PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER 2017

FOREIGN SERVICE EXCELLENCE TODAY HIRING FREEZE FALLOUT

A NEW CITIZEN OF LONDON

FOREIGN SERVICE September 2017 Volume 94, No. 7

Cover Story Feature 27 It’s Practical: 57 Training the Next Generation of Diplomats A New Citizen Knowledge of history, area studies and current international affairs is not, by itself, sufficient to make an effective diplomat. of London Shines By Edward “Skip” Gnehm on the Other Side of the Thames U.S. Embassy London in Nine Elms will set new standards for security Focus on Exemplary Performance and sustainability. & Constructive Dissent Here are some insights into how it got there. By Richard LeBaron 31 47 Leader, Mentor, In Pursuit of Diplomat: Ambassador Transparency Nancy J. Powell in Assignment The recipient of AFSA’s 2017 Lifetime Restriction Policies Contributions to American Diplomacy Lack of fairness and transparency in Award talks with the FSJ about her the assignment restrictions process journey from Midwestern social studies undercuts both employees and the teacher to diplomatic leader. State Department. Asian-American employees took it on. By Christina T. Le and Thomas T. Wong 50 Pushing State to Prevent Illegal Adoptions Faced with growing evidence of malfeasance in intercountry adoptions in Uganda, this FSO decided on a course of constructive dissent to correct the problem. 57 By Wendy Brafman

54 41 DS Could Advance Overseas The State of Dissent in Visa and Passport Security the Foreign Service Diplomatic Security programs can help Members of the Foreign Service protect the United States from the regularly grapple with the professional threat of terrorist entry, but the State and moral dilemma of dissent. Department hasn’t promoted DS as By Harry Kopp the interagency lead. By Elzar T. Camper

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 5 FOREIGN SERVICE

Perspectives 105 Departments Reflections A Baltic Tale 7 By Tom Longo 10 Letters President’s Views Building Enduring Support 14 Letters-Plus for the Foreign Service 18 Talking Points By Barbara Stephenson 91 In Memory 9 96 Books Letter from the Editor Stories of Excellence By Shawn Dorman Marketplace 23 Speaking Out 106 99 Classifieds How to Get More Bang for Local Lens 102 Real Estate Our FSI Buck: Engaging Foreign Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia Diplomats and Diasporas By Christopher Shea 104 Index to Advertisers By Michael Rosenthal

AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION

76

62 AFSA Awards Honor Foreign Service Excellence 69 Meet the 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board 66 State VP Voice—Like a Bridge 74 Behind the Scenes at the AFSA Election 66 Retiree VP Voice—Focus on Retiree Issues 74 Governing Board Meeting Notes 67 F AS VP Voice—Seeking Solutions and 75 Sinclaire Award Recipients in Action Sustainability 76 AFSA Award Winner Profiles 68 F CS VP Voice—Facing Unprecedented 87 Celebrating Foreign Service Youth Achievements Challenges 88 Meet the 2017 AFSA Merit Award Winners 68 USAID VP Voice—Promoting USAID Interests 90 Kennan Award Salutes Strong Writing 69 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board Takes Office

On the Cover: AFSA’s 2017 award winners. Centerpiece: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell (center), recipient of the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplo- macy Award, with previous winners (from left) former Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Ambassador William J. Harrop, FSO Stuart Kennedy and Ambassador Ruth Davis. Clockwise from top right: Aubrey N. Dowd; René Gutel; Wendy Brafman; Ambassador Tulinabo Mushingi; group winners Christina T. Le, Thomas T. Wong, Cecilia S Choi and Mariju L. Bofill; Henry Throop; Elzar T. Camper; Diane Corbin; and John S. Wood. Photographer: Toya Sarno Jordan.

6 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS

Building Enduring Support for the Foreign Service

BY BARBARA STEPHENSON

s I begin my second term as in the face of unique challenges. I want ment of State’s Work,” which is essentially AFSA president, having been us to own that story, to take pride and a tribute to the Foreign Service and the elected on a platform of con- find strength in it, and to share it with the importance of our work. Atinuing the work begun two American people.” Section 101 asserts that “United States years ago by the Strong Diplomacy slate, I renew that commitment to you global engagement is key,” and “United I reviewed my very first President’s Views now, as I begin my second and final States leadership is indispensable in light column. term as AFSA president, and I ask that of the many complex and interconnected In that maiden column, I made this you continue to do your part to own our threats facing the United States and the commitment: story and to tell it effectively to our fellow world”—challenges that “cannot be “I will speak to everyone during my ten- Americans. addressed without sustained and robust ure as AFSA president of the extraordinary Why? Because it is working. I see con- United States diplomatic and develop- demands that are made of the extraordi- crete evidence that our fellow Americans ment leadership.” nary people who answer the call to serve. increasingly know who we are, what we The “vital” work of State and USAID, “As part of our pledge to worldwide do, and why it matters. Section 101 states, “is critical to the pro- availability, we in the Foreign Service For instance, in its reporting on the jection of American power and leadership willingly agree—in fact, work hard to moving ceremony on Foreign Service worldwide, and without which Americans prevail in a highly competitive selection Day, May 5, at which we in Washington would be less safe, our economic power process—to take on a career that requires and many of you at posts around the would be diminished, and global stability us to serve in remote corners of the globe, world paused for a moment to honor and prosperity would suffer.” often in unsafe and unhealthy conditions the 248 fallen colleagues whose names If this language sounds familiar, it of genuine hardship, where good schools appear on AFSA’s memorial plaques, The should, as it echoes messages AFSA has for our kids and decent jobs for our Washington Post refers to the “nobility” of been pushing out across the country, as spouses are rare. the Foreign Service. well as on the Hill, for many months now. “We willingly agree to rotate jobs every And in his July 28 New York Times In a word: Nine in 10 Americans favor two to three years as part of our competi- Sunday Review piece, Roger Cohen strong American global leadership, which tive up-or-out promotions system. While writes, “Over the years, in war zones and is unthinkable without a strong, profes- that means we never get to settle com- outside them, I’ve known American For- sional Foreign Service deployed around fortably in a job and a place we love, we eign Service officers for whom the word the world protecting and defending know this is the path to the broad range ‘noble’ was not misplaced.” America’s people, interests and values. of experience we need to grow as Foreign So have I, and, so, I suspect, have you. To all of you who took up and deliv- Service profession- Explicit support for the Foreign Service ered this message, I say thank you—and als and prepare now clearly extends to Capitol Hill, where please keep up the good work. Own your to lead America’s the Senate Foreign Relations Committee story of remarkable service. Polish it. Tell foreign policy. in late July voted out the 2018 State autho- it with pride. Every time you do, you make “Ours is a rization bill. I encourage you to read the the Foreign Service stronger by building remarkable story of entire bill, but particularly want to draw broad and enduring support for us and service, of deliver- your attention to Section 101, “Sense of the essential work we do to maintain ing for our country the Congress on Importance of Depart- America’s global leadership. n

Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 7 FOREIGN SERVICE

Editor in Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Managing Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected]

Associate Editor CONTACTS Gemma Dvorak: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Publications Coordinator (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Controller Ad & Circulation Manager USAID AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Assistant Controller Art Director FCS AFSA Office: Cory Nishi: [email protected] Caryn Suko Smith (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Editorial Intern LABOR MANAGEMENT GOVERNING BOARD Andrea Philbin General Counsel President Sharon Papp: [email protected] Advertising Intern Hon. Barbara Stephenson: Deputy General Counsel Windy Tay: [email protected] [email protected] Raeka Safai: [email protected] Editorial Board Secretary Senior Staff Attorneys Eric Green, Chair Hon. Tom Boyatt: [email protected] Neera Parikh: [email protected] Randy Berry Treasurer Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] James (Jim) Bever Hon. Earl Anthony ‘Tony’ Wayne: Labor Management Counselor Angela Bond [email protected] Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: M. Allyn Brooks-LaSure State Vice President [email protected] Lawrence Casselle Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] Grievance Counselor Shawn Kobb USAID Vice President Jason Snyder: [email protected] Suzanne McGuire Ann Posner: [email protected] Senior Labor Management Advisor Joan Polaschik FCS Vice President John G. Rendeiro Jr. James Yorke: [email protected] Daniel Crocker: [email protected] Priyadarshi “Pri” Sen Labor Management Advisor FAS Vice President Dinah Zeltser-Winant Patrick Bradley: [email protected] Kimberly Svec Sawatzki: [email protected] Executive Assistant Retiree Vice President Jaya Duvvuri: [email protected] THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS John K. Naland: [email protected] USAID Staff Assistant PROFESSIONALS State Representatives Christine Rose: [email protected] The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), Lawrence Casselle 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly, with combined January-February Anne Coleman-Honn MEMBER SERVICES and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Josh Glazeroff Membership Representative Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Martin McDowell Vacant Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the Tricia Wingerter writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Retiree Counselor the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries USAID Representative Todd Thurwachter: [email protected] and submissions are invited, preferably by email. The Madeline Williams Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, FCS Alternate Representative photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. Ana Lopez: [email protected] All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Matthew Hilgendorf AFSA reserves the right to reject advertising that is not FAS Alternate Representative COMMUNICATIONS in keeping with its standards and objectives. The appear- Thom Wright Director of Communications ance of advertisements herein does not imply endorse- BBG Representative ment of goods or services offered. Opinions expressed in Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] advertisements are the views of the advertisers and do Steve Herman Online Communications Manager not necessarily represent AFSA views or policy. Journal APHIS Representative Jeff Lau: [email protected] subscription: AFSA member–$20, included in annual J.J. Hurley dues; student–$30; institution–$40; others–$50; Single Outreach and Communications Specialist issue–$4.50. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; Retiree Representatives Allan Saunders: [email protected] foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid Hon. Alphonse ‘Al’ La Porta Awards Coordinator at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Philip A. Shull Perri Green: [email protected] Indexed by the Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). Outreach Coordinator Email: [email protected] STAFF Catherine Kannenberg: [email protected] Phone: (202) 338-4045 Executive Director Retiree Outreach Coordinator Fax: (202) 338-8244 Ian Houston: [email protected] Christine Miele: [email protected] Web: www.afsa.org/fsj Special Assistant to the President Jennie Orloff: [email protected] © American Foreign Service Association, 2017 PROFESSIONAL POLICY ISSUES Director of Professional Policy Issues PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. ADVOCACY Julie Nutter: [email protected] Postmaster: Send address changes to Director of Advocacy Program Assistant AFSA, Attn: Address Change Mary Daly: [email protected] Erika Bethmann: [email protected] 2101 E Street NW Washington DC 20037-2990 SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarship Director Lori Dec: [email protected]

8 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Stories of Excellence

BY SHAWN DORMAN

hirty years ago, fresh out of glasnost and perestroika reform effort that resumed, the disruption continues. Cornell with a double major in saw improved relations with the United To follow our July-August article, Soviet studies and government, States, along with historic U.S.-Soviet “How the Hiring Freeze Is Affecting Fam- TI headed over to Moscow. I was summits and nuclear arms control agree- ily Member Employment,” we reached going to fill one of the many jobs vacated ments. out to the FS community for feedback when the Soviets pulled all the Russian This experience showed me the value from the field. We heard from dozens of staff out of the embassy in the wake of the of diplomacy. It also introduced me to employees and family members: You’ll Lonetree spy scandal. the extraordinary individuals of the U.S. find a compilation of messages in Letters- The Americans working for the U.S. Foreign Service who practice it, no matter Plus, and the full set of responses on our diplomatic mission in the USSR had to the conditions or hardship. website. pick up all the work that had been done These diplomats, some of the smartest Through the disruptions of unfilled by local staff, including the jobs of drivers, people I’d ever met, were determined to positions and department “redesign,” it nannies, laborers, clerks. understand the truth of the situation on is appropriate to remind ourselves—and I signed on as a nanny for a U.S. diplo- the ground, to share that with Washing- fellow Americans—of diplomacy’s criti- matic family. With a Top Secret clear- ton and to help develop, refine and sup- cal role in national security and the vital ance from having served as an intern on port the administration’s policies. work of the U.S. Foreign Service. the Soviet Desk at State, I was quickly They served faithfully and effectively, This month we focus on excellence. recruited to also help out in a stretched without fanfare or bluster or the expecta- We spotlight many outstanding members political section. tion of winning a prize. And as a result, of the Foreign Service by sharing the The political section was in a relationships were fostered, understand- stories of this year’s AFSA award winners. cramped, crumbling, internal part of the ing was gained, and diplomacy worked. These awards honor FS members who “old” chancery—the new one standing Similarly today, in the face of Vladimir make a difference—through exemplary empty since listening devices had been Putin’s order that Embassy Moscow and performance or constructive dissent, discovered embedded inside the walls. the U.S. consulates reduce staff by 755, by promoting democracy, by support- Security restrictions in place dictated that the embassy team will continue doing ing their local community and through American diplomats could not meet with the diplomacy it’s there to do, no matter a lifetime of contributions to American Russians alone, so I got to tag along with what. diplomacy. political officers to fascinating meetings The Foreign Service is quite accus- In these pages we salute Ambassador with dissidents and other contacts. tomed to “doing more with less,” but Nancy Powell, recipient of AFSA’s Life- While sometimes such challenges go to the time Contributions to American Diplo- harassment bone. Current conditions in Washing- macy Award; constructive dissent award and surveil- ton—the hiring freeze, departmental winners Elzar Camper, Wendy Brafman, lance of U.S. reorganization (oddly called the “rede- Mariju Bofill, Cecilia Choi, Thomas Wong diplomats was sign”) and proposed 30 percent budget and Christina Le; Mark Palmer Award ongoing, this cuts for State and USAID—present such for the Advancement of Democracy was also 1987, a challenge. recipients René Gutel and Ambassador the early days The hiring freeze, in particular, has left Tulinabo Mushingi; and exemplary per- of Mikhail many scratching their heads wondering formance award winners Diane Corbin, Gorbachev’s “to what end?” While limited hiring has Aubrey Dowd, Henry Throop and John Wood. n Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 9 LETTERS

The Trouble with sion about what SOF is. As Mr. Kashkett a relatively new addition to the embassy Special Operations points out, there are in fact two versions family and are deployed only under The June FSJ on “Diplomats and Sol- of SOF: the indirect, or engagement, specific, policy-driven conditions. They diers” was an important contribution to operations (think Army Special Forces) are not a standard component of every professional diplomatic discussion. The and the direct, or kinetic, operations U.S. embassy. SOF elements should be focus rubric, “Perspectives on Diplo- (think SEAL Team 6 and the killing of treated the same way—used sparingly macy and Defense,” was just right. Osama bin Laden). These are sometimes and carefully. Particularly noteworthy is the article colloquially referred to as white and But SOF is relatively cheap, semi- “Special Operations and Diplomacy: black ops by the military. clandestine and in large supply, so the A Unique Nexus” by FSO and former The two are very different, but the line temptation to over-employ appears foreign policy adviser (POLAD) Steve dividing them is fuzzy, and they tend irresistible. The SOF operation in the Kashkett. His detailed description of to become intermixed in the minds of Philippines is now in its 17th year and special operations forces (SOF) and the many civilians and even some military. counting. (In fact, if you count their ear- work they do is an important This distinction is impor- lier involvement in the Philippine insur- contribution to the education tant when considering rection, it is 117 years and counting.) of FSOs. the current trend toward Certainly the current indiscriminate This is especially so because extensive and regular spread of SOF programs in Africa—where of the recent prominence of global deployment of the local military are generally part of the SOF in both the military and SOF units. problem, not part of the solution—should civilian worlds. For many, SOF As Mr. Kashkett notes, be subject to serious review. has become the weapon of “numerous cases high- The key quality of special operations choice in a long and unsatisfac- light the need for close forces, after all, is that they are tactical. tory war where the traditional diplomatic-military SOF doesn’t win wars, even small ones, tools just don’t seem to work. coordination on kinetic by itself. The military knows this, but For civilians, including those actions that will take too many civilians don’t, because media in politics and government as place on foreign soil,” but such action can coverage is about battles covered on the well as the general public, special opera- too easily be seen as aggressive or even evening news and not about wars. tions forces have become today’s heroes, neocolonial. The small numbers involved The bottom line is that SOF is useful today’s “Greatest Generation.” They are make such deployments seem almost when part of an effective military strat- pretty much the military image on TV, innocuous, and the recent dramatic egy. And a military strategy is effective in the movies and in the media. Fit and expansion in the size of the SOF commu- only when part of an effective political- grungy young men are seen everywhere. nity means that capability abounds. diplomatic strategy. They have become so fashionable that We not only go to war with the Army Clausewitz taught us that long ago, even the CIA has gone into the business. we have, but the type of war we fight can and recent years have made it clear that This rise to prominence is potentially be determined by the Army we have. his insight still stands. dangerous, however. SOF is seen too Indirect SOF should be seen as providing Edward Marks quickly as the solution to today’s security military assistance subject to traditional Ambassador, retired challenge. In fact, the SOF instrument is criteria, while direct SOF should be seen Washington, D.C. not new, and has been overplayed in the as making war; and there should be no past. President John F. Kennedy thought confusion about it. A Pitch for that the Army’s Green Berets could solve Another conceptual danger lies in Military Exercises the problem of pajama-clad guerrillas, separating SOF from other military per- I appreciated your June issue’s focus but it proved to be more complicated. sonnel attached to embassies. Military on the nexus between diplomacy and The problem with the current SOF officers have long been stationed at U.S. defense, and would like to add my own buzz is that it tends to lead to inflated embassies as attachés. Military assis- perspective. Military exercises are a expectations. It also leads to some confu- tance programs, on the other hand, are unique way to test and teach foreign

