DURHAM, NC – Lee Worsley, Executive Director of Central Pines Regional Council, has been selected as a 2026 National Academy of Public Administration Fellow, a recognition of his nearly three decades of public leadership across county and regional government. On Friday, Sept. 25, the Academy Board approved the incoming 2026 class comprised of 64 highly accomplished public servants from across the country, including AI pioneers, statisticians, historians, educators, and public service practitioners from the local, state, and federal levels.
The 2026 Class joins more than 1,000 current Fellows, including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, executives, nonprofit leaders, and more.
“While this honor has my name on it, it reflects the many people, organizations, and experiences that have shaped my 27 years in public service. It also reflects the work we have accomplished together during my eleven years at Central Pines,” said Worsley. “I am grateful to this Board for its trust, to our staff for their talent and dedication, and to our member governments for their continued partnership. I am particularly pleased that this recognition creates another opportunity to bring the lessons, innovations, and collaborative spirit of our region into national conversations about how government can better serve communities.”
“The Academy helps leaders achieve a more effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable government. This group of incoming Fellows represent excellence in public service from around the country, and will help us achieve our mission,” said James-Christian Blockwood, President & CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration. “As our country’s management challenges grow, the Academy continues to build the capacity to tackle those pressing issues. I look forward to working with all our new Fellows and providing a positive vision of what we can achieve together in the years to come.”
Selection of new Fellows follows a rigorous review of each individual’s contributions to the fields of public administration and policy. A Nominating Committee, selected by the Academy’s Board Chair, reviews hundreds of applicants and makes its recommendations to the full Fellowship, which then votes on each nominee.
Worsley has served as Executive Director of Central Pines Regional Council since July 2015. Central Pines is the primary regional organization for 50 local governments across the seven-county Research Triangle Region. His 27 years of public service include serving as Deputy Durham County Manager, Assistant Catawba County Manager, Greene County Manager, and Assistant to the Goldsboro City Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Appalachian State University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Worsley has held numerous leadership positions in the profession, including President of the North Carolina City/County Management Association, the UNC MPA Alumni Association, the Appalachian State University Local Government Alumni Association, and the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils. He has also served as Southeast Vice President of the International City/County Management Association. He currently serves as an At-Large Board member of the Civic Foundation and as the National Association of Regional Councils representative on the FirstNet Public Safety Advisory Committee. In 2026, the Academy also recognized Worsley as one of 250 Champions of Local Government across the United States as part of its celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Induction of the new Fellows will occur during the Academy’s 2026 National Conference, November 8-10 at the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, D.C.
About Central Pines Regional Council
For more than five decades, Central Pines Regional Council has been educating and empowering local governments through direct assistance, regional planning, and technical expertise. As a resource and support hub for local governments, community members, and partners across Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, and Wake counties, we believe that our region thrives when we come together with a common vision and plan for the future. Our work fosters constructive conversations and drives long-term change in our community to ensure our region is thriving, equitable, connected and resilient.
About the National Academy of Public Administration
Chartered by Congress to provide nonpartisan expert advice, the Academy is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization established in 1967 to assist government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent organizations. Learn more at www.napawash.org
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