Horizon’s 2025 year in review – Horizon Institute for Public Service

Horizon’s 2025 year in review – Horizon Institute for Public Service 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 January 16, 2026 
 
 
 Horizon’s 2025 year in review


 In our biggest year yet, we launched two new programs, saw applications to existing programs more than triple, and helped more people than ever start their careers in emerging technology policy. 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 Note: If you find what you read below exciting, we are hiring for multiple roles — consider applying or help us spread the word. Deadline February 8, 2026. 

 The Horizon Institute for Public Service exists to bring much-needed technical expertise into government. We connect emerging technology experts passionate about public service with policy institutions working on the forefront of these issues—through fellowship placements, career support, and resources that help practitioners navigate the transition to policy work and developing in their policy careers.

 2025 was a year of significant growth for Horizon. Applications across our programs more than tripled. We supported over 500 individuals through direct programming and more than 100,000 people used our career support resources like emergingtechpolicy.org . To rapidly scale existing programs while launching new initiatives, we more than doubled our team to 18 full-time staff. Across the three years we’ve now existed, our programs have made possible the transitions of over 150 early- and mid-career professionals into emerging technology policy.

 The need for technology expertise in government is something that people across the political spectrum and across the policy ecosystem agree on—from Scott Kupor, Director of the Office of Personnel Management, noting the “real, acute shortage of people” in the federal workforce with modern tech skills, to Rep. Sara Jacobs arguing that the US “can’t fully deliver on its national security mission, lead in responsible AI, and compete in the AI race if our federal agencies don’t have the talent to meet this moment.” 

 Horizon is grateful to have spent 2025 continuing to address this gap, alongside partners like the Foundation for American Innovation, the Texas Innovation and Technology Foundation, the Center for a New American Security, Texas A&M University, and the Brown University Pandemic Center. 

 What we accomplished in 2025

 AI Policy Leadership Network 

 The AI Policy Leadership Network (APLN) is our newest program. In partnership with the Foundation for American Innovation and the Center for a New American Security, we recently announced APLN: a selective, part-time leadership program for experienced professionals from across the AI policy ecosystem. APLN reaches senior leaders already working in the field, offering a forum for cross-sector dialogue and relationship-building.

 

 Applications launched in the fall of 2025, and the inaugural cohort will conven

... (truncated, 12 KB total)