Celebrating a Year of Impact: Advancing Agile Government Through Learning and Thought Leadership

As we reflect on 2025 and look ahead to an ambitious 2026, the Agile Government Center is proud of a year marked by growth, impact, and momentum. The Center is instrumental to achieving the National Academy of Public Administration’s mission: to advance more effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable public institutions. This past year delivered two major milestones that exemplify that commitment.

Delivering Three Successful Accredited Courses

A cornerstone of our work in 2025 was the expansion and strengthening of the Agile Learning Program. This year, we successfully delivered three cohorts of the Leading Agile Transformation course: two with the Selective Service System between January and April, and a third delivered through our new partnership with the Professional Development Academy (PDA) in October–November. Each offering received highly positive feedback from participants and leadership, reinforcing the value of equipping public servants with practical, agile tools for modern governance.

Just as exciting, we completed the work necessary to accredit the course with IC Agile, formalizing the rigor, quality, and credibility of our program. This accreditation not only strengthens the learning experience but also positions the Academy to scale the program through new instructors and expanded reach.

These achievements would not have been possible without our Agile faculty, Ed DeSeve and Richard Callahan or without our video faculty members: Scott Blackburn, Wally Bobkiewsicz, David Bray, Dan Chenok, Amy Edwards Holmes, Terry Gerton, Don Kettl, Robert Shea, Ahmed Sidky, and Joel Spanenberg.

As we head into 2026, plans are already underway to grow enrollment, refine course delivery, and identify additional accredited instructors to help broaden the program’s impact.

Steering the Field Through Thought Leadership: The Agile Policy Report

Our second major accomplishment this year was the publication of the Freeman Charitable Trust–funded Pathway for Agile Policymaking Report, released in October 2025. This work applied Agile principles to policy development and implementation, offering government leaders a clear, actionable framework for navigating increasingly complex public challenges.
The report demonstrates how iterative, collaborative, and user-centered approaches can transform policymaking, making it more responsive, transparent, and effective. It also expands the Academy’s influence in the growing intersection of governance, agility, and innovation. We are deeply grateful to the Freeman Charitable Trust Foundation for supporting this work and look forward to expanding our thought leadership in 2026.

Building Momentum for 2026

Our 2025 accomplishments have laid a strong foundation for continued growth:

• Launching another cohort of the Leading Agile Transformation course with PDA in 2026.

• Increasing program visibility through convenings, training, and expanded marketing efforts.

• Exploring business development opportunities that combine assessments and training to expand the Agile Government Center’s reach and sustainability.

• Deepening work on Agile governance of AI through cross-panel collaboration with the Technology Leadership and Executive Operations and Management Standing Panels.

Together, these achievements reflect not only what we’ve accomplished, but what’s possible when public institutions embrace agility as a mindset and method.

As we step into 2026, we remain energized by the progress we’ve made and inspired by the opportunity ahead to continue shaping a more Agile, resilient, and effective government.