National Association of Counties Pilots Artificial Intelligence Leadership Academy

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties (NACo) today announced a new professional development opportunity, the NACo Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leadership Academy, an innovative, online program to equip frontline county government leaders with practical knowledge and tools. The six-week pilot course is designed to help county officials better understand and utilize AI to increase effectiveness and advance excellence in public service.  

“We are pleased to offer this new resource for counties,” said NACo Chief Information Officer Rita Reynolds. “As counties aim to deploy AI across a wide range of functions, the academy will provide insightful training to keep us on the cutting edge of public service.” 

The program features a robust curriculum developed by NACo and the Professional Development Academy (PDA). It includes lessons and perspectives from public sector leaders, industry executives, researchers and professors from top universities, and other subject matter experts. The course addresses issues like understanding the power of AI, mitigating risks and navigating complexities in an evolving landscape.  

“We look forward to equipping county leaders with practical approaches and factors to consider when leveraging AI to achieve county priorities,” said Reynolds. “With this knowledge, counties will be better prepared to serve residents today and into the future.” 

Other leadership programs offered through NACo in partnership with PDA include the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy and the NACo Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy.