Defining public service excellence
By American University Key Executive Leadership Programs
The American University Key Executive Leadership Programs’ Roger W. Jones Award.
We’re now accepting nominations for 2022. Visit key.american.edu for more information.
The American University Key Executive Leadership Programs’ Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership honors federal executives who exemplify the pillars of leadership championed by the public servant for whom the award is named.
Serving seven presidents over his 43-year career, Roger W. Jones embodied leadership excellence and recognized the importance of continuous learning for public leaders. A foundational sentiment shared by the Key Programs.
“The goal at Key is to help our public service heroes deliver civilization, expand their thinking capacity and recognize their leadership,” Key Programs Director, Patrick Malone said. “We believe the best leaders are exceptional at gently inquiring, thinking, reflecting and asking questions of themselves and others.”
The Roger W. Jones Award celebrates those who lead by these values and so much more. In his tenure as a public servant, Roger W. Jones (February 3, 1908 – May 28, 1993) worked as a Deputy Secretary of State, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Chairman of the Civil Service Commission.
Since 1978, the Roger W. Jones Award has been the pinnacle of recognition for federal leaders, honoring not only their accomplishments, but also their commitment to growing the next generation of federal leaders.
The award is marked by its roster of exceptionally talented, empowering and dedicated awardees, who serve our nation every day.
In a time of uncharted territory, our federal government is making tremendous demands of its leaders. Leaders are challenged with leading in workplaces impacted by a national pandemic. The Great Resignation is real, and if we want to grow the next generation of civil servants and build inclusive organizations that exceed their mission, it will be incumbent upon federal leaders to respond with tenacity, humility and a drive to develop others.
The recipients of this award are the best of the best, and their contributions to our democracy and society are extraordinary.
This year we congratulate four federal executives who were called upon to receive this distinguished award: Stephen Breen, San Francisco Regional Commissioner, Social Security Administration; Maribeth Petrizzi, Assistant Director, Compliance Division, Federal Trade Commission; Kenneth B. Sheely, Acting Principal Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety, Infrastructure and Operations, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy; and, Brian Toland, Command Counsel, Office of the Command Counsel Headquarters, U.S Army Materiel Command, Department of the Army.
In describing one of the toughest challenges faced as a leader, Kenneth B. Sheely identified resilience as what’s most important. “Sometimes you get these challenges you can’t foresee, and you can’t predict…things that are completely outside of your control. You’ve got to rely on your broader team. One person can only go so far; it’s really the team that takes you a long way,” said Sheely.
Stephen Breen is committed to not only the mission of the organization but to those he leads and continually strives for improvement and innovation. “I’d be remiss in not saying that in my career like so many others in public service, it depended on a network of dedicated career public servants to help me get to where I’ve gotten today. I work with an amazing team at the Social Security Administration,” Breen noted.
The Key Executive Leadership Programs brings together public servants from many agencies with highly distinguished scholar-practitioners as faculty and coaches. Key students leave the program as transformed lifelong learners who can lead more effectively and inspire others.
“Key students come to us wanting to get to the next step in their careers. We want to help them move the needle in their professional development, and we also want to help them discover that being a public servant is more than a career. It’s about serving and caring for others.” Malone said, “That has been Key’s foundation for over 45 years.”
Looking at the future of public service, the need for exceptional leaders is more vital than ever. It is with great honor and pride that these leaders serve the American people, facing challenges with courage, integrity and fierce resolve.
“You have to be a positive leader to motivate people. You have to be yourself; you have to be mindful and authentic, and you have to be compassionate,” said Brian Toland.
Maribeth Petrizzi adds, “None of the work I have done and none of the work I will continue to do could be done without the outstanding contribution and amazing work of the teams on which I have had the honor to serve.”
Congratulations again to this year’s awardees for their work as distinguished servant leaders who move forward with confidence and humility in service of the nation and inspire future generations to embody the values and tenets of an exceptional leader!
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