Venerated journalist and former C-SPAN CEO, Susan Swain to Emcee November 8 ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., September 8, 2026 – Seven public servants from various federal agencies will be honored at the 77th annual Arthur S. Flemming Awards for their exceptional civil service. The winners are recognized for outstanding performance in the disciplines of applied science and engineering, basic science, and leadership and management. In addition, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will accept his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Flemming Awards Commission. The Arthur S. Flemming Awards are the nation’s oldest and most prestigious award for government service given from outside the government.
The Flemming induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at the National Academy of Sciences Building in downtown Washington, D.C., as part of the National Academy of Public Administration’s Annual National Conference. Business executive, journalist, and former co-chief executive officer of C-SPAN, Susan Swain, will return this year to emcee the award ceremony.
Joining the ranks of more than 700 past recipients, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Neil Armstrong, Dr. Robert Gates and Elizabeth Dole, this year’s honorees have made groundbreaking discoveries and advancements that include:
- Making the nation's transportation systems safer.
- Developing a "gold standard" testing tool that helped make breast MRI scans more reliable.
- Expanding STEM and artificial intelligence education initiatives for students and teachers.
- Developing more reliable quantum processors for greater accuracy in quantum computing.
- Protecting the country’s energy infrastructure, among other achievements.
The 77th annual Arthur S. Flemming Award recipients are:
Applied Science and Engineering
Dr. Erika A. Sudderth - U.S. Department of Transportation
Dr. Ruishu F. Wright - National Energy Technology Lab (U.S. Department of Energy)
Dr. Stephen P. Eckel - National Institute of Standards and Technology
Dr. Kathryn Keenan - National Institute of Standards and Technology
Basic Science
Dr. Nicholas Butch – National Institute of Standards and Technology
Dr. Michael J. Gullans – National Institute of Standards and Technology
Leadership and Management
Ms. Jan Tyler - U.S. Department of Energy
Katharine B. Gebbie Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Federal Service
Dr. William D. "Bill" Phillips, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will accept the Katharine B. Gebbie Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Federal Service, first awarded to him in 2020 but not presented in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here for a comprehensive press kit with more details about each of this year’s Flemming Award recipients and their stellar government service as well as the history of this award.
Flemming Award recipients are exceptional employees, with three to fifteen years of federal service, who are nominated by their agencies and selected through a competitive judging process. The awards are presented by the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission, in partnership with the George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration (TSPPPA) and the National Academy of Public Administration.
“For 77 years, the Arthur S. Flemming Awards have recognized the very best of federal public service,” said Dr. Kathryn Newcomer, President of the Flemming Awards Commission and Director of the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at George Washington University. “This year's honorees exemplify the leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the public good that define excellence in government.”
“We are proud to recognize a new class of Arthur S. Flemming Award recipients whose contributions make a difference across the country every day,” said James-Christian Blockwood, President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration. “Their dedication to improving the lives of the American people reflects the enduring value and impact of public service, and the Academy is honored to celebrate their achievements.”
REI Systems, a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for the government, returns as the lead sponsor of the 77th annual Arthur S. Flemming Awards. REI Systems CEO, Shyam Salona, said, "REI Systems has always valued those who devote their talents to advancing the public good. The Arthur S. Flemming Award winners exemplify this spirit of service and innovation, and we honor their contributions to our nation."
Established in 1948, the award is named after Arthur Sherwood Flemming, a distinguished government official who served seven presidential administrations of both parties, most notably as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Dwight Eisenhower. He was a two-time recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, first from President Eisenhower in 1957 and then from President Bill Clinton in 1994, and was a fierce advocate for social and racial equity, among his many other accomplishments.
About the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration
The Trachtenberg School has a long reputation of excellence, offering two of the oldest
public administration and public policy programs in the world. It leverages its location in
the nation’s capital and the vibrant Foggy Bottom community to enhance student, alumni,
and faculty experiences. The Trachtenberg School’s award-winning faculty are recognized
for their research expertise and teaching excellence. We pride ourselves on our
commitment to an inclusive, equitable, and collaborative learning environment. For more
information, visit https://tspppa.gwu.edu/. #FlemmingAwards #TSPPA
About the National Academy of Public Administration
Chartered by Congress to provide nonpartisan expert advice, the Academy is an
independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization established in 1967 to assist
government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent
organizations. Learn more at www.napawash.org.
-GW-