10 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL policy theories that have real- First, fighting may not take life, real-time implications. as much time and effort as My participation in the supply and logistics. Second, 2017 Eager Lion exercise in DOD sees State and the Jordan convinced me that interagency as a black box. military exercises can teach I explained to military col- us what the Department leagues that different bureaus of Defense ought to learn in State, different overseas about the State Department missions and other agencies and foreign policy objectives. Trainings do not always come with unified views, that include a Command Post Exercise, policy preferences and capabilities. in which military leaders role-play their I saw an opportunity for both State way through a military campaign in an and DOD to develop more effective imaginary country, can also teach State shared approaches to problems. For about the effects of military operations in example, both could benefit from view- a host country. ing peace talks holistically. Rather than For 10 days in May, in addition to silently resenting the peace talks and my real job as foreign policy adviser restrictions imposed by headquarters, (POLAD) to Task Force 51/5th Marine we could shape the talks by offering tan- Expeditionary Brigade in Bahrain, I gible objectives for negotiations. moonlighted as the POLAD to Combined Serving at an embassy or on a desk Joint Task Force–Blueland in an imagi- in Washington, we cannot afford to fail nary country fighting an insurgency or make mistakes, even if we learn from sponsored by its neighbor, Redland. them. The stakes are too high. But we What I learned there could fill a course at must improve our skills as foreign policy the Foreign Service Institute. practitioners, just as our military col- What should DOD learn? First, partner leagues are constantly honing their skills. nations are not monolithic. They face Sending FSOs to participate in com- internal threats. Sometimes they inadver- plex exercises such as EL17 can provide tently contribute to internal threats. Sec- valuable training, not only for military ond, partners have real reasons for saying leaders, but also for FSOs. In today’s no, and continuing to push them can be world, FSOs often find that their best counterproductive. Third, we can hurt our opportunities for shaping policy and cause by failing to consider the effects of making a difference at home and abroad our actions on host-country nationals. are through sharing experiences with our Fourth, refugees and internally DOD colleagues. displaced people will not return to their Seiji T. Shiratori homes unless they can return to some- FSO, POLAD to Task Force 51/5th thing safe and worthwhile. Fifth, some Marine Expeditionary Brigade countries do not act in good faith when Bahrain negotiating peace. And sixth, partnering with irregular forces will have indirect or Social Media Training secondary effects on the host country and for the Future the region. Amelia Shaw’s clarion call to recon- What can State learn about the effects sider how the Foreign Service uses social of military operations in a host country? media (May Speaking Out) was as lucid

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 11 as it was timely. Social media platforms the workplace,” as stated in the current are designed to enhance and maintain “Decision Criteria for Tenure and Pro- existing relationships with people and motion in the Foreign Service.” institutions, not just push out U.S. gov- Mid-level managers need to ensure ernment messages. I commend her for that their officers, locally employed a thoughtful, constructive and proactive (LE) staff and eligible family members article. (EFM) all look for ways to incorporate Sometimes I also feel like I have trav- social media into diplomacy before every eled back in time when I am working on meeting or event, to make sure there is social media. Ms. Shaw is right to point sufficient time to take that compelling out that the State Department is behind photo, record an interesting statement the times; after all, we’re being dumped on video or prepare a pithy tweet. by Research in Motion. Jay Gullish, a former EFM employed Notwithstanding this unfortunate under the Expanded Professional Asso- reality, our Service has made a lot of ciates Program at Embassy New Delhi, progress since my first association with helped persuade our front office to the department in spring 2007. Our institutionalize this by adding a box to videos are shorter, our tweets snappier briefing memos and scheduling memos. and our photos sharper; and this trend is Finally, the department can promote something that each officer can support the enhancement of digital diplomacy and even accelerate. capabilities by incorporating employees’ Ms. Shaw is right to highlight the access to Adobe’s Home Use Program at importance of training, but her focus is the appropriate time. too narrow because the economic officer Ms. Shaw calls for the creation of a of today may be a public diplomacy cache for best practices to drive social officer tomorrow. All officers should con- media development within our Service. sider taking digital diplomacy courses Fortunately, we already have such a like PY360 (available on OpenNet only). platform: Corridor. While underused, If FSI training is not possible, officers this platform can facilitate dynamic, can enroll in the Hootsuite Academy open and informal conversations or the Salford Business School’s social among officers involved in public diplo- media massive open online course macy. (MOOC). Both are free. I invite like-minded officers, LE Because raters are now required to staff and EFMs to consider joining the incorporate how their ratees facilitate Outreach and Social Media community the professional development of their (available on OpenNet only) so that we subordinates (as appropriate), manag- can learn from each other. ers also have a key role in enhancing Enhancing our social media capa- our Service’s social media capabilities bilities will not be easy, but it is impera- and capacity as directed by 15 STATE tive we do so because corporations, 87964. governments (at all levels) and leaders Senior managers need to hold their are increasingly using social media to mid-level managers accountable for communicate with their audiences. If we “embrac[ing] disruptive technologies” want people to consider what the U.S. like social media and “devis[ing] strate- government has to say, we need to con- gies to integrate new technologies into sider these platforms (and the tools to

12 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL use them) an essential tool of diplomacy. the military and other federal agencies.” Let’s begin changing now, before So don’t look up to reassure your- someone unfamiliar with the art of selves of the commitment to gender diplomacy forces change upon us. equality. Look down into the ranks, and David S. Boxer ask female officers how they are treated FSO in terms of assignments, promotions Embassy New Delhi and day-to-day interactions within the workplace; how they manage the power Enduring Sexism at State? structure dynamics; and whether they Tom Hutson’s May letter to the editor are convinced that the department’s responding to the March cover image claim of commitment to gender equality reminded me that the State Department has shown results. may still be plagued by sexist attitudes Whether bureaus or posts have poli- toward female FSOs. It seems that little cies in place to ensure equality is mean- has changed since my 2005 retirement, ingless unless they are actually imple- which was due in large part to what I mented and enforced. It is the everyday perceived as sexism within the depart- relationships between male and female ment’s management structure. officers in meetings, as well as whether The Foreign Service and the State female officers feel they are treated as Department, which claim to have taken equals in terms of their input and value, great steps to decrease the male-domi- that determine whether sexism in the nated and male-oriented structures that Foreign Service and the department are direct our policies, have a long way to on the wane. go. Don’t tell me that we have had three Laura Livingston female Secretaries of State and a number FSO, retired of female assistant secretaries. Those are Bellingham, Washington political appointees, not rank-and-file female FSOs. CORRECTION I refer to how female officers are treated The lead focus article in the print edi- by their male colleagues and the often tion of the July-August FSJ, “An Existential unequal power dynamics between male Threat That Demands Greater FS Engage- and female officers. Want a few hints? ment” by Tim Lattimer, contains an error. Look to the daily micro-aggressions, where In the fourth paragraph of the last men routinely talk over and discount section, “The Role of the Foreign Ser- women’s opinions, where women are told vice,” the last two statements are wrongly to “smile” more and act friendlier, where attributed to Stephanie Kinney. women are patronized and their input and Ms. Kinney was, indeed, “the only professional acumen discounted. FSO” involved in the 1990s climate nego- My guess is that the results of a recent tiations. But nearly 25 years later, in 2015, study of female Forest Service officers it was not Kinney, but Tim Lattimer, who would be largely congruent with those was “one of only two FSOs” in the core of female FSOs, were such a study to be delegation in Paris. Lattimer believes the undertaken. The McClatchy Washing- Foreign Service can, and must, do better. ton bureau noted that the complaints We regret the error, which has been of women in the Forest Service study corrected in the Journal’s online edi- “echoed complaints lodged by women in tion. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 13 LETTERS-PLUS

Impact of the Family Member Hiring Freeze: Feedback from the Field

The July-August feature, “Out in the We have open positions that need one who has experienced this. Good Cold,” amplified discussion of the current to be filled by cleared U.S. citizens; we post management is well aware of the family member hiring freeze. To better have U.S. citizens eager to do the work; resources their EFMs bring to the table. understand its on-the-ground conse- Consular Affairs has an operational Richard Arnold quences, the Journal invited readers to budget to support these positions; it’s Hermosillo, Mexico share their own stories and experiences. absurd not to allow us to hire them. Given that some responses could have direct Not for attribution Failing to serve Americans consequences for an employee or family in Europe member, we agreed to run some comments Small posts lose highly Simply put, for lack of a consular asso- from people who preferred to remain skilled workers ciate, the quality of consular services for anonymous. Each respondent is known to Obviously, the hiring freeze has a U.S. citizens traveling and living in this the Journal. negative effect on families. However, European country is compromised. The The responses were varied and compel- I would say that posts are negatively hiring freeze is preventing a fully trained, ling, but there were far too many to publish impacted even more—particularly qualified and cleared EFM from starting them all. The following is a representative smaller posts. work. sampling of the messages we received. Some EFMs work hard to make themselves The resulting American Citizen have been excerpted for space reasons; see adaptable and may have experience Services staffing shortage means longer the AFSA website for the full set of responses. in many different disciplines. Aside waits for passports, birth and death —The Editors from the education and experience reports and notary services. It means they bring in the door with them, fewer visits to citizens in hospitals and A manager’s perspective many have taken FSI courses to learn prisons, slower repatriations and less I’d like to offer the perspective of a a specific State Department skill that attentive assistance to crime victims. manager. Our consular section is funded will best serve their gaining post. Many With Western Europe facing terrorist for four EFM positions: Due to the hiring have attended and passed multiple FSI threats, this is no time to cheat our tax- freeze, one remains empty and unfillable courses—the same courses direct hires payers out of the service they pay for. after a recent transfer, and the other is attend—and have worked in those disci- Not for attribution filled but the EFM is awaiting a security plines for years. clearance. She’s been told that even after That training and experience does not I’m not good enough her clearance is granted, she will not be disappear when they move on to their anymore? able to accept the position. next post. It is not uncommon for an EFM As an Army reserve officer (veteran of Our two remaining EFMs divide to be the most experienced person at the Iraq War) and military spouse with an their time between fingerprinting visa post in a particular skill, either because undergraduate degree in economics and applicants, observing DNA collection there is no direct-hire position allocated an MBA, I find it incredibly difficult to be and performing notary services, leaving to that post or because the position is in the position that I am due to the EFM them little time to do anything else in our allocated to an entry-level officer. hiring freeze. busy section. We now send officers on all In every position I have ever held I have worked in the Political and prison visits and welfare/whereabouts as an EFM (different at every post), I Economic sections at U.S. Embassy checks, causing visa and routine service have been called on to apply knowledge Djibouti for more than 15 months; my wait times in American Citizen Services to gained from my previous EFM employ- husband recently received his new assign- rise dramatically. ment. I am certain that I’m not the only ment to Addis Ababa. The hiring freeze

14 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL means there will be no positions for me opportunity to hire a qualified EFM to fill in Addis Ababa, so I resigned from my a mission-valuable grants coordinator EFM Hiring Freeze EFM position and accepted a contractor position or to serve as the community Eligible family member (EFM) position supporting Camp Lemonnier, liaison officer (CLO) at a bargain rate. employment is a top priority for AFSA. Djibouti. This will require that my family With a huge embassy community The issue has been raised repeatedly in be geographically separated; I will remain turnover this summer, the absence of a recent discussions AFSA leadership has in Djibouti, potentially without diplomatic CLO will surely affect mission morale— had with members. Members told us status, and I will incur additional expenses and if another evacuation is authorized, that critical post operations were threat- for separate housing and utilities. like the one a couple of years ago, there ened by the State Department’s deci- During Secretary of Defense James will be chaos without a CLO to help sion not to backfill positions vacated as Mattis’ visit to Djibouti, I was the control coordinate. a result of the normal Foreign Service officer responsible for coordinating and The high visibility of U.S.-Ukrainian rotation cycle. As EFMs are often by planning with the Office of the Secretary relations means that leaving the grants far the most cost-effective way to get of Defense staff, embassy staff and CLDJ/ coordinator position vacant (a position a job done, the decision baffled many CJTF-HOA military staff members. I was that manages aid programs targeting members. also the control officer for the East Africa trafficking, corruption and economic AFSA also knows that the loss of Security Synchronization Conference, issues) will surely strain the public affairs EFM employment is a real hardship for where more than 26 VIPs (ambassadors section. families. In our Structured Conversa- and military general officers) came These are only a few examples of how tions, members tell us they love their together to discuss security issues in the the hiring freeze will negatively impact jobs but worry about the impact of their region. Mission Ukraine. highly mobile service on spouses, many I have written numerous cables and AmyLyn Reynolds highly educated and with career aspira- reports for Washington that are directly Kyiv, Ukraine tions of their own. tied to foreign policies concerning the AFSA will continue to press for a mass migration of refugees into the region No more shining light resumption of EFM hiring. Please join and human trafficking, as well as other It is hard enough for a capable and us in making the points that EFM hiring annual reports mandated by Congress. accomplished spouse to put his or her is cost-effective, contributes mightily to I find it heartbreaking that I was taken own career ambitions aside to support critical post operations, and is good for advantage of to accomplish the work of the other, but the shining light has always families. political and economic officers, yet sud- been the possibility of working at post. —AFSA denly I’m no longer good enough. Now that is gone. LaTonya S. Hama From a professional perspective, it’s Djibouti, Djibouti terrifying. EFMs are a vital part of our replace several of our EFM consular asso- operations and save us money. We have ciates and assistants, which means that Key positions vacant positions at post that are sitting empty we will lose valuable support for finger- I have a strong résumé with broad that we can’t fill. I’m not sure how long printing and other administrative tasks. experience in both private and public we will be able to operate like this, either Our Management and RSO sections will sectors and an active Top Secret clear- in the professional context or in the also take a hit. ance. Even though my post could use personal one. We are unable to fill or replace the fol- someone just like me to fill several Shoshauna Clark lowing critical positions: general services important but now vacant positions, Kolkata, India travel assistant, human resources assis- because of the hiring freeze I have tant, housing coordinator, work order returned to private freelance work Mission Japan takes a hit clerk, badging clerk, mail and pouch instead. I am one of the lucky ones who As at other posts, Mission Japan will assistant, and CLO (Osaka). The incum- has a more or less portable career. be hardest hit [by the EFM hiring freeze] bents are transferring out, and replace- Our mission, however, has lost the in the Consular section. We cannot ments cannot be appointed.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 15 Over the past five to 10 years, State has contract for Canon India. Should we stay reduced overseas officer positions with This all changed when my wife was in the Service? the knowledge that qualified and talented assigned to Beijing. According to State My wife is assigned to a communist EFMs could fill these positions with sav- Department regulations, family mem- country where there are obvious security ings to the department. For example, the bers are not allowed to work on the local reasons for cleared Americans to perform Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs economy there because there is no bilat- a range of functions. We bid on this post abolished the U.S. direct-hire HR deputy eral work agreement. in part because of its reputation for offer- position for Japan and replaced it with I recognized that my only opportu- ing solid EFM employment. an EFM HR assistant position (under nity to be employed during our four-year I have more than 20 years of experience the Expanded Professional Associates assignment would be to work within the in a field analogous to a general services Program). embassy. I embraced this opportunity officer, and secured a job prior to arrival That EFM just left post, and we cannot and successfully completed the Basic at post, pending a security clearance. refill behind her; she handled some criti- Consular Course. I had applied for, The revalidation of my clearance was not cal portfolios (e.g., employee evaluation interviewed and accepted a job offer completed before the hiring freeze took reports, EFM employment, duty roster, from the Consular section in Beijing effect. The job I was to fill remains empty, seasonal hire program, bidding coordi- prior to the federal hiring freeze taking and the work undone. nation and VIP control room coordina- effect. We are now trying to sort out the best tion, among others). This work will now EFMs are proud trailing spouses, course of action for our family. Should fall, along with everything else, on one yet we are also professionals, possess- my wife curtail and return to the United human resources officer. Around the ing a sense of devotion to the mission States? Does it make sense for our family world, a similar story is playing out across and a desire to be productive members to remain in the Foreign Service? many embassy offices. of society. We feel let down. We have Recent FLO statistics indicate that From a personal perspective, my wife proudly served and endured sacrifices, just 25 percent of EFMs are male, which applied for an EFM position, and her but now we feel that we are being dis- tells me that even in 2017, men are still nepotism review was complete and clear- carded. reluctant to be the “trailing spouse.” As ance investigation ongoing when the hir- Eugenio Otero-Meléndez with our family, I can’t help but think ing freeze took effect. Now she is unable Beijing, People’s Republic of China a prolonged hiring freeze will have a to follow through with her appointment disproportionate impact on retention of and, as a result, will not be able to join Waiting it out in Baghdad women in the Foreign Service. the Family Reserve Corps when we leave I am serving as Embassy Baghdad’s Not for attribution Tokyo. Many other families have similar Security Force branch chief in Iraq. concerns. My wife planned to join me—it’s part Personnel and personal Ken Meyer of the reason why we bid on the position. The EFM hiring freeze has greatly Tokyo, Japan She is still waiting on the next round of affected me, both personally and profes- EFM waiver positions to be filled with a sionally. We are being discarded January 2018 start date. If she decides to Professionally, we are short-staffed I am a proud father and a “trailing take one of these positions, we will have in our Consular section, where both spouse.” I am also a business execu- to extend for her to complete her manda- American Citizen Services and visa tive with more than 20 years of experi- tory 10 months of employment. applicant numbers continue to rise. One ence. During our family’s first three I understand the reasons behind the of our consular assistant EFM hires had assignments—in Seoul, New Delhi and hiring freeze, but it seems that State has received her clearance, and we were just Frankfurt—I was fortunate to maintain taken it further than needed. I hope that about to bring her onboard, but have not my own career, successfully transition- we can get this resolved soon. been able to do so because of the freeze. ing from Canon USA to Canon Korea, Tony Pate We had also just received qualified then to Canon India and later, during our Baghdad, Iraq candidates for a consular associate posi- assignment in Frankfurt, working under tion, but have not been able to continue

