In 2006, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association's Council on Technology Teacher Education (CTETE) Leadership Development Committee established the Twenty-First Century Leader Associates (TCLA) program. This initiative was developed to facilitate a sense of community and provide activities and resources for scholarly and professional development opportunities for groups of early-career technology and engineering education faculty and other professionals. The early success of the TCLA program was recognized by the ITEEA board as it determined what course of action was needed to implement a leadership development component of ITEEA's Strategic Plan. In 2010 a decision was made to join efforts and develop a 21st Century Leadership Academy (21CLA) with support from the Foundation for Technology and Engineering Education (FTEE) Gerrish Fund. These programs collectively have produced 66 Fellows.