Federal AI Accelerator Announces Inaugural LEAD AI Awards

The LEAD AI Awards will recognize government leaders who turn AI implementations into measurable mission results.

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal AI Accelerator announced the inaugural Leadership & Execution in AI Deployment (LEAD) AI Awards, honoring individuals and teams across the Federal Government who translate AI innovation into measurable mission and public service outcomes. The program reflects Federal AI Accelerator’s commitment to Federal AI innovation and collaboration using federal and commercial collaboration across the Federal sector.

Successful nominations will recognize civilian government or military personnel who have taken AI from concept to real-world use. Submissions should demonstrate clear ownership, effective execution, and measurable mission or service impact. Eligible work includes deployed pilots and scaled systems with demonstrated results.

The awards will recognize AI deployments across four principal mission categories:

• Service Delivery and Citizen Experience: Digital services, benefits administration, public health and other capabilities that improve how Government serves the public.
• Operations and Mission Execution: Public safety, defense, infrastructure, emergency response and other operationally significant missions.
• Risk, Compliance and Security: Fraud detection, cybersecurity, investigations, and other applications that help agencies identify and manage risk.
• Administration and Back Office: Procurement, grants, human resources, financial management, and other functions that strengthen Government operations.

Nominations will be accepted through September 30, 2026. The judging panel will convene October 15 to select the winners, and finalists will be publicly announced November 1. Honorees will be recognized at the inaugural LEAD AI Awards celebration luncheon on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern at the Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center in Reston, Virginia.

The inaugural judging panel brings together six respected leaders whose work reflects the technical depth and practical expertise required to evaluate the impact of AI deployments:

• Stephen Adams, Research Associate Professor and Assistant Director of the Intelligent Systems Division, Virginia Tech National Security Institute
• Dr. Mark DeSantis, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship, Carnegie Mellon University
• Martin Stanley, AI and Cybersecurity Researcher, National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Dr. Philip Yu, Executive Director and Associate Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
• Dr. Tugba Erpek, Cofounder and Principal Scientist, Nexcepta, Inc., and Virginia Tech Affiliate
• William “Chris” Headley, Interim Director of the Spectrum Dominance Division and Research Associate Professor, Virginia Tech National Security Institute

To submit a nomination or learn more, visit www.fedaccel.ai/lead-ai-award.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Organizations interested in supporting the inaugural LEAD AI Awards may contact Salvador D’Itri at sditri@fedaccel.ai or visit www.fedaccel.ai/sponsor.

About Federal AI Accelerator
Federal AI Accelerator is dedicated to advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence in support of Federal missions. It provides a forum for meaningful engagement between Government leaders and the broader technology community. Its work connects emerging AI capabilities with real Federal mission needs while encouraging thoughtful dialogue about their responsible use. Through its programs, Federal AI Accelerator helps build a stronger and more connected Federal AI community. Learn more at www.fedaccel.ai.

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