Strong public service requires people who can navigate complexity, break through barriers, and move important work forward. This seven-session Practical Systems Skills series (remaining sessions listed below) will equip current, former, and future federal employees with tools to solve problems, make better decisions, work across boundaries, lead effective meetings, use AI responsibly, and sustain themselves and their teams under pressure. Civil Service Strong, the Environmental Protection Network, and the Partnership for Public Service are co-hosting the series from September through December 2026. Participants may attend individual webinars or complete the full series to develop a connected set of practical leadership and management skills.

Please click "Register" below to sign up for the series:

• November 12 : Working Across Boundaries Without Authority
 

• November 19: Sustaining Capacity in High-Pressure Systems
 

• December 3: Responsible Use of AI
 

Series presented in collaboration with the Partnership for Public Service and the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS).

Running monthly from October 2026 through May 2027, the virtual series will bring together experienced practitioners for candid conversations on public service readiness, political appointments, how government and the interagency process work, policy implementation, leadership, ethics, and what it really takes to be ready to serve.

The series is open to the general public.

Programming Schedule

• October 15, 2026 | Are You Actually Ready to Serve? - Assess the experience, credibility, networks, judgment, and preparation needed for political appointment and senior public service.
• November 19, 2026 | How Government Actually Works - Explore how foreign policy decisions move through the White House, agencies, Congress, career officials, and the interagency system.
• December 17, 2026 | From Policy to Action - Learn how to translate policy recommendations into executable government action with clear authority, ownership, resources, and outcomes.
• January 21, 2027 | The Path to a Presidential Appointment - Demystify Presidential Personnel, transition teams, role targeting, sponsorship, vetting, validators, and appointment categories.
• February 18, 2027 | Political Judgment: Governing in the Gray - Examine how senior officials navigate competing political, legal, operational, institutional, and reputational considerations.
• March 18, 2027 | Leading Inside Government & the Interagency Table - Explore how political appointees build trust with career staff, manage institutional dynamics, and lead during the critical first 100 days.
• April 15, 2027 | Ethics, Vetting & Public Trust - Prepare for the ethical, financial, professional, and personal scrutiny associated with senior government service.
• May 20, 2027 | Ready to Serve - Reassess readiness, sharpen target roles, identify remaining gaps, and develop a clearer pathway toward future service.