The pilot program was initiated in 1981 when 5 courts among those with 10 or more judges were authorized to appoint a district court executive from a list of persons qualified by a board of certification. A comprehensive list of duties for the executive was also developed. The pace of the appointments was slow, with the first executive entering duty on July 1981 and the fifth not being appointed until January 1984. A 1984 meeting of the judges and executives provided many insights into the pilot program's operations and effectiveness. Overall, the chief executive program resulted in increased and more efficient attention to long-established responsibilities such as procurement of equipment and supplies, supervision of space and facilities, and employee recruitment. The executives also provided services that enhanced the performance of other staff and in some districts improved court operations by performing new duties. Instilling a new management approach in some courts will require developing a consensus for change among the judges as well as providing the executive resource. A report on the functions of a U.S. District Court Clerk's Office is appended.