16 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL the hiring process because of the freeze. remaining EFM has picked up the slack balanced, but the one thing the article In an already short-staffed, medium-sized to wear multiple hats—from handling does not mention is that if there is no section, this really hurts—both in the extra American Citizen Services cases to bilateral work agreement in place, EFMs work now being done by others, and in the assisting with visa investigations—and are not even allowed to work on the local drop in morale of an overworked section. has now also been pushed to take the market. This puts them in a “Catch-22” Personally, the hiring freeze is affect- training to serve as an adjudicator. This situation—not allowed to work outside ing my bid strategy as I look for my next section had a 75 percent turnover this the embassy, and now not allowed to assignment. My husband has a unique transfer season, and the personnel short- work inside either. technical security skill set, and two prior ages have forced the consul general to If this freeze continues much longer, posts actually created jobs for him. This defer all leave requests for his locally we are going to start seeing some couples is not a possibility in the current environ- employed staff until new officers arrive. and families decide the Foreign Service ment, and if he cannot work, it’s a loss for Elsewhere, our inability to hire an is not for them. This would be a devas- the department. I have no idea what we EFM coordinator for facilities means that tating loss to the ranks of the Foreign will do next. the 20-year-old family member originally Service. We want diversity in our Foreign Pamela J. Hack hired to serve as an escort to custodial Service—which includes not only singles Amsterdam, Netherlands staff working inside controlled access but also couples and families. areas was asked to fill in as acting facili- Not for attribution Without EFMs, our whole ties manager; during one memorable embassy is suffering stretch, he was also called on to fill in as Our Force Multiplier The summer transfer season hit an OMS for the chargé d’affaires. The run- In my current post, a cleared EFM us particularly hard this year, with a ning joke for some time was that person- has worked as our classified pouch clerk, turnover of more than 50 percent in U.S. nel shortages put him on track to become escorting the pouch to and from the direct-hire staff. It also had an adverse the youngest chargé in the department’s airport. His departure, with subsequent impact on operations throughout the history. inability to fill the vacancy, means offi- embassy. From personal experience Staffing gaps also resulted in another cers will be required to drop their impor- I’ve seen how this affected the Informa- EFM spouse filling in as the acting general tant work for hours at a time to escort tion Resources Management, Consular, services officer. The embassy was fortu- the pouches to and from the airport. It Regional Security and other sections. nate that she had a background in logistics also means that the family member, with The impact on IRM was initially mini- and had served as a locally employed a costly Top Secret clearance, will be mal, as we were nearly fully staffed when customs and shipping agent in her previ- unable to gain employment at his next the hiring freeze went into effect. How- ous job. The situation was similar in HR, post. ever, since then, we have lost our classified where an EFM spouse who was hired to Our post no longer has cleared EFM pouch assistant and have had to rely on work part-time found herself serving as security escorts. This means that normal our EFM mailroom supervisor to man- the acting human resources officer. housekeeping functions, such as waste age all aspects of handling the pouch. He It’s been a rough summer for us here, removal and rest room cleaning, will expects to leave post next summer. and we can only hope that the freeze on either be performed by direct-hire officers RSO has fared much worse: It has no hiring EFMs will be lifted sooner rather (in which case the offices will do without EFM to handle badging and no coordina- than later. those services for potentially days at a tor to handle residential security, leaving Armando Muir time), or the officers will have to interrupt the office management specialist (OMS) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia their work to escort the uncleared staff to handle those duties (and still serve as a themselves. This is in no way an effective, backup to the front offices of the bilateral A “Catch-22” for EFMs or economical, use of talent. mission to Ethiopia and the U.S. Mission to I thought the July article on the EFM Hire the EFMs. They are the force mul- the African Union). I should add that this is hiring freeze (“Out in the Cold: How the tiplier desperately needed at our overseas her first overseas tour. Hiring Freeze Is Affecting Family Member missions. Consular has been hit the hardest. The Employment”) was very thoughtful and Not for attribution n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 17 TALKING POINTS

Putin Orders U.S. to Cut Diplomatic Staff n July 30, Russian President OVladimir Putin announced that the United States diplomatic mission in Russia must cut personnel by 755— including diplomats and locally engaged staff—by Sept. 1. Prior to the announce- ment, the total number of employees stood at about 1,200. The order is in response to the increased sanctions on Russia approved by Congress on July 22, and which President Donald Trump signed into law on Aug. 2. In addition to the reduction in staff, Russian authorities seized two diplomatic WIKIMEDIA U.S. Embassy Moscow, as seen from the street. compounds, a warehouse and a dacha (country house). This mirrors the seizure cow and the consulates in St. Petersburg, down the work but not affecting its core of two Russian properties in the United Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok. functions.” States in December 2016. “They will have to fire the Russian Said the State Department spokes- It is not clear how many American dip- citizens,” Vladimir Frolov, a foreign policy person: “This is a regrettable and lomats will be expelled from the country; analyst, told The New York Times. “It will uncalled-for act. We are assessing the the bulk of those facing dismissal are likely create an enormous inconvenience for impact of such a limitation and how we to be Russian employees of Embassy Mos- the U.S. mission here, essentially slowing will respond to it.” The departing American ambassador, John F. Tefft, also expressed “his strong Heard on the Hill disappointment and protest” over the “Adequately funding our diplomatic “If we don’t lead in security and com- cuts, which are reminiscent of similar “tit- efforts saves American lives.” merce, as well as in values and ideas, for-tat” sanctions during the Cold War. —Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), that vacuum will be filled by others, House Budget Committee hearing, including those wishing us harm. Letter to S: Don’t Move July 19 Leading takes resources; sufficient the Refugee Bureau resources are needed for our military July 16 letter to Secretary of State Rex “We are reducing USAID missions and for sure, but also for our diplomats ATillerson signed by 58 former dip- eliminating economic development working to end many of the conflicts lomats and leaders of nongovernmental assistance to 37 countries around the impacting our security.” organizations urges the Secretary to safe- globe, and the issue to me—aside from —Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), guard the roles and mission of the Bureau humanitarianism, the rightness of the House Foreign Affairs Committee of Population, Refugees and Migration. cause—is that others will take advan- hearing, June 14 This was in response to a White House tage of our absence.” memo obtained by CNN suggesting that —Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Senate “A world led by U.S. leadership, leading PRM and the Consular Affairs Bureau be Appropriations Subcommittee with our values, is a better world.” moved to the Department of Homeland hearing, June 13 —Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) Security. House Foreign Affairs Committee The signatories, who have served hearing, June 14 under both Democratic and Republican presidents, also stated their belief that the

18 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL loss of PRM’s assistance functions would matic reduction in budget, paired with working group to become part of their have profound and negative conse- extended staffing gaps at the most senior deliberations. quences for the Secretary’s ability to level, will result not only in the loss of an influence policy issues. exceptionally talented group of people Limited Foreign Service The letter recognizes the important from our ranks, but will hamper our Hiring Resumes role that DHS has to play in refugee and impact to fulfill our mission for decades n June 30, the State Department resettlement programs in the United to come.” Oannounced that entry-level Foreign States: ensuring robust vetting processes Other themes in the report reflect the Service officer classes had been autho- and determining the eligibility and respondents’ frustration with outdated rized for July and September 2017. The admissibility of all refugees. technology and duplicative processes classes will be composed primarily of However, the signatories expressed (including congressional reporting Pickering and Rangel Fellows, along with concern that DHS does not have the requirements) they perceive as inefficient. a small number of candidates from the international infrastructure or the neces- The report also suggested that con- Foreign Service roster. sary expertise in identifying refugee sular responsibilities be transferred to Earlier in June, the State Department groups in need of protection. Most the Department of Homeland Security, had notified about 60 Rangel and Pickering importantly, DHS is unable to “under- though it did not indicate whether that fellowship recipients that they would not stand the diplomatic consequences or suggestion came from employee input. be joining the Foreign Service as promised. opportunities to leverage resettlement for Sec. Tillerson announced that the next This was followed by an outcry from U.S foreign policy interests.” step would be a series of working groups various organizations and members of The letter was also sent to the chairs led by Deputy Secretary of State John Congress. AFSA also weighed in. and ranking members of the House and Sullivan and covering five areas of con- The Pickering and Rangel fellows were Senate Committees on Foreign Relations cern highlighted in the report: overseas supported by several prominent lawmak- and the Appropriations subcommittees operations, foreign assistance programs, ers, many of whom signed a letter to Sec- on State, Foreign Operations and Related technology, staffing and administration. retary Tillerson, urging him to bring them Programs. The groups will contribute to a report into the Foreign Service. The decision was outlining proposals for reorganization, reversed on June 29. Insigniam Survey which the department will present to Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chair- Results and Next Steps the Office of Management and Budget man of the Senate Foreign Relations esults of the Insigniam survey by Sept. 15. It’s not clear at this time how Committee said, “We’re pleased the Rof State Department and USAID much influence the survey report and department is honoring its commitment employees, commissioned by Secretary working group conclusions will have on to these fellows so they can pursue their of State Rex Tillerson, as part of a process the final plan. careers in the Foreign Service.” to “redesign” the department, were At a Town Hall meeting in the Dean As we head to press, news is in that released internally on July 5. Acheson Auditorium at the State Depart- State is temporarily withdrawing from The report revealed wariness among ment on Aug. 8, the Deputy Secretary participation in the prestigious and popu- employees about the management of discussed the “redesign” process and lar Presidential Management Fellowship the State Department. “People do not responded to questions from employees. program that brings top graduates into speak optimistically about the future,” the Sullivan emphasized the importance federal government service. report states. In particular, respondents of employee input to the process, encour- A resumption of Foreign Service hiring, indicated concern that the Secretary aging employees to make use of the spe- even one that is limited in scope, has been of State and President Donald Trump cial intranet portal, the “Redesign Portal,” a top AFSA priority for the last six months. do not fully understand the role of the established to receive recommendations At the Aug. 8 Town Hall, AFSA department in advancing the interests of in the five areas of concern. President Barbara Stephenson asked the the United States in the world. Sullivan said that he checks the deputy secretary about hiring, noting that One respondent quoted in the report portal every day, and that the messages a steady intake of new employees is criti- said: “I am concerned that the dra- are promptly forwarded to the relevant cal to staffing in the future.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 19 Reforming U.S. The report reviews the current status ship while increasing efficiency, effec- Foreign Assistance: of U.S. foreign assistance, noting that tiveness and accountability. A CSIS Report it makes up less than 1 percent of the ollowing President Donald Trump’s federal budget, and makes the following Acting Head of Fexecutive order on March 1, which recommendations: Diplomatic Security asked all federal agencies to submit reor- 1. Maintain USAID as an independent Steps Down ganization plans, the Center for Strategic agency reporting to the Secretary of State n July 26, The Washington Post and International Studies convened a task and designate the USAID Administrator Oreported that Bill Miller, the direc- force to analyze the possible outcomes of as the coordinator of foreign assistance. tor of the Diplomatic Security Service such reform and make recommendations The Administrator, along with other and principal deputy assistant secretary regarding the future of American security, stakeholders, should create a develop- of State for Diplomatic Security, had prosperity and continued global leader- ment strategy that supports and comple- resigned from the Foreign Service and ship. ments the national security strategy. the Department of State. On July 24, CSIS released its bipartisan 2. Address duplication of effort and Miller had been serving as acting report on the proposed reorganization of generate budget savings by identifying assistant secretary of State for Diplo- U.S. foreign assistance. In it, the authors programs and functions that should matic Security, the top DS post, since recognize the need for reform of foreign shift to USAID from State. Identify and January, when FSO Greg Starr stepped assistance programs, but disagree with the eliminate programs or missions which no down with the change of administra- planned reduction in the foreign affairs longer contribute to the foreign assis- tion. budget. tance strategy. According to the Post, Miller The report establishes the view that 3. Modernize the personnel and pro- “resigned voluntarily and was not asked U.S. foreign assistance is not merely altru- curement systems for the Department to resign or fired,” but sources close istic—although it makes a huge difference of State and USAID and streamline the to Miller said he “had been hoping to in the world—but a smart investment that reporting requirements to Congress. be appointed to lead the Diplomatic contributes to the national security of the By adopting these recommendations, Security Service on a permanent basis United States, stating that “putting Ameri- CSIS argues, the current administration but was informed that he would not be can interests first means leading abroad.” will strengthen American global leader- getting the job.” CBS News, which broke the story on July 25, reported that “offi- SITE OF THE MONTH: www.e-ir.info/about/ cials familiar with the situation say that retirement was not his first choice.” ounded in 2007, E-International reviews. It offers free downloadable ABC News also reported on the story, FRelations is a U.K.-based non- books on a variety of subjects, such quoting Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who profit website that describes itself as Popular Culture and World Politics: said that President Trump and Secretary as “the world’s leading open access Theories, Methods, Pedagogies to of State Tillerson are “putting American website for students and scholars Migration and the Ukraine Crisis: A lives at stake” by leaving top DS posts of international politics, featuring Two-Country Perspective. unfilled. high-quality scholarly content and The site’s blogs provide opinion- Miller’s departure further empties student-facing resources.” Recom- based commentary on global hot- the top ranks at State. ABC News writes mended by academics across the button issues from a variety of view- that four of six under secretary positions world, the website receives more than points, but also focus on issues that were vacant at the time of Miller’s resig- three million unique users per year. matter to students, such as coping nation; of 108 other senior roles, “31 are E-International Relations provides with information overload, critiquing filled by someone in an acting role, and niche, intersectional information from academic work and avoiding cliques 41 are completely vacant, with two more experts on global issues, including in the classroom. soon to be empty.” articles, books, interviews, blogs and A 31-year DS veteran, Miller was chosen to lead the Bureau of Diplomatic

20 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL signed, effectively closing the office. A Contemporary Quote State Department official told FP that Foreign policy is what is going to determine our success or failure part of the reorganization would involve as a nation. The convoluted security situation the United States folding special envoy offices back in the faces today can only be solved with a good framework of foreign policy. bureaus, to streamline the policymaking We can have the greatest military in the world. But if we don’t have process. clarity in our political objectives, if we haven’t properly resourced the Richard Dicker, director of Human State Department, if our foreign policy and our allies aren’t strong, Rights Watch’s international justice we’ll never be successful. … I view the Department of Defense as being in support of the Department of State. program, said that the move would be a huge loss for accountability, adding that —General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking at the 2017 Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, July 22. the independence of the office gave it more weight on the international scene. Another office apparently under threat is the Office of the Coordinator Security in 2014. DS Deputy Assistant sure forms to security checks and writ- for Cyber Issues, which will be folded Secretary for International Programs ten questions from senators—so most in to the Bureau for Economic and Christian Schurman will take on the job administrations prepare a list of nomi- Business Affairs. Robert Knake, a senior of acting assistant secretary. nees well ahead of time. Not this one. fellow for cybersecurity at the Council The shortage of ambassadors “affects on Foreign Relations in Washington, Slow Pace of our capacity to deal with crises when we D.C., described the move as “taking an Nominations Affects don’t have people that the president can issue that’s pre-eminent and putting Diplomacy call on,” says Terry Sullivan, a politi- it inside a backwater within the State n Washington, D.C., and all around cal scientist at the University of North Department.” Ithe world, key U.S. diplomatic post- Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Something that James Lewis, a senior vice president ings remain unfilled. blows up in North Korea doesn’t just at the Center for Strategic and Interna- AFSA’s ambassador tracker indicates blow up in North Korea. It blows up for tional Studies, noted that cyber security that 50 out of 188 positions were vacant India. It blows up for Saudi Arabia. It is a specialized issue; he believes that EB as of early August (excluding countries blows up for Germany, because we are simply does not have the expertise neces- that do not have a diplomatic relation- connected to all of those places.” sary for the United States to keep up with ship with the United States). Vacant, in Keep checking AFSA’s website, www. the international field. this instance, means that no one has afsa.org/ambassadorlist for the most up- been nominated or confirmed for the to-date information about nominations Governors Do Diplomacy position of ambassador. and appointments of career and political merican governors have taken While the embassies without an ambassadors. Aan unusual degree of initiative in ambassador are being ably led by career conducting foreign policy, largely due to diplomats acting as chief of mission or War Crimes and Cyber President Trump’s controversial policies chargé d’affaires, foreign governments Offices Shuttered on trade and climate. take note when the ambassador post in lthough Sec. Tillerson stated that Past months have witnessed gover- their capitals remain vacant. As of press Athe reorganization of the State nors embarking on high-profile trips time, Pres. Trump has only put forward Department had no “predetermined abroad to ease relations with other 36 nominations. outcomes,” it appears that key decisions countries and stake out independent As Ambassador (ret.) Ronald Neu- about department offices may have policy positions. This year’s Governors’ mann, president of the American Acad- already been made. Association summer meeting also emy of Diplomacy, noted to CNN, the According to Foreign Policy, the featured a prominent foreign delegation process for confirming an ambassador special coordinator of the Office of from various nations, including Cana- can be lengthy—from financial disclo- Global Criminal Justice has been reas- dian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 21 50 Years Ago

Report of AFSA’s Planning Committee he Planning Committee was convened by the Board requirements, the Foreign Service will Tof Directors of the American Foreign Service Associa- have to attract and retain the brightest, tion late last year to appraise the present activities of the most imaginative and dynamic young Association and the manner in which future activities might Americans entering the job market. This, evolve over the coming decade. in turn, will require attractive conditions The principal recommendations of the Committee follow: of employment and a concern for the As it read the Charter of the Association, the Committee continuing well-being of the employee concluded that the Association’s principal purposes were to which do not always characterize the agencies concerned advance the welfare of its membership and “the intelligent, with foreign affairs. efficient and skillful discharge of the duties of the member- It follows, the Committee believes, that the Association ship.” must concentrate in the years immediately ahead on the These purposes will remain the tasks of the future, and essential tasks of becoming an organization with a serious it is to them that the Committee has directed its recom- intellectual base and an active—even combative—concern mendations. The Committee assumed that the foreign for the people at the heart of foreign affairs, regardless of relations of the United States would become more complex their agency affiliation. Should it succeed in these tasks, in the next 10 years. It assumed that the president would rely the Association may attract to active membership the increasingly on the Secretary of State for direction and coor- many who now stand aloof from the Association and may dination of foreign affairs, provided that the personnel avail- also elicit greater understanding and support from those in able to the Secretary of State were adequate to the task. The American society who have a special interest in the conduct Committee concluded that those concerned with foreign of foreign affairs. affairs—whether they be serving at home or abroad—will –E. Allan Lightner Jr., chairman of the AFSA Planning require greater expertness in familiar, as well as new, fields. Committee. Excerpted from the September 1967 The Committee also assumed that to meet these future Foreign Service Journal.

