NASCA Press Release: Sam Flynn 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: Sam Flynn Announced as 2026 20 Under 40 Award Winner

Frankfort, KY — The National Association of State Chief Administrators is proud to announce Sam Flynn, Special Advisor and Chief Deputy General Counsel to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, as a 2026 NASCA 20 Under 40 Award recipient.

The NASCA 20 Under 40 Award recognizes 20 exceptional young 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.

Flynn supports the Governor’s Office as a dynamic leader who brings expertise from different fields to drive coordinated policy action. He brings legal knowledge, strategic leadership, and policy insights to advance statewide priorities.

Two of Flynn’s most notable achievements are designing and building Kentucky’s medical cannabis program from the ground up, and, more recently, leading Governor Beshear’s Pre-K For All Initiative to expand access to high quality early education across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He has played a critical role in shaping and implementing this project, coordinating across agencies and successfully advancing Governor Beshear’s policy agenda.

Upon nominating Flynn, 2025 NASCA 20 Under 40 Award Recipient and Deputy Chief of Staff at the Kentucky Governor’s Office, Coulter Minix, highlighted his leadership in some of Governor Andy Beshear’s most significant initiatives.

“Sam is an excellent colleague and leader in our office. He led the successful rollout of Kentucky’s Medical Cannabis program and is leading the Governor’s initiative to expand Pre-K for all four year olds in Kentucky.”

Minix continued, “He deserves the recognition and would be an excellent choice for NASCA’s 20 Under 40 Award.”

Flynn’s leadership in expanding access to early childhood education and leveraging multiple fields of expertise to achieve excellence in state government reflects the qualities recognized by 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.