search by late summer.

Pier 1 is reported to have engaged the executive search firm of Spencer Stuart to find them a new CEO.  The parties have no comment.

And Toys "R" Us Inc. has named Gerald L. Storch, former vice chairman of rival Target, as chairman and chief executive, so their search is done.

Companies all over the US routinely look outside their corporate walls for a new CEO.  But what if that was impossible and you had to promote from within?  Why then you'd be in the position of the armed forces. 

Because promoting from within is their only option, the armed forces have to pay rigorous attention to the process that develops leaders. Let's see what's important to them.

Recruiting is important.  Before you start training and developing you've got to select.  The military makes recruiting an elite assignment, putting top performers in that critical job.

Basic training is important.  The military understands that basic training is where a civilian becomes something else.  It's indoctrination into the culture and it's the basis for the training and development that comes later.

Ongoing training and education are important. The military sends people to its own schools and to civilian schools.  There are also options for distance learning.

Development is important.  The military understands that development is what happens over the course of a career.  It involves learning from different assignments and postings. Development involves the process of appearing before promotional boards and regular performance evaluation.

This is a model that works, but the armed services aren't the only ones using it.  It also looks suspiciously like the models used by companies who are legendary for their leadership, like General Electric.

Setting up an effective leadership development system isn't quick or easy.  It takes hard work over decades to get it right and lots of hard work to keeping the system humming.  Unfortunately, there aren't any shortcuts.