The current human capital environment is marked by efforts to build the next generation of public servants. Across the nation, the intergovernmental intersections between state and local governments are contracting and growing. At the same time, in the midst of government draw-downs and budget cut-backs, cities and their leaders are innovating, advancing their communities into the next era of governance and providing more effective and equitable public services.

“The reality of the public sector today is that it is assessed by the efficiency of its service delivery. No longer is the effectiveness of the public sector measured by the revenue it generates or the employment it provides...” - R Chandrashekhar, Additional Secretary, eGovernance, Government of India.

Critical infrastructure supports lifeline systems that are considered essential to the successful functioning of governance and society in the U.S. They are the common thread that touches every public service delivery challenge of the future across all levels of government. The efficient delivery of government services relies on a power grid functioning at full capacity, an operational and expansive communication network, a streamlined and efficient transportation system, and water infrastructure delivering clean and affordable water free of pollution.

The capacity and equity of these systems are pressing problems for public administrators around the nation today, at all levels of government. The destruction of, or even inconsistency in, these systems would have a debilitating impact upon the economic security and vitality of the nation. Additionally, if such networks are disrupted, there will be a lasting impact upon the social cohesion and political trust of the community. Prioritizing the physical and operational condition of these systems will promote a sense of resilient governance and provide the necessities for human development and capability that expend beyond traditional physiological and safety needs.

George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and the National Academy of Public Administration are committed to developing and supporting public service leadership across all professions and in local, regional, and national communities, in the hope of advancing good governance and the public good. On Monday, October 30, 2017, the Schar School and the Academy will bring together thought leaders, subject matter experts, practitioners, and academics from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to host a one-day, highly interactive symposium to discuss some of the major infrastructure challenges facing local, state, and national government and consider strategies to ensure our national ability to govern our infrastructure networks for the future.