Last week, a new multi-faceted celebration of public sector civil servants was announced by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and two partner organizations, Government Executive and Leadership Connect. A press release from NAPA describes the celebration as “a yearlong campaign to recognize the dedication, expertise and determination of civil servants” – all linked to America’s 250^th anniversary in 2026. 

Collaborative programming will emerge in the coming weeks, along with “fireside chats and thought leadership dialogues designed to elevate public service excellence and innovation.”

Part of the goal is to showcase the work of public servants while also telling their stories, and the lessons they’ve learned through their careers. “Celebrating the American Public Servant is about sharing the stories of people whose leadership, expertise and dedication make the lives of Americans better every day,” said James-Christian Blockwood, president and CEO of NAPA. “As our nation looks ahead to its next 250 years, we should honor the public servants who are stewards of our institutions, strengthen communities across the county and ensure we prosper as a nation.”

Each of the three partnership organizations have different means of supporting the celebration. According to Tanya Ballard Brown, Executive Editor of Government Executive, the partnership “creates another opportunity to highlight the work and experience of public servants through sustained, in-depth coverage.”

At the same time, Leadership Connect’s “Full suite of marketing services” will support sponsorship opportunities, showcasing “dynamic thought leadership programming” and people data insights, according to CEO Michael Cosby.

For organizations or individuals interested in partnering or co-sponsoring this initiative, a partnership packet is available at the Celebrating the American Public Servant website. 

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