---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-24-072061"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "APEI"
cik: "0001201792"
company_name: "AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC"
filed_at: "2024-06-17T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-01T04:03:23.606735+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# APEI CFO Richard W. Sunderland Jr. to depart; search for successor underway

## Summary
- CFO Richard W. Sunderland Jr. will transition out; successor search started.
- He will remain employed up to 90 days after successor starts or mutually agreed date.
- On separation (not for cause/without good reason), he gets severance per employment agreement and full vesting of equity awards via 'Qualified Retirement'.
- Transition agreement signed June 13, 2024; includes non-disparagement and cooperation through 6 months post-separation.
- Sunderland's duties may be modified during transition; resignation from other positions may be required.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-24-072061
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: APEI
- cik: 0001201792
- company_name: AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC
- filed_at: 2024-06-17T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1201792/000110465924072061/0001104659-24-072061-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1201792/000110465924072061/tm2417339d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-072061
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-072061.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-072061.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Richard W. Sunderland, Jr. departed as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC.
  - Action: departing
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Richard W. Sunderland, Jr., the Company’s current Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, is expected to continue to serve until ninety (90) days after his successor commences employment with the Company
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1201792/000110465924072061/0001104659-24-072061-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.