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Brian Biggio

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute within the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is proud to recognize the Spring 2025 graduates of the Commonwealth Leadership Academy (CLA). This third cohort of 28 senior executives from Virginia’s state agencies has just completed an intensive six-week program designed to sharpen their leadership and management skills to address some of the Commonwealth’s most urgent challenges.

Sponsored by Governor Glenn Youngkin, in collaboration with the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) and the Wilder School’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, the CLA empowers agency leaders with skills to plan strategically, transform culture, drive innovation, and lead public servants through change in alignment with the Governor’s strategic priorities.  

“The Commonwealth Leadership Academy represents Virginia’s commitment to cultivating transformative leaders who not only excel within their agencies, but also collaborate to make government more efficient, effective, and impactful,” said Robyn McDougle, PhD, Associate Dean of Research and Outreach at the VCU Wilder School. “We are immensely proud of the accomplishments of this year’s cohort.”

Highlights of the Spring CLA 2025 Program

Participants immersed themselves in a rigorous curriculum that included strategic planning, cultural transformation, innovation in government, and change management. Through hands-on activities, guest speaker presentations, robust discussions, and peer collaboration, participants honed their leadership skills to navigate complex challenges and drive results more effectively. Key initiatives tackled by this year’s teams included:

  1. Connecting Veterans to Their Future: Connecting Virginia’s Veterans to the Opportunities, Resources, and Bright Future Provided Through the Virginia Veterans Network (VVN)
  2. Accelerate Virginia: Leveraging Virginia’s Excellent Education System to Identify, Recruit, and Retain Top Talent in Public Service in State Government
  3. Commonwealth Communities of Practice - Building Bridges by Breaking Down Silos: Enhancing Cross-Agency Collaboration to Improve Service Delivery and Operational Efficiency in Virginia State Government
  4. Commonwealth Of Virginia Employee Onboarding: Strengthening Employee Onboarding Practices Across State Agencies
  5. Growing Virginia’s Economy Through Agri-Innovation: Expanding Virginia’s Finest & Virginia Grown Programs as an Incubator for Small Business Growth

 

Transformative Outcomes

Working in cross-agency teams, participants provided real-world, scalable solutions to some of the Commonwealth’s greatest opportunities and pressing challenges. These collaborative efforts reflected the cohort’s strong commitment to enhancing government services and driving meaningful change across the Commonwealth.

The graduation ceremony, held on May 14th, honored the accomplishments of these outstanding leaders. In attendance were agency leaders, senior officials, and members of Governor Youngkin’s team, including Secretary Margaret “Lyn” McDermid and Secretary Aimee Rogstad Guidera. Inspiring remarks from Dean Susan Gooden and former Governor L. Douglas Wilder highlighted the critical role of leadership excellence in advancing the importance and value of public service.

As graduates return to their agencies, they carry forward sharpened skills, bold strategies, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for all Virginians, continuing the legacy of the Commonwealth Leadership Academy as a catalyst for impactful governance.

Congratulations to the Spring 2025 Commonwealth Leadership Academy Cohort!

For more information about the Commonwealth Leadership Academy and its mission to develop high-performing public service leaders, visit Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.

Introducing the Spring 2025 Commonwealth Leadership Academy cohort

Mike Alder        
State Deputy Post Commander
Department of Military Affairs

Ivory Banks       
Chief of Staff
Department of Medical Assistance Services

Susan Beals      
Commissioner
Department of Elections

Micah Blankenship        
Staff Attorney
Department of Labor and Industry

Jerome Brooks   
Director, DEQ Piedmont Regional Office
Department of Environmental Quality

Scott Fleming   
Director
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

De'de Garland     
Director of Notaries and Document Authentication
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Jason German  
Chief Appeals Examiner
Virginia Employment Commission

Jeet Harsh         
IT Manager II
Virginia Tax

Robby Holland 
Major/Deputy Director
Virginia State Police

Zach Jacobs
Deputy Secretary
Secretary of Education

Eric Johnson     
Director, Research & Development Evaluation
Department of Veterans Services

Ryan Kelly         
Acting Chief of Staff to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Administration
Virginia Department of Social Services

Roger Kirchen  
Deputy Director of Preservation Programs
Department of Historic Resources

Sumi Lanneau  
Chief People Officer
Virginia Energy

Aaron Loy         
Assistant Commissioner for Customer and Employer Services
Virginia Employment Commission

Jennifer Mayton           
Agency Deputy Director
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

Adria Merritt    
Director of Organizational Development and Employee Experience
Department of Motor Vehicles

Patrick Patrong
Interim Deputy Director for Human Resources
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Madilyn Pierce 
Assistant Chief Appeals Examiner
Virginia Employment Commission

Brook Pittinger
Assistant Commissioner/Chief Administrative Officer
Virginia Employment Commission

Casey Polczynski            
Deputy Secretary
Virginia Commission for the Arts

Chuck Redden  
Director of Business Processes for Community Health Services, VDH
Virginia Department of Health

Travis Rickman
Deputy Secretary
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry

Jennifer Rose     
Director of Cooperative Programs
Department of Labor and Industry

Joe Walters      
Deputy Director
Virginia Department of Corrections

Robert Weld     
Director, DEQ Blue Ridge Regional Office
Department of Environmental Quality

Tonya Woodson            
Director of Human Resources
Department of Health Professions