The winners are in!

We are proud to announce the winners of the Annual NextGen Public Service Awards for superior public service and achievement. The awards recognize deserving individuals selected from the public service community for their intelligence, exuberance and dedication to improving and invigorating government.

Please read more about the award categories and their specific attributes. The selection committee determined and assigned categories based on the information submitted via the nomination form. The 2021 award winners are listed by category below. Each award winner will also be recognized during the upcoming NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit on Aug. 4-5, 2021.

NextGen Public Service Award Categories and 2021 Award Winners

Courageous Champion
This award recognizes a public servant that is blazing the path for their generation in government with courage and determination at the local, state, national, or international level.

2021 Award Winners:

• Lydia Nylander, Enterprise Risk Management Manager, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, United States Agency for International Development
• Steven R. Joubert, P.E., District Engineer, District 3, Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Engineering Services

Innovator of the Year
This category recognizes an individual or team who has identified new opportunities and improved their organization in an innovative way.

2021 Award Winners:

• Merrick Schaefer, Senior Digital Health Advisor, United States Agency for International Development
• Deidra Phyall, IT Specialist (Security), Internal Revenue Service, United States Department of Treasury

Silent Hero
This award recognizes a public servant who has operated behind the scenes, silently working in a dedicated and committed fashion, without the limelight. He or she has laid the foundation for stellar public service results and impacted positive change in their organization at the local, state, national or international level.

2021 Award Winners:

• Jill Demko, Aviation Accident Analyst, National Transportation Safety Board
• Kelly Longfellow, Sustainability Program Specialist, General Services Administration Public Buildings Service, Greater Southwest Region (R7)

Exemplary Leader
This award recognizes an individual government leader who has demonstrated benevolence, competence, integrity, dedication, and commitment to improve and inspire their organization or community at the local, state, national, or international level.

2021 Award Winners:

• Kaile Bower, Deputy Program Manager, United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce
• Denise Paladino, Self-Determination Director, State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services, South Region

NextGen Advocate
This award recognizes an individual who is consistently and relentlessly advocating for their project or team to further their organization’s mission, or an individual who is dedicated to cultivating talent, mentoring and helping to guide NextGen public service leaders to become our future community leaders at the local, state, national, or international level.

2021 Award Winners:

• Shayna Hirshfield-Gold, Climate Coordinator, City of Oakland, California
• Autumn Nickelson, Executive Director, Northwest Center for Behavioral Health

Dedication During COVID-19
This award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to during the coronavirus pandemic or has worked to ensure business continuity so that the mission of their agency is still accomplished in these unparalleled times. He/she has shown a commitment to improve and inspire their organization or community at the local, state, national, or international level.

2021 Award Winners:

• Lameka Bell, Community Affairs Unit, Hawthorne Police Department
• Julius Tonzel, MPH, Epidemiologist Supervisor, Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section