Governors Asa Hutchinson of Arkan- we’re there for them.” prompted state-level breaks with the sas, Chris Sununu of New Hampshire Prime Minister Trudeau addressed the administration. A coalition of 12 states and Phil Scott of Vermont, all Repub- Governor’s Association meeting in mid- launched the United States Climate licans, have made free trade a pillar July, the first foreign head of state to do so Alliance to uphold their commitments of their message in recent trips as the in the association’s 109-year history. to the Paris Agreement on the same Trump administration mulls revising or While offering to remain open day that President Trump announced outright rejecting existing trade agree- to updating the existing agreement, the United States’ withdrawal from the ments, such as the North American Free Trudeau remarked: “Since the trilateral climate accord. Trade Agreement. agreement went into effect in 1994, Gov. Jerry Brown of California, Gov. Hutchinson traveled to Europe U.S. trade with your NAFTA partners a Democrat who co-chairs the alli- to meet with industry leaders, and Govs. has tripled. That accounts for millions ance, traveled to China days after the Sununu and Scott traveled to Canada of well-paying middle-class jobs, for announcement to attend an energy to reaffirm the importance of NAFTA. Canadians and Americans. Free trade conference and meet one-on-one with “We’re going to keep pushing this has worked. It’s working now.” Chinese President Xi Jinping. n administration so it knows the benefits The meeting was also attended by This edition of Talking Points was for countries on both sides of the bor- officials from Mexico, Vietnam, China prepared by Gemma Dvorak, Dmitry Fili- der,” Sununu declared. Gov. Scott says and Japan. poff, Donna Gorman, Susan Maitra and the intent was to give “reassurance that Climate change policy shifts also Andrea Philbin.

22 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL SPEAKING OUT

How to Get More Bang for Our FSI Buck: Engaging Foreign Diplomats and Diasporas

BY MICHAEL ROSENTHAL

ow celebrating its 70th anniver- more can be done, even during a difficult not made a concerted effort to build habits sary, the Foreign Service Insti- budget climate. of cooperation with friendly diplomats tute is an incredible resource. At a time when the department is being or help build the capacity of developing- NIt is certainly among the best called upon to build domestic support for country MFAs. diplomatic training institutions in the our foreign policy and to promote burden- Most readers will be familiar with the world, offering courses in language, area sharing by other governments, enlisting impressive range of programs run by the studies, leadership and professional the support of diasporas and engaging Pentagon (often in cooperation with State) skills. foreign diplomats as force multipliers can to develop the capacity of foreign militar- My experience with India and Indian- increase the effectiveness of American ies. One of the key strengths of NATO, for Americans, however, has convinced me diplomacy and reduce costs. example, is the high level of interoperabil- that FSI could do more. It could play ity developed through decades of multina- a prominent role in department-wide Foreign Diplomats Are tional training and education. efforts to better engage two underutilized Natural Partners The engagement exposes counterparts partners: foreign diplomats and domestic Foreign diplomats are among the to the best practices of the U.S. military, diaspora populations. most important interlocutors for the State including respect for human rights. It The State Department, using FSI’s Department. Abroad, we engage with host- helps the military develop contacts among capabilities, should seek to improve country ministries of foreign affairs (MFAs) foreign officers, some of whom end up in tradecraft and increase interoperability on a range of consular, political, economic leadership. Engagement includes educa- with foreign diplomats by sharing best and other issues. tion, for example, at the National Defense practices and conducting joint simula- We cooperate with third-country dip- University in Washington; the deployment tions and training. FSI can also better lomats, as well, sharing information and of trainers to assist host-country forces; engage America’s diaspora communities, addressing common concerns in the host and multinational exercises around the leveraging their ties with homelands and country such as the investment climate or world. connecting the department with taxpay- human rights. Some readers may not be aware, ers countrywide. Though some foreign counterparts do though, that many MFAs—from the United Such efforts will require something of a not share our interests, and like-minded Kingdom to Mexico, Turkey and China— culture change at FSI, which has tradition- envoys may compete with us occasion- apply the same idea to diplomacy. The ally been inward-focused, as well as sup- ally (e.g., on defense contracts), State has training courses, typically a few weeks port from other bureaus. Recently, FSI has much to gain from expanding interactions long, are similar to our International Visi- expanded outreach to bring in new ideas and influence with foreign diplomats. It’s tor Leadership Program, with an emphasis and new partners in adult education. But a wonder, then, that the department has on host-country culture and policies, including visits outside of the capital. But Michael Rosenthal is currently in Hindi-language training at the Foreign Service they usually also share best practices in Institute before an assignment to Embassy New Delhi. He has served in Kyrgyzstan tradecraft, such as cable writing. The host and Poland, and on the India and NATO desks in Washington, D.C. The views governments then have an alumni network expressed in this article are those of the author alone, and not necessarily those of of foreign diplomats to cooperate with the Department of State or the U.S. government. around the world for years to come.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 23 The Indian Example sional Course for Foreign Diplomats. I was FSOs are posted to foreign ministries as India is particularly active in using the the first American in the course, as India Trans-Atlantic Diplomatic Fellows. Indian Foreign Service Institute to engage traditionally invites participants from Although the current fiscal environ- foreign diplomats. New Delhi main- developing countries. It was an incredible ment is difficult, the FSI budget could tains cooperation agreements with 59 opportunity to learn about the country and accommodate such programs if they were countries. The institute, which has been gain new perspectives on tradecraft and a priority for the department. Regional preparing Indian diplomats since 1986, international relations. bureaus and foreign governments could has trained approximately 1,500 foreign share some costs; the Egyptian govern- diplomats since 1992. What FSI Can Do ment, for example, has sent several While on the India desk, I worked with So what can the department do? To classes of new diplomats to visit FSI. South Asia Area Studies Chair Dr. Kiran start, FSI could designate a point person Pervez at our own FSI and the Embassy to answer initial queries from posts or Outreach to Diasporas of India in Washington, D.C., to build bureaus about cooperation with foreign A second area where FSI could do more connections and share best practices with counterparts. At little cost, it can share is in engaging diasporas within the United India’s FSI. Even without a formal agree- syllabi and best practices with other dip- States. As Americans who care deeply ment, we were able to build some familiar- lomatic academies, including those from about foreign affairs and who are often ity between the two institutions. the Center for the Study of the Conduct active in engaging Congress, diasporas are We exchanged syllabi from courses of Diplomacy. FSI can also encourage dependable allies. They are also important such as A-100, the ambassadorial semi- introductory visits by foreign diplomats in bridges to their countries of origin. The nar and economic tradecraft. We learned, Washington and officials from overseas. department can empower them to expand for example, that during their equivalent Foreign diplomats could join simula- trade and tourism, clarify U.S. consular of A-100, Indian diplomats travel to army tion exercises in person or by DVC, follow- and immigration rules, and improve opin- bases to experience military culture and ing the example of FSI’s Crisis Manage- ion about the United States abroad. are assigned a home state to stay in touch ment division. FSI instructors can visit Historically, the department has been with during their careers. counterparts during international travel. cautious about domestic outreach, wary We arranged reciprocal visits by Posts can engage host-country academies, of the Smith-Mundt Act, among other instructors and diplomats. Under Sec- offering to speak in courses or arrange factors. I would argue that the department retary of State Tom Shannon delivered DVC sessions with FSI instructors. Posts has paid a price for this in terms of missed a speech at India’s FSI to a graduating could use public diplomacy tools such as opportunities to partner with other Ameri- class of Indian diplomats. The head IVLP or Voluntary Visitor programs to help cans and to raise its profile in Congress. of the Indian FSI’s economics depart- diplomats visit FSI. The Office of Global Partnerships and ment visited us in Arlington, Va., while Eventually, the department might regional bureaus have started to engage on a personal trip to the United States. establish dedicated training programs at diasporas, and department officials occa- He was impressed by the amount of FSI. This will require dealing with funding, sionally travel domestically for meetings economic theory taught to U.S. officers, security and other concerns, of course. The and speeches. But FSI could expand these and expressed an interest in digital primary mission of FSI is to train U.S. offi- efforts. video conference (DVC) lectures by U.S. cials, but Congress has already authorized I saw firsthand the benefits of diaspora instructors. The cooperation was helpful State to train foreign diplomats in a 1994 engagement while in Hindi-language enough to the bilateral relationship to amendment to the Foreign Service Act. training. During our time in Washing- be publicized in the 2015 Strategic and In fact, FSI has run limited programs ton, the Hindi students and instructors Commercial Dialogue by Secretary of for diplomats from Iraq, Afghanistan and engaged religious leaders and appeared State John Kerry and Indian External the former communist countries. FSI on an Indian-American TV talk show via Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. could send staff to foreign capitals for Skype. Our main outreach, however, was After a year of coordinating these assessments or short courses, the way the through an immersion trip to New Jersey exchanges, I was invited by India’s FSI to military deploys trainers. Staff can also be and New York. These trips are primarily join 30 other diplomats in its 61st Profes- detailed to counterpart academies, the way intended for language practice, but we

24 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL broadened the focus. We worked collaboratively with the Indian embassy and its New York consul- ate to organize the three-day trip. One event, where we shared the stage with India’s deputy consul general, featured 150 community leaders, as well as New Jersey officials, and was broadcast as a multi-part series on the TV Asia network. In New York, we visited the Indian con- sulate, its mission to the United Nations and the U.S.-India Business Council. The trip was covered in four Indian- American newspapers and was even picked up by outlets in India. One headline read, “U.S. Diplomats Surprise Indian Americans with a Flourish of Flu- ent Hindi.”

A Worthy Goal Such domestic immersion trips are outreach opportunities. Yet although FSI conducts about 40 total domestic and international trips a year, funding is often in doubt and few engage diasporas in a concerted way. (The Arabic-language trip to Dearborn, Michigan, is a notable exception.) Generally students are focused on their language exam and have little motivation or support to seek policy benefits from the trips. However, a little coordination with Main State could go a long way. For example, regional bureaus could join the trips to discuss policy, Consular Affairs could answer visa and passport questions and Legislative Affairs could help with congressional coordination. Beyond the trips, diaspora groups could be invited to visit language and area studies classes at FSI. (Both of these can be done via DVC when travel is not possible.) Finally, FSI can work closely with regional bureaus to ensure alignment with policy goals. I am confident the benefits from this type of outreach will justify the effort. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 25

COVER STORY

It’s Practical Training the Next Generation of Diplomats

Knowledge of history, area studies and current international affairs is not, by itself, sufficient to make an effective diplomat.

BY EDWARD “SKIP” GNEHM

he student stood up and posed more important for you to pursue your dream to join the Foreign this question: “Given the new Service. America needs you and others like you.” administration’s severe cuts to As I pondered that exchange over the next few days, however, the State Department’s budget, the question consuming me was: What should I, and indeed as well as the seeming intent to my university, be doing to ensure that this aspiring student is marginalize diplomacy, should well-trained and ready for the challenges of our profession? Are I continue to pursue a career universities graduating students with the skills they need to suc- in international affairs in the ceed in the Foreign Service? government?” In reflecting on what it means to teach diplomacy, one comes I hear this question repeat- to a stark conclusion: Knowledge of history, area studies and edly from students keenly current international affairs is not, by itself, sufficient to make an aspiring to join the U.S. Foreign Service or other U.S. agencies effective diplomat. At its core, there is a combination of practi- focused on international affairs. For me, budget cuts notwith- cal skills that define an effective diplomat, and these range from Tstanding, there is but one answer: “There is always a need for verbal and written communication to problem-solving and effective diplomacy. There has never been a time when it was leadership. Integrating the full range of skills necessary for a suc-

Ambassador (ret.) Edward “Skip” Gnehm is Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. He is also a member of the Middle East faculty and director of the Middle East Policy Forum. Amb. Gnehm retired from a 36-year Foreign Service career in 2004. He served as ambassa- dor to Jordan (2001-2004), Australia (2000-2001) and Kuwait (1991-1994). He also served as deputy permanent repre- sentative to the U.N., as the Director General of the Foreign Service and director of personnel of the Department of State (1997-2000) and as deputy secretary of Defense (1987-1989). He also served as deputy assistant secretary of State for the Persian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula. Other assignments included tours in Vietnam, Nepal, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Tunisia and Lebanon.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 27 cessful career in diplomacy into university curricula is, therefore, a necessary albeit challenging endeavor. Recently I headed a task force on “Practice” at The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs mandated to do just that—to make recommendations on how best to integrate practical skills into students’ university experi- ence. (The “Practice Task Force” was one of four set up by Dean Reuben E. Brigety to focus the Elliott School on STEP— Scholar- ship, Teaching, Ethics and Practice.) For our students, we must first identify the skills that are most valuable in the diplomatic profession, and then seek out tangible ways to address them both in and out of the classroom. The goal is, ultimately, to produce well-qualified, competent individuals for careers in the dynamic and challenging arena of international diplomacy. I present the highlights of our findings here.

Identifying Primary Practical Skills The task force surveyed the attributes employers that hire international affairs students rated as very important, important or somewhat important. They fell into four major practical areas: (1) Leadership, Teamwork and Training (critical thinking, leader- ship and negotiating skills); (2) Policymaking and Policy Manage- ment (political analysis, formal briefing, development of policy options, media relations and risk analysis); (3) Analysis (quantita- tive analysis, long-term forecasting, case management analysis and financial statement analysis); and (4) Communication (writing skills, public speaking, foreign languages, use of online interactive social media, and cross-cultural communication). Note the similarities to the professional attributes that are used to rate members of the Foreign Service for promotion and for assignment: leadership, intellectual skills, communication ability, interpersonal skills and management. How then does one design a curriculum or syllabus that gives students the opportunity to develop these skills? One way is to have professors incorporate assignments and classroom engage- ment activities that reinforce these skills into their syllabi. In fact, the task force’s review of syllabi revealed that the majority of courses do this. Elements of critical thinking, writing, political analysis and developing policy options were the most prominent skills addressed. Leadership, risk analysis and public speaking were also prominent in course content. For example, most professors already assign papers that require in-depth research and analysis. With instruction and guidance, professors can highlight the importance of critical thinking and policy options. What is less often tasked, however, is

28 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL the drafting of shorter papers, akin to “action memos” in the State Department. Concise and succinct drafting with well-focused options and recommendations is a particularly valuable skill in government, as well as in the private sector.

Group Exercises and Scenarios Group exercises develop interpersonal skills and the abil- ity to work in a group setting. Success requires leadership and an ability to evaluate other views. It also requires discipline. In one of my classes, I divide students into eight working groups. Each group must prepare a presentation for the class on one country in the Persian Gulf. The groups have a finite amount of time during which they are to cover all aspects of that country’s domestic and foreign policy, as well as its relationship with the United States. It is a challenge and forces the group to be well- organized, disciplined with their time and succinct. Individual class presentations, if properly structured, enhance briefing skills—another important attribute that employers often find to be weak in applicants. Time-limited pre- sentations on complex topics replicate the reality of the Foreign Service workplace. The ultimate accomplishment is enhanced student confidence in his or her ability to brief and to speak publicly. Another important technique is the use of scenarios or crisis exercises. In my course on the role of an embassy in the con- duct of foreign policy, I assign each student to a position on my country team. In the crisis scenario I feed the students data, which they report to the country team. As in real life, some of the information they receive is at variance with that from other sources. In some cases the source itself is questionable. The team must then analyze what they know and make assessments as to what they believe are the facts. They then have to determine what recommendations they will make to Washington, and why. Inevitably there is much debate and, often, dispute—exactly as in real life. In this course, each student is paired with a Foreign Service officer who has served in the same capacity as the student’s role on my country team. The value of this additional ingredient is obvious. The students gain a practical understanding of their responsibilities and role in a crisis and, importantly, they develop a relationship with a real practitioner. While this idea may seem a luxury available only at universi- ties located in the Washington, D.C., area, there are, in fact, FS retirees around the country, as well as active-duty officers in Washington, who are able and willing to engage with students by phone or email, if not in person.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 29 Special Skill Courses and Other Avenues proved invaluable when I served in the U.S. Mission to the United Another effective way to enhance the development of these Nations. The contributions made by the academic faculty remain skills is through the design of special “skill” courses (one to three incalculable and are in no way diminished as universities move to credit hours). These courses are tailored to give students practical incorporate skill development into their curriculum. exposure to specific skills demanded in their field and by the job Significantly, schools of international affairs now complement market. Examples of such courses include public speaking, brief- their faculty with professionals who have practical experience in ing techniques and dealing with the press and media. Skill courses their fields. Their role is even more important today, as schools can also focus on topics such as the role of the International focus on the practical skills needed in the foreign affairs profes- Monetary Fund, development challenges in Africa, the politics of sion. At GW today, for example, there are more practitioners on global oil, etc. the faculty than in the past; but, more importantly, the traditional Such courses stress case management, long-term forecasting faculty today has a much better appreciation and acceptance of and financial analysis, among other things. The advantage of these their importance and value. courses is that they can be added to or deleted from the curricu- These practitioners bring their real-life experiences—and an lum as events and interests change. They also enable students to ability to relate theoretical analysis to reality—into the classroom. seek training or experience in an area they assess as a personal They place theory as well as historical facts into context, acknowl- weakness. edging the impact of individuals and personalities, domestic As the task force examined how students develop skills for politics and competing national interests, etc. Yes, practitioners their post-graduate occupations, it was evident that many of the have stories to tell, but the stories are illustrative, in a demonstra- skills that we had identified were, in fact, acquired outside the ble way, of the realities of the world in which we, as foreign affairs classroom. Specifically, engagement in student organizations gave professionals, operate. Students remember stories and the critical students valuable experience in leadership roles, in developing lessons learned from those encounters. and managing programs and in developing interpersonal skills. Internships are invaluable in exposing students to the workplace How Well Is Academia Doing? environment, giving them concrete experience working with others When we speak of teaching diplomacy, we must give due and establishing a work ethic of reliability, integrity and maturity. attention to developing the skill sets that make a diplomat effec- Volunteerism also proves highly valuable in developing key tive. Universities are more attentive than in the past to the need to skill sets such as understanding different cultures and navigating ensure that their graduates are prepared for the workplace—that environments unlike the ones with which students are famil- when they strike out into the profession they have chosen, they iar. Civic engagement develops new perspectives and requires have the skills that employers need. patience and understanding. Study abroad is yet another experi- While the “Practice Task Force” documented that faculty ence that proves significant in developing attributes valuable to already incorporate in their syllabi many of the skills identified the international field. Understanding other cultures, speaking as vital to students interested in a diplomatic career; the task foreign languages and coping with the unexpected are skills force noted that more needs to be done. It urged faculty be more emphasized in the study abroad experience. Students today are focused on developing these skills. More specifically, the task arguably far more engaged in both volunteer work and study force called for a requirement in the undergraduate curriculum abroad than 15 to 20 years ago. that students take a set number of skill courses that target the skills Faculty members play a key role in developing the skill sets that the task force had identified. That leadership in schools of students need to find employment in the international workplace. international affairs is now focused on this core need is notewor- Professors who approach their jobs as academics contribute thy. Re-engineering curriculum requirements and traditional vitally to their students’ knowledge base, which students will use faculty approaches in the classroom are challenges. Change is to make decisions and evaluate situations. When the United States always a challenge. agreed to reflag Kuwaiti tankers, I was one of the few civilians at So when students ask whether they should pursue a career in the Department of Defense who understood the legal implica- international affairs, we don’t just respond: “Yes, there has never tions. My knowledge came from a grueling course in interna- been a time when it was more important for you to pursue your tional law. Similarly, a course in international organizations dream to join the Foreign Service.” We also say: “And we will give gave me insight into the workings of the United Nations, which you the skills you need to serve America well.” n

