Category 2: Delivering Excellence in Digital Services
JOSHUA LEHMAN
Office of Operations
Office of Digital Transformation (ODIT)
Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Josh Lehman is being honored in Category 2: Delivering Excellence in Digital Services for transforming the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's digital infrastructure into a modern, user-centered platform that accelerates scientific innovation and improves public service. As an IT leader, Josh has redefined the role of technology by embedding it directly into the FDA's mission, ensuring that digital tools enable faster, more effective research, regulatory review, and collaboration. His leadership has fostered a culture where innovation, customer experience, and mission delivery go hand in hand.
Josh led the creation of the FDA's User Experience (UX) Project Portfolio, championing more than 20 modernization initiatives that replaced fragmented legacy systems with a resilient, cloud-agnostic ecosystem. He pioneered the agency's adoption of AI-enabled capabilities and mobile-first experiences, making it easier for industry partners to submit regulatory data while improving access to information for FDA employees. By prioritizing usability, collaboration, and responsible innovation, he empowered teams to move beyond outdated processes and embrace technology that better serves both internal users and the public.
The impact of Josh's leadership has been transformative. Modernized digital services have improved system reliability, reduced administrative burdens, and accelerated the submission and review of critical health data, helping bring life-saving products to the public more efficiently. AI-driven automation has reclaimed thousands of work hours for FDA scientists, allowing them to focus on high-value research and real-time safety analysis rather than manual data processing. Through his commitment to customer-focused innovation, Josh has established a lasting culture of agility, transparency, and continuous improvement that strengthens the FDA's ability to protect and promote public health.