ASPA and NAPA Recognize Public Service Leadership with the 2016 National Public Service Awards

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Each year, the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) select outstanding public servants for its National Public Service Award. This year's recipients, Andrew Kleine and Captain Joseph Stenger, represent extraordinary leadership in economic development and intergovernmental relations. They will accept their awards March 21 during ASPA's Annual Conference in Seattle.

"These public service awards are our opportunity to say thank you to dedicated individuals for their hard work and contributions to society. Public service is about commitment to others and we are proud to highlight these individuals' accomplishments," said ASPA Executive Director William Shields.

Andrew Kleine became Baltimore's budget director in 2008, after nearly 15 years of federal government service that included budget and policy positions in the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Office of Management and Budget and Corporation for National and Community Service. Mr. Kleine's accomplishments include fixing severe financial problems in the AmeriCorps national service program, restoring congressional trust and leading to a funding increase. His implementation of Outcome Budgeting in Baltimore has helped the city prioritize its spending during an unprecedented fiscal crisis. He also has taken many steps to engage citizens in the budget process, including a citizen survey, a citizens' guide to the budget and budget workshops and online tools that allow citizens to try their hand at balancing the city budget. Mr. Kleine recently led the development of the city's first-ever long-term financial plan.

Captain Joseph Stenger has worked to improve the circumstances of Afghan widows and orphans living in Parwan Provence, Afghanistan, since 2011. While deployed to Bagram Air Base, Captain Stenger was moved to action when he learned of a group of widowed women working to support their families by earning money sewing scarves and selling them on NATO bases near Kabul—despite being mired in poverty and constrained by social norms that granted them little opportunity to improve their standing. Captain Stenger and his team were determined to improve the plight of these disadvantaged Afghanis and the Air Force officially partnered with the Afghan women to form the not-for-profit business Flying Scarfs. Captain Stenger was born in Wheeling, WV, where he was raised by his parents, Joe and Karen Stenger. Following high school, he attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, graduating summa cum laude in 2006 with a BS in Aeronautical Science while earning his commission through ROTC. At Embry Riddle, Captain Stenger was selected for Air Force pilot training and earned his wings in March 2006. Following pilot training, he was assigned to F-15E Strike Eagle and the 335th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson, NC. In 2011, Captain Stenger was deployed to Afghanistan, where he flew 77 combat missions. In 2014, he was selected to transition to the F-35A and now serves in the 62nd Fighter Squadron.

About ASPA: ASPA is the leading interdisciplinary public service organization that advances the art, science, teaching and practice of public and nonprofit administration. Learn more at www.aspanet.org

About NAPA: Chartered by Congress, the National Academy of Public Administration is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created to help public sector leaders meet management challenges through evaluation, analysis and recommendations. Learn more at www.napawash.org

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SOURCE American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)