30 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS ON EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE & CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT

Leader, Mentor, Diplomat Ambassador Nancy J. Powell

The recipient of AFSA’s 2017 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award talks with the FSJ about her journey from Midwestern social studies teacher to diplomatic leader.

mbassador Nancy J. Powell received significant amount of her time, talent and energy to mentoring the American Foreign Service Associa- future leaders of the Foreign Service. tion’s 2017 Lifetime Contributions to Amb. Powell’s career centered on South Asia and Africa. Her American Diplomacy Award in rec- early overseas assignments to Ottawa and then Kathmandu were ognition of her distinguished Foreign followed by a two-year stint (1982-1984) on the Nepal desk in Service career and enduring devotion Washington, D.C. She also served as a refugee assistance officer to diplomacy at a June 20 ceremony in and political officer for internal politics and India-Pakistan rela- the State Department’s Dean Ache- tions in Lahore. Then followed assignments as deputy chief of son Auditorium. (For coverage of the mission in Lomé (1990-1992), consul general in Kolkata (1992- ceremony, see AFSA News, page 62.) 1993), political counselor in New Delhi (1993-1995) and deputy AThe 23rd recipient of this award and the fourth woman to be chief of mission in Dhaka (1995-1997). honored, Amb. Powell was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1947. President William J. Clinton appointed her U.S. ambassador to She earned her bachelor’s degree in history and teaching from Uganda in 1997, and in 1999 she became principal deputy assis- the University of Northern Iowa in 1970, and taught high school tant secretary of State (PDAS) for African affairs, rising to acting social studies in Dayton, Iowa, before joining the Foreign Service assistant secretary of State for African affairs in 2001. President in 1977. George W. Bush named her U.S. ambassador to Ghana in July Throughout her 37-year diplomatic career and into retirement, 2001 and to Pakistan in August 2002, where she served until 2004. Amb. Powell never stopped learning and taking on new chal- Amb. Powell then returned to Washington, D.C., as PDAS and lenges. A five-time ambassador and the first female U.S. ambas- acting assistant secretary of State for legislative affairs (2004- sador to India, she has served in a variety of high-level positions 2005), becoming acting assistant secretary of State for the Bureau both overseas and in Washington, D.C., and has also devoted a of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in 2005.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 31 the first female U.S. ambassador to India in 2012, and she retired with the rank of Career Ambassador from New Delhi in May 2014. Amb. Powell’s gift for identifying and developing talent at all levels is well-known. In 2003 she received the State Department’s Arnold Lewis Raphel Memo- rial Award in recognition of her efforts to promote and develop the people around her, especially entry-level

AFSA/TOYA SARNO JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA officers. In retirement, she has mentored ambassadorial Ambassador Nancy J. Powell delivers remarks on receiving AFSA’s 2017 seminar classes. Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy on June 20 in Foreign Service Journal Editor Shawn Dorman inter- the State Department’s Dean Acheson Auditorium. viewed Amb. Powell on July 11.

Among Amb. Powell’s unique contributions to American u diplomacy is her leadership role in the U.S. response to two high- Foreign Service Journal: Congratulations on the award! It is profile pandemic disease threats. From 2005 to 2006, she served an honor to have the chance to highlight your outstanding career as the State Department’s special representative for avian influ- as a Foreign Service leader and mentor, and your contributions enza, responsible for coordinating international preparations to diplomacy. and assistance to meet the threat under the U.S. National Avian Nancy J. Powell: Thank you. Influenza Strategy. As part of this effort, she designed and set up a special interagency task force within the State Department FSJ: You were born and raised in Iowa. Did you meet any dedicated exclusively to coordinating all international aspects of diplomats or foreigners growing up there? Did you have a chance the U.S. preparation for and response to the pandemic. Following to travel much during your youth? her retirement in 2014, she was called back to the State Depart- NJP: I grew up in Cedar Falls and Le Mars, Iowa. Foreigners ment to lead the response to the Ebola outbreak. were few and far between. There were only a few foreign students In 2006, Amb. Powell in the colleges in the two was named the National towns, plus our Danish Intelligence Council’s I didn’t know about the neighbors in Cedar Falls first national intelligence Foreign Service until and my Swedish-born officer for South Asia. She grandmother. My actual proceeded to lead the NIC’s I participated in a U.S. travels as a young person effort to expand cover- government-sponsored were limited to short family age of this critical region. vacations, primarily in the The Partnership for Public program for secondary Midwest, but I was an avid Service acknowledged her teachers in Pakistan in 1975. reader of books about other pioneering public service parts of the world, was on the critical international inspired by my high school issues of pandemic disease threats and terrorism, awarding her world history teacher to follow world events and even used my the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for Homeland baby-sitting money to purchase season tickets to the local Rotary Security and Law Enforcement in 2006. The Samuel J. Heyman Club’s series of travelogue films. Later, my summer vacations as medals, known as “the Sammies,” are considered the “Oscars” of a teacher included study programs on Long Island and in Hawaii U.S. government service. and Pakistan. In 2007 President George W. Bush appointed Ms. Powell U.S. ambassador to Nepal, where she served until 2009, when she FSJ: After graduating in 1970 with a B.A. in history and edu- was named Director General of the Foreign Service, a position cation at the University of Northern Iowa, you stayed in the state she held until 2012. President Barack Obama appointed her as to teach high school social studies. Would you say that experi-

32 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL ence accounts for your dedication to mentoring Foreign Service officers? NJP: I’m sure it played a part, for I will always be a teacher at heart; but the real motivation came from people like Ambassa- dors Peter Burleigh, (the late) Arnie Raphel and Beth Jones, who not only helped me and many others, but also encouraged us to embrace mentoring as part of being a Foreign Service officer. I think my teaching helped me in other ways in the Foreign Ser- vice. With five classes to prepare for each day, I learned to man- age my time and plan ahead. And, standing in front of restless teenagers who wanted to be anywhere but social studies class taught me about leadership, creativity and presence.

FSJ: What inspired you to pursue a career in diplomacy?

NJP: I wanted to be a teacher from the time I started kinder- DORMAN AFSA/SHAWN garten. I think I knew from my elementary teachers that it was Ambassador Nancy Powell with A-100 classmates at the AFSA a role I could assume as a female, plus I loved school. I enjoyed awards ceremony. From left: Ambassador (ret.) Michele Bond, Ambassador (ret.) Lino Gutierrez, Amb. Powell, and Ambassador teaching, but there were few opportunities to advance in (ret.) Jimmy Kolker. secondary education for women at that time in Iowa. Women were elementary principals, and social studies teachers tended everyone else, I thought the hiring process took far too long, but to be male coaches. I didn’t know about the Foreign Service until now know I was one of the lucky ones who went through quite I participated in a U.S. government-sponsored program for sec- quickly. ondary teachers in Pakistan in 1975. We met FSOs at the Five-Time embassy and consulates, Ambassador who could not have been Diplomacy 3.0 had started FSJ: What were your first better recruiters as they before I became DG, but two overseas postings? Were described their careers. they a good introduction One of them gave me the it faced serious problems to the Service for you? If so, application for the written of coordinating recruiting, how? test, which I took in 1975. I NJP: I joined the Foreign was initially most inter- on-boarding, assigning and Service and went all the way ested in the “Foreign” part training the new hires. to Ottawa. It turned out to of the Foreign Service. It be an excellent introduc- saw it as an opportunity to tion as I rotated through see the world, to live in different cultures and to do interesting the consular, political and economic sections. It allowed me to work, even if I wasn’t completely sure what that work would be. learn about the Foreign Service culture in a familiar environ- ment. My second assignment was as vice consul in Kathmandu, FSJ: What year did you join the Foreign Service? How did you Nepal. Later, the court reviewing the women’s class action suit find the examination and hiring process? How many women were [filed by FSO Alison Palmer in 1976 and charging discrimina- in your A-100 class? tion in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act] determined there NJP: I was part of the 129th class, which started in January had been a pattern of assigning female political-coned officers 1977, with five women among the 37 members. Three of the to second consular tours. However, Kathmandu was an excellent women left the Service fairly quickly, but Michele Bond and assignment and proved extremely important for my career. I was I remained. As a teacher, I was fascinated by the examination a member of the country team and led a consular section with process and how it was being used to evaluate candidates. Like many unusual challenges as we dealt primarily with American

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 33

Citizen Services cases. The assignment set up a career path for me in South Asia and introduced me to several of my mentors.

FSJ: My understanding is that when you joined the Service, you planned to be a political officer, but you eventually became more interested in mission manage- ment. What sparked that shift? NJP: Amb. Arnie Raphel asked me to serve as acting consul general in Lahore for the summer in 1988. It was U.S. EMBASSY NEW DELHI Ambassador Nancy J. Powell presents her credentials to President of India a game changer for me. We faced numerous security Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil on April 19, 2012. threats in the aftermath of our shooting down of an Iranian airliner, in addition to managing the summer all through my career. Among the standouts are Ambassadors turnover, preparing for the new CG, hosting an inspection team Peter Burleigh, Arnie Raphel, Beth Jones and Robin Raphel. Each and reporting on Benazir Bhutto’s return to Lahore. I loved it and of them combined area expertise and policymaking skills with realized for the first time I could realistically aspire to leadership an active interest in the people working with them. They were positions. excellent advisers and very helpful as I navigated the assign- ment process. Although I FSJ: Three of your five never worked directly with ambassadorships were in Mentoring needs to be a part of Ambassador Bill Burns, South Asia: Pakistan, Nepal I have great admiration and India. What set you on the department ethos and can for his quiet, thoughtful that path? be done at all levels. approach to the complex NJP: My trip to Pakistan issues facing our nation in 1975 as a teacher really and his consideration for sparked my interest in South Asia, which was further fueled by the people who worked with him. my tour in Nepal from 1980 to 1982. I was able to travel in Nepal and India at that time, and actively sought to return for multiple Considering Human Resources: assignments in the region. Being Director General FSJ: During your tenure as Director General (2009-2012), State FSJ: You also served as U.S. ambassador to Uganda and Ghana, launched Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Diplomacy 3.0 hiring initia- among other African postings. What were some of the opportunities tive. What was your role in that effort, and how did it go? and challenges you encountered working in South Asia and Africa? NJP: Diplomacy 3.0 had started before I became DG, but it NJP: I was fascinated by the history of both regions and by faced serious problems of coordinating recruiting, on-boarding, their very vibrant cultures. Economic and political development assigning and training the new hires. Principal Deputy Assistant in post-colonial countries fascinated me, both as an analyst and Secretary of State Steve Browning spearheaded the Bureau of as a policymaker, as we worked in several countries to promote Human Resource’s efforts to remove the roadblocks. This took an transitions to democracy. It was rewarding to work in India and incredible amount of persuasion, organization and persistence. Pakistan on issues such as nuclear proliferation, antiterrorism My role was to ensure that the department’s senior leadership, and regional cooperation that have a significant impact on our across several bureaus, understood that this was a priority and own security. I very much enjoyed the close camaraderie of these that their support to remove the bottlenecks was required. posts. The shared hardships made for close friendships. FSJ: What other projects and challenges were at the top of the FSJ: Who were some of the people you especially admired or list while you were DG? were inspired by during your Foreign Service career? NJP: Chief among our other goals was to ensure that the mis- NJP: I was incredibly lucky to work with outstanding people sions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan were fully staffed with

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 35 and disruptions in that flow result in problems that persist for a generation. I am offended by the notion that the EFM program is somehow an “FSO welfare” benefit. It ignores the important contribu- tions family members make to missions around the world. Creation and staffing of the positions are governed by a strict set of regulations in order to justify the positions and ensure that all eligible EFMs can compete. The program saves the depart- ment money by hiring people whose transporta- tion and housing have already been paid, and whose skills greatly enhance our performance overseas.

FSJ: When did you join AFSA? How was your

U.S. AIR FORCE/CAPT. BEN SAKRISSON relationship with AFSA when you were on the man- Ambassador Nancy J. Powell (center) opens the U.S. Pavilion at Aero Indian agement side of the table? 2013, an international air show at Air Force Station Yalahanka in Bangalore, India. Preparing to cut the ceremonial ribbon with her on Feb. 6 were (front from NJP: I think I joined AFSA on the first day of left) Vice Adm. William E. Landay, III, Defense Security Cooperation Agency A-100. There is a certain amount of tension built director; Heidi H. Grant, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International into the relationship when you are the DG, given Affairs; Lt. Gen. Stanley T. Kresge, Pacific Air Forces vice commander; and the different perspectives, especially involving dis- aviation industry partners. cipline cases. But I think there was mutual respect and a common desire to do what was best for the qualified individuals, and that there were incentives and support country and for Foreign Service employees. Then-AFSA President mechanisms in place to assist those volunteering (and their fami- Susan Johnson and I met frequently. lies) for these dangerous and high-stress embassies. I was very proud of the Foreign Service for stepping up. We did not have to Diversity and Mentoring make any directed assignments. FSJ: When you joined the Foreign Service 40 years ago, it was HR also continued its efforts to adopt new approaches to far less diverse than it is today. Did you ever feel you were treated assignments, career counseling, organization of the HR function differently as a woman hailing from the Midwest who had not within the department and use of information technology. Not attended an Ivy League school? If so, how did you handle that? everything worked the first time—I haven’t forgotten the debacle NJP: The senior officer who welcomed my A-100 class to with the initial rollout of the electronic EER, and the need to rede- the State Department told a sexist joke as part of his greeting. sign and rethink our approach. The five women in the class used a bathroom break to wonder aloud about what we had gotten ourselves into. It was a pattern FSJ: What impact do you think the current hiring freeze will that helped to deal with other incidents—there was always a have on the Foreign Service? sisterhood that could be relied on to discuss, counsel and act, NJP: I think the current approach, especially with regard to and often we had support from men who did not share the old entry classes and to eligible family member hiring, is extraordi- culture. narily counterproductive and betrays a lack of understanding of There were a few of my early colleagues who were convinced how the department works. I am delighted with the decision to that the arrival of women (including one from Iowa who hadn’t go ahead with two A-100 classes, which will include the eligible been to one of the Seven Sisters and who didn’t drink) meant Rangel and Pickering Fellows, and hope that it signals a willing- the Foreign Service was going to hell in a handbasket, and some ness to reconsider the ban on hiring within the department and later on who felt threatened and disadvantaged as women the EFM decision. assumed leadership positions. While I did more than my fair The Foreign Service depends on a steady inflow/outflow, share of pouring coffee and taking notes, I also had the sup-

