The author describes six so-called sources of excellence. The first has been the Bureau's success in setting a new professional direction for Federal corrections, in which officers are rewarded on the basis of merit, rather than patronage. The Bureau has adopted a well-defined guiding philosophy of seeing inmates as individuals, which led to the Federal classification system. The Bureau established a correctional system from its inception that has been emulated and maintained by succeeding administrations. The Bureau developed a separate corporation to operate prison industries within the free enterprise system. Over the years, the Bureau has instituted a network of community corrections facilities, which the system uses to reduce its reliance on more expensive institutional beds. Finally, Bureau leadership has been distinguished in its development of unit management, which has streamlined and improved the effectiveness of both custody and treatment. 4 notes