PHOTOS: Mayor Muriel Bowser, Sen. Tammy Duckworth Join National Academy of Public Administration for Celebration of the American Public Servant 250 Gala at the Library of Congress

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For Immediate Release

June 23, 2026

Contact: Matt Hampton (mhampton@napawash.org)

Mayor Muriel Bowser, Sen. Tammy Duckworth Join National Academy of Public Administration for Celebration of the American Public Servant 250 Gala at the Library of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Civil servants, public administrators and honored guests braved thunderstorms to join the National Academy of Public Administration’s Celebration of the American Public Servant 250 Gala Monday evening, June 22. 

Featuring luminaries like Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, former Fiscal Assistant Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Treasury David Lebryk, former US Comptroller General Gene Dodaro and more, the event was conceived by the Academy to honor the best of public service during America’s 250^th anniversary. 

After a welcome from Academy Board Chair Stan Soloway and Acting Librarian of Congress Robert Newlen, the “Stories of Service” panel kicked off the program with moving anecdotes from the winners of marquee awards at all levels of government and civil service: 

• Service to the Citizen Award Honoree: Kenneth Corbin, Chief, Taxpayer Services, Internal Revenue Service 
• Partnership for Public Service Service to America Medal Honoree: David Lebryk, Former Fiscal Assistant Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Treasury 
• Governing Public Official of the Year Honoree: Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, Columbus, Ohio 
• Arthur S. Flemming Award Honoree: Dr. William Phillips, Katharine Blodgett Gebbie Fellow and Nobel Laureate in Physics, NIST
• Government Executive Hall of Fame Inductee: Major General William J. Walker (Ret.), Former Sergeant at Arms, U.S. House of Representatives 
• Leadership Connect Next Generation Leader Spotlight Honoree: Kaity Wolfe, Deputy Assistant Secretary for House Affairs, U.S. Department of State 

“Stories of Service” was followed by remarks from Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) and a "Future of Public Service” panel featuring Inspector General Michael Horowitz, Federal Reserve Board & CFPB, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (Ret.) JoAnne Bass. 

“Some of the most brilliant thinkers are in public service,” Mayor Bowser said. “They work for the federal government, and they work for local government. They are innovators, and they are scientists. Young people I find don't fully appreciate all the different things that they can do.”

“There’s no glamour and money, you’re there to serve a public need,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said to the assembled auditorium crowd. “You’re there to serve your communities, you’re there to stand that ground and ensure that whatever code, whatever standard, whatever need needs to be met, is met. And that’s how I think about how you all serve.” 

Finally, the Academy welcomed former U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, who was honored with the Academy’s first-ever “Keeper of the Public Trust Award” for his lifetime of public service.

“Being patient and persistent, that's the hallmark of a good public servant,” Dodaro said when accepting the honor. “We need to always continue to press issues that need to be dealt with successfully. Look for targets of opportunity and build coalitions among people and build trusted relationships across branches and levels of government, across international allies and partners as well. That takes dedication and focused commitment.”

You can view the full C-SPAN broadcast of the program online.

Presented with Leadership Connect and Government Executive, Celebrating the American Public Servant seeks to shine a light on the value and importance of public service. The Celebration of the American Public Servant 250 Gala is the Academy’s signature contribution to the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, and a tribute to the people whose work strengthens our nation every day.

For more information about “Celebrating the American Public Servant, visit www.napawash.org/caps. 

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About the National Academy of Public Administration 

Established in 1967 and chartered by Congress, the National Academy of Public Administration is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that helps government leaders solve the nation’s most critical management challenges. With more than 1,000 Fellows, including former cabinet officials, governors, mayors, and scholars, the Academy advances excellence in public administration through research, advisory services, and thought leadership. 

Learn more at www.napawash.org