Fellows Spotlight
Kyle Sawyer
2017 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Assistant Director of Public Policy and Strategic Planning
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
2017 Flinn-Brown Fellow Kyle Sawyer serves as the assistant director of public policy and strategic planning at the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). In this leadership role, he oversees federal relations, legislative affairs, strategic planning, and project management — bringing together the agency’s most forward-looking work to ensure vital services reach Arizonans efficiently and effectively. His career reflects a deep commitment to public service and a drive to innovate in how government meets community needs.
A native Arizonan and graduate of Chandler High School, Sawyer discovered his passion for public service early. He traces the spark to volunteering through his church and later working with a local politician during college.
“I found my passion for public service through seeing lives changed by simple actions,” Sawyer said. “Things like helping constituents get glasses at health fairs or guiding them through complex bureaucracies to access the services they deserved.”
At AHCCCS, Sawyer leads efforts to design the agency’s waiver and state plan — formal agreements with the federal government that determine how the agency operates. This work has enabled the launch of nationally recognized programs.
“Through these documents, we’ve created innovative programs such as the AHCCCS H2O housing initiative and the AHCCCS Reentry program,” he explained. “We’ve even been able to implement smaller but meaningful services, like becoming the only state in the nation to reimburse for equine non-emergency transportation, which helps tribal members living at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.”
His division also advises lawmakers on the potential impact of policy decisions and collaborates with the Governor’s Office to shape the agency’s long-term vision. Yet, for Kyle, the most rewarding moments are the direct, personal outcomes.
“Representatives from state, federal, and tribal governments often come to my division with constituents in urgent need of assistance,” he said. “When we can use our knowledge and experience to solve those problems and connect someone to resources that change their life, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Kyle grounds his approach in a favorite quote from U.S. Army Gen. George Patton: “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.”
“The longer you delay being perfect, the longer someone is suffering with the problem—and the more you risk the whole endeavor facing unanticipated obstacles,” Sawyer reflected.
As a Flinn-Brown Fellow, Sawyer values the Flinn-Brown Network as a professional asset and a source of connection.
“Many of my direct colleagues are Fellows, and being part of Flinn-Brown gives us an instant bond,” he noted. “It has also expanded my knowledge beyond my policy area, given me access to new perspectives, and introduced me to parts of Arizona I hadn’t known.”
Looking ahead, he believes strengthening Arizona’s civic health requires rebuilding the social connections that bridge divides.
“Our system of politics is, by nature, adversarial,” Sawyer said. “When that adversarial environment defines most of your social connections, it creates insular, self-reinforcing bubbles. To me, the best way to restore Arizona’s civic health is by creating more spaces for people of all ages to engage socially.”
Outside of work, Kyle enjoys golfing, swimming, pickleball, hiking, and traveling the world. Through his leadership at AHCCCS, his engagement as a Fellow, and his personal pursuits, he continues to embody the values of service, collaboration, and a vision for a healthier Arizona.
Book Recommendation
“We live in a representative democracy. If you want to influence policy, you need to be able to influence people. These books are foundational reading in the art of influence. These books will equip you with the resources you need to be able to effectively convey the policy knowledge you have into the hands of those who have been elected to make policy decisions or even to convince voters that you are the one who they should trust to make those decisions on their behalf. They also aren’t super long, so you can get the information and apply it quickly!”
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