Civil Service Strong Managing Director One of 42 Leaders in Public Administration to Receive Esteemed Opportunity 

Washington, D.C. – Democracy Forward announced today that Rob Shriver, Managing Director of the Civil Service Strong and Good Government Initiatives, is one of 42 leaders to have been elected to join the 2025 Class of Academy Fellows at the National Academy of Public Administration. The 2025 Class joins more than 1,000 Academy Fellows, including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, nonprofit leaders, and public administrators.

“I am incredibly grateful to be participating in the National Academy of Public Administration’s fellowship program and to have the opportunity to grow, learn, and share my experience with colleagues to improve how governments function at all levels,” said Shriver. “Public servants are essential to a functioning government, and deserve better than what they are receiving from their current government. Democracy Forward is committed to protecting and perfecting our democracy, and this fellowship will allow us to expand this work as we collaborate to build a better future together.”

Civil Service Strong is leading a comprehensive response to the Trump-Vance administration’s dismantling of the civil service through advocacy, storytelling, organizing, resources, data, and policy. Prior to joining the organization, Shriver served as the Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in the Biden-Harris administration. In this role, Shriver was a champion for the federal workforce and helped to ensure that OPM supported federal employees from “hire to retire.” 

Through its Fellows, staff, and partners, the Academy has played a major role in advancing the field of public administration and supporting government at the local, state, and federal levels.

“It is an incredibly important time to be a public servant, and more critical than ever they lead by example, follow their oath of service and ensure we have a strong representative government that serves the people,” said James-Christian Blockwood, President & CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration. “The newly elected Academy Fellows joining as part of the 2025 Class have already had hugely impactful careers and will contribute to our ongoing mission to help achieve a more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent government.”

Selection of the Academy’s new Fellows follows a rigorous review of the individual’s contributions to the fields of public administration and policy. A Nominating Committee, selected by the Academy’s Board Chair, makes its recommendations to the full Fellowship, which then votes on those individuals nominated to be a Fellow. The individual must have a requisite number of votes before being elected. 

To learn more about the fellowship, please visit https://napawash.org/news/2025-academy-of-public-administration-fellows.

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.