36 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL port of more enlightened colleagues and an increasing number of superb women role models. I was encouraged to take on extra responsibilities, such as writing the human rights report in Nepal, serving as a temporary Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs staff aide and as consul general in Lahore to show that I could do the work as well or better than my male colleagues. The changes mandated in the after- math of the class action suits and adher-

ence to federal Equal Employment Oppor- WIKIMEDIA/OFFICE OF THE U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE tunity Commission standards meant that Ambassador to India Nancy J. Powell and U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter depart the Indian Foreign Ministry in New Delhi on July 23, 2012. promotions were more closely tied to documented performance, and the assign- ment process became a more level playing field. It also helped people secure mentor/mentee relationships on their own? to have a good sense of humor and a willingness to stand up to NJP: The formal programs are important, but for me they are outright discrimination. far less valuable than the mentoring done by immediate supervi- sors and senior officers on an individual basis. If you have to be FSJ: How successful has the Foreign Service been in increasing told that mentoring is part of your work requirements, you are diversity? How can the foreign affairs agencies retain minority tal- probably not going to be very good at it. Mentoring needs to be ent once those individuals a part of the department are in the Foreign Service? ethos and can be done at all NJP: There has been The Foreign Service depends levels. Given the fluidity of an enormous change in our assignments, someone the Foreign Service, but on a steady inflow/outflow [of who has been at post a week there is more to be done, new hires], and disruptions in may be the old-timer for the particularly in champion- newest arrival. ing Hispanics and African that flow result in problems that Americans. The deputy persist for a generation. Reflection chief of mission glass ceiling FSJ: While you officially for women disappeared retired from the Foreign Ser- in the 1980s, shattered by Beth Jones and many others. I was vice in 2014, you have been going full speed ahead since then. Tell delighted to see some of the SETS, and ambassadorial classes I’ve us how you came to be the State Department’s Ebola coordinator, mentored have a majority of females. and what that entailed. (And thank you again for sharing your The department has to compete with American business and experiences in the article, “Fighting Pandemics: Lessons Learned,” academia for our talent pool. Ensuring that our new officers, with Gwen Tobert for our May focus on global health.) across the board, have the necessary training to succeed—and NJP: I got a call out of the blue in September 2014 from then- have support and mentoring—is essential to keeping them in the Counselor Tom Shannon asking me to come back to coordinate Service. the department’s response to the Ebola outbreak. I think my experience leading the avian influenza team and my previous FSJ: You’ve been a champion for mentoring, receiving the work on Africa with National Security Advisor Susan Rice led to Arnold Lewis Raphel Award in 2003 for your efforts to promote the call. I had been following developments via television from and develop the people around you, especially entry-level officers. my bench on the beach and was very concerned that the interna- How is the State Department doing with encouraging mentorship tional community did not seem to be stepping up, so it was a little and establishing official mechanisms for mentoring? How should hard to say no.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 37

My first call was to my • Energy and enthusi- former New Delhi DCM, I struggle to understand our asm for the tasks at hand, Don Lu, who was stuck in current national security as well as for continuing to the confirmation process, learn; and to recruit him to be my dep- leadership’s reluctance to • A well-developed uty. We then started putting sense of the absurd and a together a small team from fully engage the department sense of humor. the Bureau of Oceans and in meeting the complex International Environmen- FSJ: Today’s budgetary tal and Scientific Affairs and challenges we face as a nation. climate is certainly far less those working on medical promising than it was when and post evacuations. We were a bit of a ragtag operation, but you were Director General. How would you describe your level of everyone was incredibly dedicated and worked long hours to optimism about the state of the Foreign Service and the future of secure and coordinate international support and to help the mis- professional diplomacy? sions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea cope with the disease NJP: I share the concern of those who believe that the and the influx of assistance. announced cuts in funding and personnel are misplaced and have I represented the department at most interagency meetings, the potential to do damage to our country and its security. While in addition to briefing the Hill and doing media interviews. I am I support the general concept of a well-informed reorganization hopeful that the lessons learned will result in maintaining a small of some elements of the department, I am deeply opposed to sug- office capable of tracking potential pandemics and of advising gestions that the visa and refugee functions be transferred to the senior leaders when a more robust response is needed before Department of Homeland Security. they become major crises. I have taken some comfort in the testimonials of our Depart- ment of Defense colleagues, members of Congress and former FSJ: More recently, I understand that you have mentored appointees, who have been outspoken in their support for the three recent ambassadorial seminar classes. How is working with Department of State and their recognition of the role it needs to ambassadors in training different from the mentoring you did play to ensure our national security. I struggle to understand our while on active duty? current national security leadership’s reluctance to fully engage NJP: I’m actually up to five classes and have enjoyed it very the department in meeting the complex challenges we face as much. For the career people, the emphasis is on helping them a nation. I have every confidence that the Foreign Service will adopt successful strategies for leading their missions and avoid- continue to provide their expertise and experience and be will- ing pitfalls that lead to failure. For the non-career appointees, ing to serve. the focus is on helping them to understand how the department works and on their authorities and how to use them. FSJ: How has the role of the Foreign Service changed since you first joined? FSJ: What are the essential ingredients for a successful diplo- NJP: The Service is much larger and much more diverse. mat? Women play a much more significant role in its leadership. Non- NJP: I think the key elements are: State Department agencies have greatly expanded at posts and • Patriotism, and a recognition that we have a unique privi- in their influence in national security decisions. The functional lege to serve the American people, not the bureau or country of bureaus have expanded to address the growing list of global issues. our current assignment; • Integrity in all that we do whether it is adjudicating visas, FSJ: What advice do you give to young people today who are administering programs or providing analysis of political and considering a career in the Foreign Service? economic developments; NJP: Go for it! You’ll never find a more fascinating career that • Respect for our embassy and department colleagues, all of allows you to serve your nation and to learn something new every whom are supporting our mission no matter what their role, and day. You will work with an incredible group of people who will for host-government officials and citizens; become a part of your family. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 39

FOCUS ON EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE & CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT The State of Dissent in the Foreign Service

Members of the Foreign Service t is hard to believe now, but there was a time, still within living memory, when presidents talked like this: “Let regularly grapple with every public servant know … that this administration the professional and moral recognizes the value of dissent and daring—that we greet dilemma of dissent. healthy controversy as the hallmark of healthy change. Let the public service be a proud and lively career.” That was President John F. Kennedy on Jan. 30, 1961, in his first address to Congress on the State of the Union. Then just 10 days in office, Kennedy sought to dispel the stifling air of suspicion and conformity in which the loyalty BY HARRY KOPP Ioaths, security investigations and anti-communist hysteria of the previous decade had smothered the federal workforce. For the Foreign Service and the Department of State, Ken- nedy’s words were especially welcome. Under pressure from Senator Joseph McCarthy and his supporters, the State Depart- ment in the 1950s conducted a purge of employees who had expressed nonconforming views, conveyed unwanted informa- tion, engaged in unconventional behavior or associated with someone who had. Hundreds of civil servants and Foreign Service officers were fired or marginalized, their careers and reputations destroyed.

Former FSO Harry W. Kopp was deputy assistant secretary of State for international trade in the Carter and Reagan administrations. He is the author of several books on diplomacy, including (with John K. Naland) Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the U.S. Foreign Service, published in its third edition by Georgetown University Press in July.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 41 In reaction, the Foreign Service took on a culture of timidity and him, had to be suppressed, lest they be leaked to the press “and self-censorship that recoiled from dissent and sought not to give used against the policy.” offense or attract attention. The culture put at risk each step in the Of course this attitude exacerbated the problem it meant sequence of honesty on which sound policy formation depends: to solve. Journalist David Halberstam said in his 1950 best- candor in reporting, analysis untainted by predetermined out- seller, The Best and the Brightest, that the inability to get candid comes and confidential reporting to policy levels debate of policy options. through official chan- An April 1961 FSJ The U.S. government did not nels encouraged leaks to editorial, "Daring and condone candor in reports reporters like him, who Dissent," described what could get the news out proved to be a recurring from Vietnam. By denying through the media. dilemma. The FSO, the itself honest reporting, the As Ambassador Chas writer warned, “finds Freeman wrote in Arts that a calling which has administration confirmed its of Power: Statecraft and claimed his abiding loyalty Diplomacy (USIP, 1997): … is being assailed and preconceptions and magnified “Governments that con- degraded by irresponsible its mistakes. done candor will get it. demagogues. He discovers Those that don’t, won’t.” that what he may report The U.S. government did [may] be distorted and publicly held against him. He learns not condone candor in reports from Vietnam—not from the that his associations can be suspect.” Each officer faced a Foreign Service and not from the military, whose officers faced choice: restrict his reporting to “what will harmonize with the pressure to produce data that showed progress in the conduct temper of the times,” report honestly and place “his career and of the war. By denying itself honest reporting, the administra- his reputation” at risk, or simply resign. tion confirmed its preconceptions and magnified its mistakes. Officers for the most part followed the safest path. Hannah For many Foreign Service officers, the clash between hon- Gurman, author of a study on dissent in the Department of est reporting and Service discipline created a professional, if State (The Dissent Papers, Columbia University Press, 2012), not a moral, dilemma that could not be satisfactorily resolved. wrote of this period: “Fear … took hold of many Foreign Service According to retired FSO David Jones, writing for the April 2000 officers,” who adopted “a strategy of hibernation.” Journal, “in 1968 alone 266 Foreign Service officers, 80 percent of them junior officers, resigned.” Professional Dilemmas of the Vietnam Years The frustration and anger that many junior Foreign Service In Vietnam the sequence of honesty at the heart of the poli- officers felt about Vietnam were very much a part of “the temper cymaking process broke down at its starting point, leading to of the times.” In April 1970, some 250 State Department employ- erosion of discipline and rising levels of dissent. “Many FSOs,” ees, including 50 Foreign Service officers, sent Secretary of State wrote retired ambassador Kenneth Quinn in the September William P. Rogers a statement opposing the just-launched U.S. 2014 FSJ, “had considerable difficulty getting their report- bombing campaign in Cambodia. President Richard Nixon’s ing telegrams approved and sent if they dared to express any impulse was to “fire the sons of bitches,” but the department doubts about U.S. policy.” resisted, the impulse passed and the signers kept their jobs. The problem ran deeper than policy: it went to basic infor- mation. Many officers recalled experiences like that of Lars The Dissent Channel Is Born Hydle, a young FSO at the Saigon embassy in 1967. In his 1994 The Cambodia statement led the department to establish ADST oral history project interview, Hydle said that the politi- a “dissent channel,” to give its employees (including those at cal section “was basically trying to make the South Vietnamese USAID) a way to communicate dissenting views on substantive government look as good as possible. … Reports were continu- policy, in confidence and without fear of retaliation, to senior ally massaged and changed around to make them seem less officials who were required to respond. The Dissent Channel was bad than they were.” Negative reports, his superiors warned meant to keep dissent out of the press; but its use, then as now,

42 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The Blood Telegram

he first message in the Dissent Channel came from but appended a note endorsing it. Tthe consulate general in Dacca, East Pakistan, now Kissinger believed the message was written to Bangladesh. be leaked, and said that Secretary Rogers thought it In March 1971, the central government’s armed “outrageous” that his diplomats were writing petitions forces began a wave of killings of Bengalis in East Paki- instead of reports. Blood was recalled and his career stan in what proved to be a vain attempt to suppress thereafter stunted. Like his earlier messages, the dis- separatist sentiment in that distant province. The cam- sent had no effect on U.S. policy. paign horrified the American consul general, Archer K. AFSA gave Archer Blood its Christian Herter Award Blood, who sent a series of cables urging Washington for Constructive Dissent in 1971. To his credit, Secretary to take a public stance condemning the atrocities. Rogers presided at the ceremony (“I think he was a little Unknown to Blood, or to Secretary of State William embarrassed,” Blood said later.) Howard Schaffer, one P. Rogers, National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger of the signers of the dissent message, became ambas- was using Pakistan as the go-between in the still-secret sador to Bangladesh in 1984 and served until 1987. In U.S. opening to China. For that reason, among others, 2015, U.S. Ambassador Marcia S. Bernicat presented an Blood’s appeals were ignored. official copy of the Blood telegram to the government On April 6, 1971, Blood’s staff sent a message via the of Bangladesh, where Archer Blood is remembered and Dissent Channel saying that America had to act “to sal- revered as a friend of the country. vage our nation’s position as a moral leader of the free —H.W.K. world.” Consul General Blood did not sign the dissent,

was intended for individual employees engaged with an issue, demonstrations in more than 200 cities and towns; violence at whose views could not be transmitted through regular channels Columbia and Syracuse universities; a march on Washington; because of what the Foreign Affairs Manual calls an “inability to construction workers taking clubs to demonstrators on Wall resolve concrete differences of opinion.” Street; and the fatal shooting by National Guardsmen of four Hundreds of messages, on average about 10 a year, have student protesters at Ohio’s Kent State University. passed through the channel since its inception, but only a The Foreign Service and the Department of State do not exist handful have had an effect in a social vacuum. The on policy. “The Dissent dissent on Cambodia would Channel,” says Hannah The Foreign Service and the not have taken the form that Gurman, “made it possible Department of State do not exist it did, and would probably for the State Department not have been offered at to formally encourage dis- in a social vacuum. all, in the absence of this sent, while … deflating the national wave of protest. most serious threat posed The statement was less by internal dissenters,” namely, public repudiation of adminis- a reasoned argument for the losing side of an in-house debate tration policy. (which the Dissent Channel was structured to protect) than a Had it been in place at the time, the Dissent Channel would political statement that was a product of its time. not have contained the Cambodia statement. That statement had no precedent in the Department of State, but it had plenty The Sequence of Honesty of precedent in the country at large. Fury over Vietnam swept In the run-up to the 2003 Iraq War, too, the sequence of across the country in that spring of 1970: protest marches and honesty was thwarted from the beginning. On the central

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 43 In the past 18 months, State Department dissents have twice become public and earned headlines.

question of Iraq’s possession and development of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, American leadership dis- counted or disbelieved reporting by United Nations inspec- tors, crediting instead information provided by an Iraqi defector and other unreliable sources. “The reports were of remarkable clarity,” said Marc Grossman, then under secre- tary of State for political affairs, in his 2006 ADST oral history interview. “Maybe we should have thought, ‘How can they be so exact, so precise?’ And it was all false.” Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, who had served in both countries, investigated an alleged sale of uranium ore by Niger to Iraq. “Intelligence related to Iraq’s nuclear weapons program,” Wilson wrote in a July 2003 New York Times op-ed, “was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat.” A refusal to accept as valid information that challenged assumptions or disproved hypotheses left facts in dispute. With no accepted body of fact to build on, analyses could be shaped to fit leadership preferences. Foreign Service officers may have been complicit in the erosion of honesty. In 2008, AFSA Presi- dent John Naland wrote: “Have some senior career officials ‘sold their souls’ over Iraq … to advance their careers? I believe they h av e .” Despite the strategic failures of the Iraq war, and the col- lapse of the justification offered for its prosecution, Foreign Service dissent from U.S. policy remained at a low level. In contrast to the hundreds who resigned during Vietnam, the number of resignations directly related to the war in Iraq was just three—Ann Wright, John Brady Kiesling and John Brown— all of whom resigned at the war’s outset, in the spring of 2003. Service discipline prevailed. The department threatened to pursue directed assignments but did not need to resort to ordering members of the Service into the region. Over the decade from 2003 to 2012, about 40 percent of the Service had tours of 90 days or more in Iraq or Afghanistan, all as volun- teers. Many had misgivings—Secretary of State Condoleezza

44 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Rice wrote in her memoirs that members of the Service “did sometimes appear less than enthusiastic about the president’s policies”—but public dissent was rare.

The Temper of the Times Certainly the temper of the times had something to do with the relative lack of dissent. The street and campus protests, the civil unrest and the violent political movements of the Viet- nam era were absent. No senior official resigned as a matter of principle, as Under Secretary of State George Ball had done over Vietnam in 1966. Dissent was a lonely business, with no leader and no mass following. It held little attraction. In the past 18 months, State Department dissents have twice become public and earned headlines. In both cases, social media encouraged mass participation, and mass participation makes confidentiality hard to maintain. A July 2016 Dissent Channel memo on Syria, signed by more than 50 State Department officers, called for “a more militarily assertive U.S. role.” The memo leaked in draft to the press, which published it without the signatures. More dramatically, State Department officers reportedly num- bering more than 1,000 signed a Dissent Channel message at the end of January 2017, protesting the new administration’s executive order, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” commonly called the travel ban. The New York Times published a version of the memo, without signatures, and said it had circulated “like a chain letter—or a viral video.” White House spokesman Sean Spicer delivered the administration’s reaction: “Those career bureaucrats have a problem with it? They should either get with the program, or they can go.” Technology makes the collection of large numbers of sig- natures possible, but dissent messages change their character when signed by a crowd and publicized. The leaking of these memos, even before they were delivered, shifted their audience from the senior officers to whom they were ostensibly addressed to the public at large. The memos became political statements, valued chiefly for their bulk (1,000 signatures!) and used as ammunition in partisan warfare. A memo signed by 1,000 peo- ple, or even 50, is sure to leak, as texts are shared online. Without confidentiality and discretion, there can be no trust. State Department diplomats concerned about the politi- cization of their profession should be wary. The times are ferociously, vituperatively partisan. Challenging administra- tion policy in public means entering the political arena, where public servants are ill-equipped to play, and where they will almost surely lose. For the good of the Service as an institution, dissent must remain confidential.n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 45

FOCUS ON EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE & CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT

In Pursuit of Transparency in Assignment Restriction Policies

Lack of fairness and transparency in the assignment restrictions process undercuts both employees and the State Department. Asian-American employees took it on.

BY CHRISTINA T. LE AND THOMAS T. WONG

or many years State Department employees Pacific Islander officers. Renamed the Asian American Foreign from particular ethnic backgrounds have Affairs Association in 2007, the association supports the equal faced barriers to particular assignments. The employment opportunity mission of the foreign affairs agen- process has precluded some Foreign Service cies and supports the career advancement of AAPI employees and Civil Service employees from serving by organizing and hosting career development and leadership in certain posts overseas or taking up some seminars, and utilizing the experience and skills of high- domestic positions and even short-term, ranking officials to impart knowledge on the next generation of overseas temporary duty assignments based AAPI leaders. on their ethnicity. Today, AAFAA is an association of some 750 Civil Service The assignment restrictions issue has been a long-standing and Foreign Service officers, specialists, fellows, contractors, Fone for Asian Americans at the department. The Asian-Pacific interns and retirees, with the mission to improve recruitment, American Foreign Affairs Council was founded in 1981 to sup- outreach and professional development of AAPI officers at the port equal employment opportunity for Asian American and State Department.

