NASCA Press Release: John Owens Announced as 2026 20 Under 40 Award Winner

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2026

Contact: Elizabeth Whitehouse, Executive Director, executivedirector@nasca.org

NASCA Press Release: John Owens Announced as 2026 20 Under 40 Award Winner

Phoenix, AZ — The National Association of State Chief Administrators is proud to announce John Owens, Chief Strategy Officer at the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), as a 2026 NASCA 20 Under 40 Award recipient.

The NASCA 20 Under 40 Award recognizes 20 exceptional leaders from across the country who are making significant contributions to state government. Our 2026 honorees represent the very best of public service – exemplifying innovation, collaboration, and a dedication to improving the lives of those they serve every single day.

As Chief Strategy Officer for ADOA, Owens leads strategic planning and performance improvement efforts, oversees the Government Transformation Office, and coordinates sensitive inter- and intra-agency matters to successful outcomes. He oversees ADOA’s legislative strategies and works closely with the Governor’s Office to achieve positive results for both ADOA and the State, including through work developing the Governor’s recently-announced Arizona Capacity and Efficiency Initiative.

Prior to joining ADOA, Owens served as a Policy and Operations Advisor to Governor Katie Hobbs, helping launch and guide key initiatives across multiple operational domains. Owens spearheaded the creation of Digital Dash, a statewide digital accessibility initiative, through which the state achieved substantial progress towards compliance with federal accessibility guidelines. He also played a key role in the design and implementation of Paid Parental Leave and enhanced Paid Family Sick Leave for State employees.

Upon nominating Owens, ADOA Director Elizabeth Thorson commended Owens’ passion for service and ability to find solutions to complex problems.

“I have had the opportunity to work with John since he joined the Hobbs administration in January 2023, and feel fortunate that he joined ADOA when his service in the Governor’s Office concluded. John is an excellent problem solver and is frequently called upon to help get things unstuck, both within ADOA and throughout State government.”

Thorson continued, “His passion for making government work more effectively and efficiently shines in how he approaches his work and his ability to build relationships has helped ADOA perform better.”

A true problem solver and leader, Owens’ proven track record and dedication to public service make him an ideal recipient of the NASCA 20 Under 40 Award. NASCA celebrates his selection as a 20 Under 40 recipient, and we look forward to his continued work advancing excellence in state government operations.

Founded in 1976, NASCA is the nation’s only nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving chief administrative officers or CAOs. NASCA provides a forum for state chief administrative officers to exchange information and learn new ideas from each other and private sector partners. NASCA engages states in transforming government operations through shared knowledge, operational excellence, and thought leadership.

For more information on NASCA, please visit NASCA.org.