Professional Development Blog
30 NextGen Public Service Awards Finalists Unveiled

30 NextGen Public Service Awards Finalists Unveiled

GovLoop and Young Government Leaders (YGL) are proud to announce the ‘NextGen 30’, this year’s finalists for the 5th Annual NextGen Public Service Awards for superior public service and achievement.

From increasing awareness around fair housing, creating a new workplace model for disability organization, improving digital services for citizen engagement, to bolstering assistance for homeless veterans, the finalists have embodied what it means to be a public servant in a myriad of meaningful and impactful ways.

The thirty finalists for the NextGen Public Service Awards have accomplished remarkable successes and we’re proud to congratulate them and share their stories.

Each year, the Awards recognize exemplary public sector leaders for their dedication to improving and invigorating government.

This year over 100 public servants were nominated by their peers. A selection committee of current and former government employees selected thirty finalists in five categories.

NextGen Exemplary Leaders
This category recognizes leaders with 4 – 15 years of government experience who have demonstrated benevolence, competence, integrity, dedication, and commitment to improve and inspire our communities.

  • Sabrina DeLay, Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Ann Geisen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Ilija Hardage, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
  • Ted Kowalsky, U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Monica McDaniels, Office of Public Health, Nutrition Services, Women, Infants & Children
  • Kai Fawn Miller, Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Katherine Spivey, General Services Administration
  • Nicole Stillwell, Department of State, Consular Affairs
  • Kenneth Sullivan, Department of Homeland Security – The National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Infrastructure Protection – National Infrastructure Coordinating Center
  • Sy Williams, Department of Veteran Affairs

NextGen Innovators
This category recognizes leaders with 4 – 15 years of government experience who have identified new opportunities and improved their organization in an innovative way.

NextGen Courageous Champions
This category recognizes individuals with less than 3 years of government experience who are blazing a path with courage and determination.

  • Laila Alequresh, City of Philadelphia
  • Monte Desai, Comsumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • Daniel Hoffman, Montgomery County Government
  • Joshua Marcuse, Leadership & Organizational Development Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, U.S. Department of Defense
  • Mihir Pathak, National Aeronautics and Space Administration/White House

NextGen Silent Heroes
This category recognizes individuals who operate behind the scenes, silently working to create better government. They are dedicated and committed, and work without the limelight.

NextGen Advocates
This category recognizes individuals who are dedicated to cultivating talent and mentoring the next generation of public service leaders to be stellar future community leaders.

  • Karla Aguirre, Utah Department of Workforce Services
  • Chris Hamm, U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Systems Integration and Management Center
  • Carol Johnson, Arkansas Fair Housing Commission
  • Joan Mower, Broadcasting Board of Governors
  • Jason Olsen, Federal Employees with Disabilities

The NextGen Public Service Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday, July 19 at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. A Forbes Top Social CIO, Dr. David A. Bray of the Federal Communications Commission will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. All public sector employees are welcomed to attend to congratulate the finalists! To attend, RSVP for free.

The NextGen Public Service Awards Ceremony kicks off the Next Generation of Government Training Summit July 20-21st at the Renaissance DC Hotel. Register to Attend.