Christina T. Le is a career Foreign Service officer currently in long-term language training for her next assignment, to Japan. She has previously served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, on the Philippines desk in the Bureau of East Asian & Pacific Affairs, and overseas in Greece and Mexico. Thomas T. Wong is a Foreign Service officer assigned to the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei. His previous postings include Guadalajara and consecutive tours in Washington in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 2010, Mr. Wong served in the U.S. Army. His wife, Suzanne Wong, is also a Foreign Service officer and they have two children. Christina Le and Thomas Wong are the current and past presidents of the Asian American Foreign Affairs Association, respectively. The views expressed in this article are theirs and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of State or U.S. government. Le, Wong and their colleagues Mariju L. Bofill and Cecilia S. Choi received this year’s William R. Rivkin Award for Constructive Dissent by a Mid-Level Officer.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 47 The Concerns can Foreign Service Association, we discovered that the process Employees’ concerns regarding the assignment restrictions for restricting employees from assignment in certain countries process were plentiful: it was unfair, lacked transparency and was not grounded in any regulation or guideline, and thus was based on ethnic origin or family heritage. Our advocacy to lacked an adequate appeals process. In other words, employ- the State Department on the issue began in 2009 and continued ees affected by assignment restrictions had no opportunity to in earnest through 2016. appeal that decision. The case was framed by input from countless numbers of We also found that the department did not maintain demo- employees who came to us expressing real frustration, disillu- graphic data related to assignment restrictions, even though sionment and anger over the lack of transparency and account- such information is essential for evaluating the fairness of ability in the process. In some cases, the department had these programs. Without such records, it is unknown who faces prioritized hiring these officers because of their language skills, assignment restrictions, for what reasons, and to which ethnic only to turn around and and racial groups they preclude them from using belong. Such information those valued language In some cases, the department gaps rendered transpar- skills overseas. ency and oversight for While assignment had prioritized hiring these these programs impos- restrictions affect many officers because of their sible. State department employ- The impact of these ees of different back- language skills, only to turn procedural deficiencies grounds, we accumulated around and preclude them from was serious, for both the substantial anecdotal State Department and evidence that it has dis- using those valued language AAPI employees. The proportionately affected skills overseas. department recruits many employees of AAPI AAPI employees to draw descent. Our data sug- on their abilities in super- gested assignment restrictions were levied with race as a factor, hard languages and cultural expertise. Unwarranted assign- with disregard for mitigating circumstances and even based on ment restrictions deny such employees the opportunity to incorrect facts. contribute these abilities, thereby hindering the department’s This seemingly disparate impact of the adjudicative process efforts to utilize its diverse workforce and better use limited on AAPI employees was harmful to morale, restricting employ- resources. Ultimately, these issues damaged the inclusive pro- ees from using their language and cultural expertise to further fessional atmosphere the department seeks to foster and that diplomacy, diverting careers and hindering the full use of the remains essential to its mission. department’s diverse workforce. This also created the per- ception that assignment restriction decisions were based on Constructive Dissent Resonates ethnic origin and ill-defined concerns that AAPI employees To remedy the above-mentioned problems, AAFAA worked may be vulnerable to foreign influence or preference, or that diligently over the years to advocate for increasing the trans- the employees themselves were threats rather than the targets parency and fairness of assignment restrictions and to bring of foreign influence. For example, some employees were this matter to the most senior levels of the department in prohibited from serving in China, even though they did not an effort to seek a resolution. We pushed this issue forward have close and continuing contacts there. Meanwhile, AAFAA despite concerns about possible detriment to our own profes- observed that employees of other races who did possess such sional career advancement, but with the greater good of all our connections were not barred. Such disparate treatment fueled colleagues and the State Department in mind. suspicions of bias, unconscious or otherwise, against AAPI Successive presidents of AAFAA consulted with lawyers employees. and senior leaders in the department to try to work within the The lack of oversight and transparency for assignment system to advocate for change. Mariju Bofill first raised the restrictions exacerbated the problem. Working with the Ameri- issue with the Secretary of State in 2009, after consultations

48 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL with the department’s legal advisor, and continued to raise it Manual. 12 FAM 233.5 addresses the reforms we requested: during the following three years. Cecilia Choi took the baton in notification to employees of the factual grounds for their 2012, working with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to try to assignment restriction; the opportunity to request a second come to a fair solution. In 2013, The Washington Post featured review of the decision by the director of the Bureau of Diplo- an article on the subject, “At the State Department, Diversity matic Security (principal deputy assistant secretary of State Can Count Against You,” highlighting the perspectives of several for DS/DSS) and submit updated information for reconsidera- Foreign Service officers. tion; and empowerment of the director to reverse improperly In 2015, Thomas Wong presented a white paper to then- imposed assignment restrictions. Deputy Secretaries of State Antony Blinken and Heather Hig- The new FAM language is a welcome step toward establish- ginbottom, requesting the establishment of an independent and ing the transparency, fairness and accountability on which timely appeal mechanism. Along with then-AFSA Vice President the State Department prides itself. Ultimately the new process Matthew Asada, he organized an event featuring panel speakers should allow the department to fully deploy its most valu- from DS and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commis- able resource—its people—to places where U.S. interests will sion to discuss the issue best be advanced. We are directly with department proud that our dissent led employees. We pushed this issue forward to this important change Assuming the AAFAA in department policy and presidency in 2016, Chris- despite concerns about applaud the department tina Le continued to raise possible detriment to our for its efforts to provide assignment restrictions more oversight and trans- with Deputy Secretary Hig- own professional career parency in the assignment ginbottom throughout the advancement. restrictions process. summer of 2016, asking We are tremendously her to press DS to establish grateful to former Deputy language in the Foreign Affairs Manual. Ms. Le raised the topic Secretaries Blinken and Higginbottom; our past and present with AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson and leadership liaisons, Legal Advisor Harold Koh and Ambas- met with AFSA Vice President Angie Bryan on multiple occa- sadors Hans Klemm and Alexander Arvizu; AFSA; and DS for sions to discuss AAFAA members’ concerns. AFSA was a strong their leadership and advocacy. This newly articulated process, supporter of AAFAA’s request, and played an integral role in the which includes the opportunity to provide additional relevant negotiations with DS to ensure the language for the FAM is fair information, will benefit not only AAFAA members but all and reflects the interests of AAFAA. State employees. In October 2016 President Barack Obama released a presi- The new process will create a more transparent and equi- dential memorandum, “Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in table environment for those affected by assignment restric- the National Security Workforce.” In particular, Section 2(c) cov- tions. Thanks go to some two dozen employees for their moral ers the need for all national security agencies, among them the courage in coming forward, both publicly and privately, and Department of State, to institute a review process for security sharing their personal stories with us, enabling us to frame our and counterintelligence determinations that result in assign- advocacy on the issue. We also thank all AAFAA members who ment restrictions. Section 3(c) makes “unconscious bias train- have been involved in this process over the years, including ing mandatory for senior leadership and management posi- former AFSA Vice President Matthew Asada, for their sup- tions, as well as for those responsible for outreach, recruitment, port, hard work and resolute efforts to effect positive change, hiring, career development, promotion and security clearance all while working within a bureaucratic system that was often adjudication” (italics added). inflexible and unyielding. As a group, we tested the system, stood firm, offered a con- A Way Forward structive way forward and, in the end, made a lasting, positive Finally, at the end of 2016, the State Department published impact on the State Department and its workforce. n new assignment restrictions guidelines in the Foreign Affairs

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 49 FOCUS ON EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE & CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT Pushing State to Prevent Illegal Adoptions

Faced with growing evidence of hortly before I left for Uganda in 2015, malfeasance in intercountry adoptions a good friend adopted a girl from South Asia. My friend was filled with a host in Uganda, this FSO decided on a of emotions: She was overjoyed by the course of constructive dissent prospect of welcoming a child into her life; exhausted by the amount of time and to correct the problem. energy spent on the process; and nervous that amid the mountain of documents, BY WENDY BRAFMAN background checks and legal proceed- ings, she might have missed one crucial detail that could derail Sthe entire adoption. Nevertheless, she eagerly anticipated the arrival of her newly adopted daughter. We threw her a baby shower, helped her set up and decorate her daughter’s bedroom, and discussed plans for the child’s new life in the United States. When that day finally arrived, all my friend’s doubts and worries were washed away,

Wendy Brafman joined the Foreign Service in 2005. She has served in Kinshasa, Cairo, Baghdad, Kam- pala and Washington, D.C. Before joining the For- eign Service, she was in private law practice, worked for a nongovernmental rule of law organization in Kosovo and served as a congressional staffer. Ms. Brafman’s husband is also a Foreign Service officer. She received a 2017 William R. Rivkin Award for Constructive Dissent by a Mid-Level Officer.

50 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL replaced by the overwhelming joy of becoming a parent for the • Stories from families who thought their children would first time. be returned to them after receiving an education in the United This is likely the experience most people expect to have when States. they adopt internationally—and for most, the process, while • Statements from U.S. citizens who were pressured to hire lengthy, culminates with a profound sense of emotional fulfill- specific individuals to provide in-country services at exorbitant ment. As many of my consular colleagues can attest, seeing an rates, or to look the other way when government officials were international adoption through to a successful end is a uniquely paid to “expedite” the process. rewarding experience. It was an experience I looked forward to • Falsified paperwork and proof that parents who had been having when I arrived in Uganda as the embassy’s consular chief. reported deceased were alive and well. Instead, I discovered These were not isolated that the rosy picture many incidents. We found such have in their minds about I discovered that the rosy evidence every week and international adoption every month, in the major- is not always realistic. I picture many have in their ity of cases we reviewed. I worked on hundreds of minds about international came to understand that adoption cases in Uganda, we faced an intercountry and I found the system to adoption is not always realistic. adoption process in which be rife with fraud, corrup- intermediaries financially tion and unethical behav- benefited from desperate ior. I saw many well-intentioned U.S. citizens and Ugandans or insufficiently informed American adopters and vulnerable being deceived by conniving middlemen. I saw children who Ugandans. And I believed that the U.S. government should no were separated from their families and their country because longer be a party to such fraud. unscrupulous outsiders saw an opportunity to make money by Like any good Foreign Service officer, I first made my case dividing the family. to Washington by reporting on what we were learning through At the same time, I saw some of my own colleagues turn a a series of phone calls, emails and face-to-face visits. Perhaps blind eye to such abuses, despite the fact that our mandate is naive myself, I expected my colleagues to be as shocked as I was to help orphaned children find the care, security and love a by the evidence. But they were not. permanent family can provide. In short, our policy with respect to intercountry adoptions was not meeting this directive, and Pressure from All Sides that is why, ultimately, I made the difficult decision to formally Washington remained steadfast in its support for continuing dissent. adoptions in Uganda, even as all other countries represented in Uganda were ending them. Pressure, direct and indirect, came A Growing Number of Discrepancies in from all sides to maintain the status quo. I was given guidance I arrived in Uganda with a generally positive view of the on how to navigate Uganda’s legal system, how to engage the process of adoption. But I was aware of certain problems in the host government and how to handle the stakeholders—includ- country, and as I began reviewing more and more case files, I ing the petitioners, who could be peremptory and extremely could not ignore the growing number of discrepancies my inves- demanding. Members of Congress and their staffs called or tigative staff and I uncovered. wrote to inquire about the status of pending cases and to urge What we found were troubling patterns: expeditious approvals. Adoptive families, I learned, began criti- • Evidence that third parties in Uganda were actively recruit- cizing me by name on social media—with one such family even ing children from their villages to be placed in orphanages or surreptitiously taking my photo at the airport when I was headed schools (many of them unlicensed) far from their homes. away for vacation. • Testimony from parents and grandparents who said they did The government of Uganda proved to be an equally disap- not understand the consequences of the papers they had signed, pointing partner in resolving the issue. Few officials work on relinquishing their rights over the children being given up for this matter, and the office charged with overseeing intercountry adoption. adoptions has few resources to investigate orphanages or ensure

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 51 the welfare of children. An estimated 8 percent of all Ugandan tating for the adoptive parents. After meeting with one of the children are orphans, but authorities have little capacity to deal parents, I knew that the intercountry adoption system in Uganda effectively with the problems and needs of this vulnerable popu- was fundamentally broken, and our system to safeguard the lation. As a result, Uganda’s adoption system is prone to abuse. process was not working. The only solution I saw that could As I continued to gather evidence and make the case for a prevent similar tragedies from occurring to other families was review of the adoption process, stress built up—both in my life to suspend intercountry adoptions—a position the department and in the lives of my consular staff. Working on this issue was simply did not support. To save these families, I would have to all-consuming, exhausting and deeply frustrating, leading to ten- dissent, formally. sions at home with my Foreign Service spouse. One of my local Fortunately, I found much-needed support for the recom- staff members involved in these cases contemplated quitting mendation to suspend intercountry adoption in my own front because of the stress. As a manager, I sometimes lost sight of office. At the ambassador’s request, I documented our findings other important aspects of my consular responsibilities because as thoroughly and dispassionately as possible. Ultimately, we of the time and energy I was devoting to adoptions. dispatched nearly two dozen cables back to Washington laying I remained convinced, however, that the work we were out our arguments with clear evidence. Because I could express doing—and the atten- my dissent through regular tion we were bringing channels, in particular the to the issue—was vitally One incident, in particular, comment portions of the important and could not convinced me that working cable, I did not have to use be ignored. As consular the Dissent Channel. And officers, we are obligated to “inside the system” was no while the department has uphold and implement the longer a viable option. not yet fully accepted our law; and as far as we could recommendations, they tell, many adoptions being have taken steps in the sought in Uganda were not right direction. I am com- entirely legal or ethical. So we had an obligation to keep pursu- forted by the fact that I stood on principle and made these issues ing this path, regardless of the pressure on us. known more widely. What gives me hope is the fact that the State Department A Turning Point has taken some meaningful actions to correct these problems. One incident, in particular, convinced me that working Earlier this year, State took the unprecedented step of debarring “inside the system” was no longer a viable option. In late 2016, an American adoption agency, one that had been facilitating two U.S.-citizen families made the difficult decision to return adoptions worldwide for many years, including in Uganda. This the Ugandan children they had adopted. These families had was a true watershed moment in our efforts to eliminate the made significant emotional and financial investments, trav- system’s abuses. Moreover, thanks to stronger fraud warnings, eled to Uganda multiple times to meet the children, and raised families are more willing to wait out the process as we conduct funds in their local communities to support their applications thorough investigations of each case. Indeed, some families have and meet the substantial costs of the adoption process. But the even withdrawn their adoption petitions after our investigators joys they had experienced on returning to the United States with discovered evidence of fraud. their adoptive children quickly turned sour, when they discov- ered there were loving families in Uganda eagerly seeking the The Emotional Aspect of Dissent children’s return. On reflection, what strikes me most about this entire dissent The agencies involved in the adoption had purportedly falsi- experience is the emotional aspect of the process. As Foreign fied the paperwork to make it appear the children had no family Service officers, we care deeply about the work we do—whether to care for them. The adoptive families were unaware of this fact, it is promoting human rights, advocating for environmental pro- and the children themselves were too young to understand that tections, or protecting refugees and vulnerable populations. And their move to the United States was permanent. with such work come strong emotions—especially in the case of The decision to return the children was emotionally devas- adoptions, where you can immediately see the benefits of your

52 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL In the end, to do the right thing, I had to rely on the facts in front of me, as we all must if we are to do our jobs correctly.

actions. It is truly difficult not to become emotionally involved when you know what’s at stake. Therein lies the danger. The entire process is emotionally charged for the adoptive families—from the anticipation of bringing a child into the family, to the financial commitment, to the uncertainties of a long and complex procedure in a foreign country. But it is also an emotional experience for the consular officer overseeing the case. Emotions can cloud judgment, making officers more willing to overlook potential problems. Certainly, the temptation exists to approve an adoption case to fulfill a family’s dreams. Take AFSA When confronted with wrongdoing or malfeasance, a differ- ent set of emotions comes into play. Many of us might prefer to With You! confront a flawed policy with either resentment or apathy. But such feelings distort the message and ultimately undermine Change your address online, the legitimacy of a reasoned and constructive dissent. Had I visit us at responded emotionally, it is doubtful I could have changed any- www.afsa.org/address thing about adoptions in Uganda. Or Still, I found the process of dissent itself emotionally draining. Send changes to: Like others before me, I worried about the ramifications of my actions. Would I have the ambassador’s support? Would Wash- AFSA Membership ington block me from future jobs because I openly voiced my Department criticisms? In the end, to do the right thing, I had to push aside 2101 E Street NW these concerns. I had to rely on the facts in front of me, as we all Washington DC 20037 must if we are to do our jobs correctly. Difficult as it was for me to take this path, I know it was the correct one. The messages of support I received from colleagues around the world are sufficient proof that dissent remains a criti- Moving? cal part of our profession, and that we must all have the courage to speak out when the evidence is clear. We may be filled with unfamiliar or contradictory emotions in the course of our lives and professional careers, but we should never let them cloud our judgment in deciding what is right. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 53 FOCUS ON EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE & CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT

DS Could Advance Overseas Visa and Passport Security

Diplomatic Security programs can help protect the United States from the threat of terrorist entry, but the State Department hasn’t promoted DS as the interagency lead.

BY ELZAR T. CAMPER

bedience is not patriotism. History President Donald Trump’s Jan. 27, 2017, Executive Order, has shown that dissent is central to “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the any democracy and to the sustain- United States,” started a nationwide conversation about pro- ability of a healthy and productive tecting our borders. The Dissent Channel cable I sent immedi- organizational culture. The State ately afterward, “Empower and Promote Diplomatic Security Department is unique in having a to Achieve Its Visa and Passport Security Program Mandate formal avenue to express an alterna- Overseas,” specifically focused on the State Department’s imple- tive view without fear or frustration. mentation of policies mandated by 22 U.S. Code 4802 and 4807. The importance the department has These laws cover the responsibility of the Secretary of State for historically placed on the value of dissenting opinions speaks to the conducting investigations relating to illegal passport and visa Oideal of fairness; regardless of political affiliation, beliefs or bureau issuance or use, and for establishing a Visa and Passport Security represented, freedom to express your opinion remains a core value, Program in the Department of State. and is a State Department tradition that must be preserved. I did not discuss the travel restrictions coupled with the

Elzar T. Camper is the 2017 recipient of the F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award for Constructive Dissent by a Foreign Service Specialist. Mr. Camper has served in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Washington Field Office, as branch chief of operational threats and analysis at Diplomatic Security headquarters, and overseas in Karachi, Cairo and Kabul. Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Camper earned a B.S. degree in criminal justice with a minor in computer science from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2005. He also earned master’s degrees in software engineering and information science from Pennsylvania State University in 2012 and 2008, respectively. This article is based solely on the author’s opinion, is written from his perspective and does not represent the views of the U.S. gov- ernment. The author acknowledges that he is not an expert in the complexities and potential legal and bureaucratic hurdles that exist, in any current Diplomatic Security–Consular Affairs negotiations or in broader U.S. government initiatives.

