Federal technology is progressing faster than ever, and under extraordinary conditions. Yet across government, individual leaders continue to drive innovation that enables agencies to deliver on their missions.

As nominations open for the 2026 Federal 100 Awards, Nextgov/FCW Executive Editor Jessie Bur shares why recognizing this work is so crucial and what the nomination trends reveal about the state of federal IT. In this conversation, she offers a candid look at impact, leadership, and the human stories behind government technology.

This year’s Federal 100 nominations open at a time when much of government is operating under enormous pressure. Why is recognition like this so important right now?

Bur: The Federal 100 awards have always been about recognizing the unsung or overlooked heroes of government technology, and I think that is especially important when the federal workforce has undergone such significant upheaval.

Our past awards have shown that individual people can have an outsized impact on the services that Americans interact with every day, or the ability of other federal employees to do their jobs to the fullest. That work might be what enabled an agency to keep a program going despite the government shutdown, and it deserves celebration.

The Federal 100 has been around for nearly four decades. From your perspective, what makes this program so enduring and special to the federal IT community?

Bur: Though technology has drastically evolved in the last several decades, the Federal 100 has always remained committed to finding those that are on the leading edge of meaningful change and celebrating them as widely as possible. And the fact that our judges are feds or industry insiders themselves means that winners are being uplifted by their own colleagues, which makes the recognition all the more meaningful.

You said that “in a year of unprecedented change… it is more important than ever to honor those federal employees, contractors, academics and more who have made a difference in the technology space.” What kinds of leadership or innovation are standing out most to you in this moment?

Bur: To me, today’s most outstanding leaders and innovators are simultaneously committed to making needed programs take off and adaptable to the whirlwind of changes currently taking place in the federal space. That’s no easy needle to thread, to be sure, but I have seen just such people in past nominations and am sure this year will be no different.

How has the meaning of “impact” evolved in federal IT, from the early days of getting agencies online to today’s work with AI, data modernization, and cybersecurity?

Bur: The technology landscape has changed drastically over the last several years, and gone are the days when transitioning to a cloud environment or acquiring a particular product was itself the finish line. Impact has flowed less from the technology itself and more from the innovative ways that technology has been applied.

Artificial intelligence is the perfect example of this shift. Rather than simply plugging an AI system into an agency’s enterprise and sitting back to watch the efficiencies flow, innovators are searching for ways that AI’s unique capabilities can be applied to specific needs and evolving those capabilities over time.

I imagine many of our winners this year and in the future will be notable not just for their technical acumen but for their creativity in shaping technology to fit the ever-evolving needs of agencies.

The judging process is often called the “secret sauce” of the Fed 100. What does that peer-driven evaluation look like behind the scenes, and how does it ensure fairness and authenticity?

Bur: I cannot sing the praises of our phenomenal judges more. Not only do they devote countless hours of their personal time to reviewing nominations, but they also have some of the most incredible insights into the operations of government and the changes that have truly improved the delivery of agencies’ missions.

Though it’s a large table of around a dozen people, our judging pool represents expertise in industry, defense, intelligence and civilian agencies that can speak to the nuance of each nomination, ensuring the selection of winners is thorough and methodical.

For someone considering submitting a nomination, what makes a story or submission really stand out to the judges? Any common pitfalls you see year to year?

Bur: From my years watching the judging process, I have seen two components that are essential to winning nominations: how the nominee went above and beyond their job description and the impact that extra effort had on the agency or larger federal enterprise. Oftentimes, nominators will devote significant time to describing how a person does their job very well — which is lovely to hear — but doesn’t demonstrate to the judges how this person devoted themselves to pushing the government mission to new heights.

Are there past Fed 100 winners whose stories have stayed with you, either for their creativity, resilience, or sheer determination?

Bur: Though every story is remarkable, I’ve frequently been struck by the winners who stuck with projects that fulfilled a desperate need for the American people, such as making emergency services more available to veterans.

I’m also struck by how many people take the time, in addition to their expansive technology work, to mentor up-and-coming technologists to advance their careers and make their own kind of difference.

The Fed 100 honors technical achievements, but at its core, it’s about people. How do you think human stories help inspire progress in the federal tech space?

Bur: At the end of the day, work in the government is fundamentally devoted to serving the American people. Whether a nominee’s work is centered on technology that impacts how the public interacts with an agency or systems that government workers use in service of that public, people are always the end point of any federal technology program. This is why impact is such an important part of any nomination.

Winners will be celebrated at GovExec’s Evening of Honors this April. For those who’ve never attended, how would you describe the atmosphere and significance of that night?

Bur: The Evening of Honors is by far one of my favorite days on my work calendar each year.

Getting to see federal employees and industry experts dressed up like celebrities — and treated as such — while making the kinds of connections that will lead to future government innovation is always a highlight. 

Our events team pulls out all the stops on decorations, food and the program for that evening, so it is a can’t miss night!

Evening of Honors brings together both government and industry. What makes that cross-sector collaboration so important for advancing the mission?

Bur: There is a lot of time spent comparing the government and private sector in areas like the speed of IT adoption, adaptability and workforces. But the truth of the matter is that the synergy between the two is what enables some of the great achievements in service of the public.

Many of the greatest technological achievements in U.S. history — like spaceflight and computers themselves — came about from the intersection of government and private sector efforts. Putting the top innovators from each pool in a room with each other is a recipe for explosive growth down the line.

If you could leave potential nominators or attendees with one thought, what would it be? Why should people take the time amid everything happening to recognize excellence right now?

Bur: The work of government is so important, but making sure that the people driving meaningful changes are recognized is perhaps equally so. By celebrating the people that drive government IT work, we hope to inspire future leaders and changemakers in this space.

And all that begins with the nominators.

Time spent working on a nomination can have an exponential impact in ensuring that the great work of government technology is seen and supported.

At a moment when government operations are being tested, the Federal 100 Awards serve as a reminder that progress is still being made and that people remain at the center of every technological breakthrough. The stories behind these nominations offer a snapshot of how agencies are adapting, where innovation is excelling, and who is paving the way forward.

Help elevate the leaders shaping the next chapter of federal IT. Submit a nomination before December 31st, 2025.

To learn more – or explore sponsorship opportunities for the Evening of Honors on April 30th, 2026 – visit the event site or connect with us.