54 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL president’s E.O., because my intent was to address the order’s enforcement units in strategic locations; increasing the amount objectives rather than the more controversial implementation of fraudulent document identification and impostor detection methods. Many in the State Department rightfully focused on training and providing an independent (non-Leahy) funding the ideal of fairness; my approach was to propose solutions source for document inspection equipment that can be easily based on best practices to achieve the order’s stated aims. donated to host-nation officials; re-negotiating existing agree- ments with other U.S. law enforcement agencies to increase the The E.O. vs. Current Practices amount of law enforcement information shared with consular The language of the executive order directly reflects the mis- officers for use in the adjudication process; and expanding DS sion statement of the Diplomatic Security Overseas Criminal headquarters’ analytical support for the ARSO-I program to Investigation program (OCI). For instance, the E.O. states its cover open source analysis and social media exploitation of purpose thus: “to identify specified applicants. individuals seeking to Pres. Trump’s executive enter the United States on The State Department agreed order stated his desire to a fraudulent basis with the increase the U.S. govern- intent to cause harm, or that it may be time to update ment’s ability to apply who are at risk of caus- the 2006 Visa and Passport additional screening to ing harm subsequent visa applicants by using to their admission.” The Security Strategic Plan. information known to the order further speaks to the respective host country importance of in-person interviews and databases of identity to assess an applicant’s intent. However, the majority of these documents, along with the problems of duplicated documents, countries do not track or cannot produce records in a suitable evaluating criminal intent and similar issues. format. In addition, identifying an individual’s intent is compli- The DS Visa and Passport Security Strategic Plan presented cated by cultural differences and a lack of context. Moreover, the to Congress in 2006 called for the aggressive expansion of this lack of automation and advanced internet services throughout OCI initiative to meet three specific, strategic goals: defend- most of the world, including the countries identified in the ing the homeland and foreign partners from terrorist attack order, is exactly why the State Department needs to leverage and through aggressive and coordinated international law enforce- promote the expertise of DS—specifically its implementation of ment action; detecting terrorist activity, methods and trends vetted host-nation units—as a matter of policy. that exploit international travel vulnerabilities; and disrupting terrorist efforts to use fraudulent documents by strengthening The Department Response the capacities of foreign partners. The Diplomatic Security Bureau’s leadership used some of OCI has already laid the foundation to achieve and produce these recommendations as talking points during working group much of the desired information and capabilities outlined in the sessions with the Bureau of Consular Affairs. DS also used some E.O. via the overseas Assistant Regional Security Office for Inves- of them when meeting with officials from the National Security tigations (ARSO-I) program, which is embedded in consular sec- Council to discuss future visa security initiatives. tions worldwide. OCI has also made significant contributions to The State Department’s response was DS-centric rather other White House priorities, such as the disruption of transna- than department-centric, and was in line with requirements tional criminal organizations involved in human trafficking and outlined in the Foreign Affairs Manual. It also directly or indi- smuggling of people, including special-interest aliens. rectly addressed the majority of topics I raised in my cable. The department acknowledged that DS plays a leading role in the Recommendations State Department in implementing visa security initiatives, and My Dissent Channel message contained a number of recom- outlined the many proactive steps DS is taking to increase its mendations: setting up a Visa Security Task Force Pilot Program, international footprint and law enforcement actions under the led by DS, with established reporting requirements to identify ARSO-I program. The department also agreed that it may be time country-specific threats to visa security; mandating and sup- to update the 2006 Visa and Passport Security Strategic Plan. porting the establishment of ARSO-I—vetted host-nation law The department did not, however, address the underlying

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 55 The idea of promoting DS to the interagency community as the lead for overseas visa passport security is still a bridge too far.

issue that causes DS to be undervalued and frequently unrec- ognized within the broader interagency community for its work to protect the integrity of the global visa security program. The department’s response highlighted DS-specific initiatives within the context of what DS is trying to achieve as a single bureau negotiating and competing with large domestic agencies. Unlike other bureaus, DS does not wield influential com- mand of the department, especially pertaining to visa security and law enforcement matters within the interagency commu- nity. DS strategic initiatives in terms of visa and passport security measures and law enforcement action have not been fully adopted, understood or supported by the State Department. The point of my dissent was to show that the department does not empower or promote DS to achieve its Visa and Passport Security Strategic Plan. In responding, the department sup- ported my overall belief that it appreciates the contributions DS makes to the U.S. government’s visa and passport security and law enforcement programs, and will approve the expansion of the ARSO-I program in support of these initiatives. However, it seems that the State Department is still not ready to use its influence to raise DS’s stature within the law enforce- ment community. The idea of promoting DS to the interagency community as the lead for overseas visa passport security is still a bridge too far, and may result in overseas visa and passport security initiatives being completely outsourced to a third-party agency.

Lessons Learned Perception and perspective are critical components to consciously weigh when forming and distributing an opinion. Everyone handles contradictory information differently, and possesses an instinctive and often emotional bias that can distort the way an author’s message is received. In addition, the importance of “framing,” and the effect it has on how a message is interpreted, cannot be overstated. n

56 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FEATURE

A New Citizen of LONDON Shines on the Other Side of the THAMES U.S. Embassy London in Nine Elms will set new standards for security and sustainability. Here are some insights into how it got there.

BY RICHARD LEBARON

n her outstanding 2010 book, Citizens of London, person, but rather a building—the brand, spanking-new embassy Lynne Olson describes the roles of three Ameri- of the United States, located across the Thames from Chelsea. cans at the outset of World War II. At that time, As deputy chief of mission in London from 2007 to 2010, I had journalist Edward R. Murrow, banker Averell Har- the privilege of being involved in a small way with the selection riman and Ambassador John Gilbert Winant made of the site for the new embassy, and also played a small role in such an indelible mark on U.S.-U.K. relations that the architectural competition for the stunning new building that they became iconic figures in Britain’s modern U.S. diplomats are scheduled to occupy at the beginning of next history. Another distinguished citizen of London year. In my view, three aspects of the project deserve special is emerging today. It is not a statesman or even a mention: the site, the security at the new mission and sustain- ability. IAmbassador (ret.) Richard LeBaron served as deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires at U.S. Embassy Site Selection: A Difficult Process London from 2007 to 2010. He retired from the Foreign The move was dictated by the inability to properly secure or Service in 2012 after a 33-year career. LeBaron was economically renovate the 1960 Eero Saarinen-designed build- ambassador to Kuwait from 2004 to 2007. Previously he served as ing on Grosvenor Square in the Mayfair section of London. But deputy chief of mission in Tel Aviv, chief of economic and political the shift to new premises was not certain until an appropriate affairs in Cairo, and in a variety of other positions abroad and in site could be found for a new diplomatic mission. That process Washington, D.C. He is currently a non-resident senior fellow at the was long and complicated, and very nearly unsuccessful. Atlantic Council. Some critics of the planned move had convinced themselves

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 57 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/CURRAN 2/CC 4.0 BY-SA The new U.S. Embassy London as seen from the Thames River.

that the new site would end Elms was just a gleam in up being close to Heathrow After a multiyear search, developers’ eyes in 2007, Airport, if not even further the State Department came yet the site is as close to out of town, a pattern that 10 Downing Street and they had seen in the site very close to concluding that the Foreign Office as the selections for new U.S. mis- we might have to make do current embassy, and has a sions in other parts of the view of Parliament, as well. world. But moving out of with a renovated Grosvenor The U.S. mission is the first central London was never foreign embassy ever to be a serious option. If the U.S.- Square site after all. constructed on the south U.K. “special relationship” bank of the Thames, but was to continue to be taken seriously, we needed to maintain a others are now following. prominent position in the cityscape of London. Located along the river between the Battersea Power Station However, after a multiyear search, the State Department and the Vauxhall headquarters of the British Secret Intelligence came very close to concluding that we might have to make do Service, the new site was ripe for development but lacked an with a renovated Grosvenor Square site after all, even though it anchor. Much to the delight of borough officials, the embassy could never meet security standards and various critical utilities project became that anchor, resulting in a tremendous amount updates would be very costly. Actually finding a building site, and of new residential and office space in what is essentially central finding it where we did, surprised us and became an important London. part of the story of this project. It was gratifying to make this contribution to a neighborhood When I first told Londoners, not to mention Americans famil- of London that actually needed development. Despite the histori- iar with London, that the new mission would be in the Nine Elms cal and emotional connections to Grosvenor Square, it will also neighborhood, many had to ask where that was. Until recently a be satisfying to say goodbye to some of our complaining neigh- neighborhood of light warehouses and a wholesale market, Nine bors in stuffy Mayfair. Perhaps they will be more content with the

58 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL “six-star” hotel the Qatari I told them a story: sovereign wealth fund will Security must never be the When I was ambassador install at the Grosvenor only objective. Our diplomatic to Kuwait, I made a habit Square location. of asking guests who missions need to reflect the visited my embassy office Security and Design if they were treated with In the spring of 2009, open society they represent. courtesy as they entered the principals from the our mission. In one case, I four finalist firms in the architectural competition gathered in asked an older gentleman whether the security measures (which London to get a better feel for the site and the complex require- included a Kuwaiti armored personnel carrier) had made him ments of building there. As chargé d’affaires during the transi- nervous. His response: “Oh, no, Mr. Ambassador, I wasn’t ner- tion period between the Bush and Obama administrations, I was vous. I was scared!” asked to address them as they finished their initial survey. I challenged the architects to turn that story on its head: when U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT/OBO STATE U.S. The new U.S. Embassy London up close. The lightweight plastic scrims that give a soft and billowy look to the exterior are embedded with photovoltaic cells that can convert sunlight into energy. At the same time, they will act as sunscreens to keep interiors from overheating.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 59 GEOGRAPH.ORG.UK/IAN S/CC-BY-SA 2.0 S/CC-BY-SA GEOGRAPH.ORG.UK/IAN The old U.S. Embassy London on Grosvenor Square, viewed from Brook Street.

a visitor comes to visit the him, “Where is the fence?” U.S. ambassador to the U.K. The building will supply The response: “There is no in his new office, I want fence.” The design success- that visitor to exclaim how and reuse its own water. fully integrated security wonderful it was to come It will not only conserve power into a welcoming and to the new embassy, how impressive structure—not the security was efficient but also be able to sell surplus Fortress America. and reassuring but not energy to its neighbors. Security of our diplo- overwhelming, and how he matic facilities is, of course, or she recognized the tra- a fraught topic, and will ditional welcoming nature of the American people as they made only become more so with the recent terrorist attacks in London. their way into the building that represents the United States. But there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and there is no perfect In the designs they submitted, the three architectural firms security. Our diplomats know that their workplace can never competing for the project appeared to take to heart the advice be completely invulnerable, and they accept that they run risks about making the embassy a secure yet welcoming place. Within in the normal course of living and working around the world. the strict guidelines demanded by the State Department’s Risk can be managed effectively with the right combination of Bureau of Diplomatic Security, all three presented designs that physical security, intelligence cooperation and good judgment. were open and welcoming in different ways. All three used inno- But security must never be the only objective. Our diplomatic vative architectural and landscaping features to achieve security missions need to reflect the open society they represent. goals. The innovative design of our new presence in London will I was standing beside James Timberlake (partner in the Phila- need to be combined with well-thought-out training for staff on delphia firm KieranTimberlake) at the 2010 unveiling of their how best to welcome visitors in a secure and friendly manner. Too winning design when The Guardian’s architectural critic asked often, the design of our human interactions at embassy entrances

60 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL is an afterthought and the execution is left largely to a contracted security firm. These firms may have a basic understanding of security, but they are not in the diplomacy business. When they first enter our embassies, visitors often encounter a contract security person issuing brusque, Transportation Security Admin- istration–like instructions. That’s not good enough for any U.S. embassy and would be especially unfortunate for an embassy that consciously seeks to project openness through its design. Nor is it necessary to display a lot of firepower, such as having the U.K. police brandishing submachine guns at the gates. (At U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv, where I was deputy chief of mission dur- ing the Second Intifada, I never once actually saw the weapons carried by the Israeli guards, but I am confident that we were no less secure.)

New Standards of Sustainability One of the reasons the embassy needed to move from Gros- venor Square was the huge utility bill and the aging internal infrastructure. Built at a time when environmental efficiencies were far down the list of requirements, Saarinen’s building was hard to fuel and difficult to maintain. The new embassy will set new standards of sustainability achieved by only a few major buildings anywhere. Having toured the site when it was about 80 percent com- plete, I was stunned to see how both the workspace and the spaces open to the public incorporated outside light based on detailed lighting design. The cutting-edge scrim on three sides of the structure helps manage light and energy. The building will supply and reuse its own water. It will not only conserve power but also be able to sell surplus energy to its neighbors. Once again, however, ensuring that all these systems actually work the way they are supposed to will require conscientious, trained managers. The American “citizens of London” Lynne Olson described were by no means perfect, and they attracted a good deal of criti- cism along the way to becoming respected historical figures. The new embassy should expect the same—architecture critics are a prickly bunch, and I would be astonished if they provide more than grudging acceptance when they write reviews in the com- ing months. However, they should not forget the unique security challenges of building a new U.S. embassy, nor discount the triumph of essentially sparking a now bustling new neighbor- hood in central London. And the ambassadors and staff who occupy this structure should never forget that its principal purpose is to put America’s best face forward. A building is never just a building. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 61

AFSA NEWSTHE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION

AFSA Awards Honor Foreign Service Excellence AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA The 2017 AFSA Constructive Dissent and Exemplary Performance Award winners and runners-up, from left: Thomas Wong, Diane Corbin, Michael Murphy, Ambassador (ret.) Nancy Powell, Aubrey Dowd, John Wood, René Gutel, Maria Barrón, Elzar Camper, Wendy Brafman, Henry Throop, Christina Le, Ambassador Tulinabo Mushingi, Mariju Bofill and Cecelia Choi.

AFSA’s 49th annual awards tional coverage on each of There is no better testament to ceremony took place on them beginning on page 76. the excellence and expertise of the June 20 in the Department In opening the ceremony of State’s Dean Acheson AFSA President Ambas- Foreign Service than the stories of Auditorium, where more sador Barbara Stephenson these [awards recipients] and their than 300 guests gathered spoke of the privilege that contributions to our national security. to recognize Foreign Service AFSA feels “in recognizing —Ambassador (ret.) Nancy J. Powell excellence. the dedication, patriotism It was an inspirational and sheer excellence of the occasion, where the hon- professional career Foreign State and USAID. ies Stu Jones, John Hef- orees for lifetime contribu- Service.” Among those showing fern, Peter Barlerin, Virginia tions, constructive dissent She acknowledged the their appreciation of the Bennett, Bill Miller, Justin and exemplary performance five former recipients of the recipients and their achieve- Siberell and Mark Taplin. showed themselves to be Award for Lifetime Contribu- ments were Under Secre- The afternoon’s first the kinds of Foreign Service tions to American Diplomacy tary of State for Political award was for Lifetime leaders that our profession who were in attendance— AffairsTom Shannon, acting Contributions to Ameri- needs and is uniquely adept Senator Richard Lugar, Stu Under Secretary for Public can Diplomacy. This year’s at creating. Kennedy and Ambassadors Diplomacy and Public Affairs recipient, Ambassador (ret.) Twelve award recipients Bill Harrop, Rozanne Ridg- Bruce Wharton, USAID Coun- Nancy J. Powell, received a and three runners-up were way and Ruth Davis—and selor Tom Staal, Assistant standing ovation in honor of highlighted for their outstand- the presence of most of the Secretary Daniel Smith, and her exemplary career. ing work; please see addi- Foreign Service leadership at acting Assistant Secretar- From humble begin-

62 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL

AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWS

nings as a school teacher in Dayton, Iowa—population CALENDAR 900—she retired as one of the most admired members September 4 Labor Day: of the career Foreign Service, AFSA Offices Closed with postings as ambassa- dor to five countries, service September 7 as Director General of the 12-1:30 p.m. A Moderated Conversation Foreign Service, the personal with FSO Oni Blair rank of Career Ambas- sador and a reputation as September 8 an outstanding mentor to 7:05 p.m. The Second Annual countless individuals from Foreign Service Night entry-level officers to senior AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA at Nationals Park: ambassadors. 2017 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy winner Ambassador Nationals vs. Phillies In her remarks, Amb. Pow- (ret.) Nancy Powell, with four previous recipients of AFSA’s most prestigious award. From left, Senator Richard Lugar, Ambassador (ret.) ell expressed her gratitude September 10-14 Bill Harrop, Amb. Powell, Stu Kennedy and Ambassador (ret.) Ruth Davis. AFSA Road to the many mentors and Scholar Program: collaborators who guided, “The Middle East: advised and supported her “bench on the beach,” she CONSTRUCTIVE Conflict and Controversy” during her career, a theme would “continue to work as a DISSENT AWARDS Washington, D.C. which was later echoed by private citizen to help secure Turning to the awards for September 11 many of the other award the resources you need to constructive dissent, Amb. 12-1 p.m. recipients. conduct your essential roles Stephenson made the case Public Diplomacy Council: She specifically high- in designing and implement- that in the Foreign Service, “9/11 Sixteen Years Later” lighted Ambassadors Peter ing America’s foreign policy, “we strongly believe that it September 14 Burleigh, Howard Schaffer, in ensuring the security is our duty to call things as 12-1:30 p.m. the late Arnold Raphel and A. and smooth functioning of we see them, because that’s AFSA Book Notes: Elizabeth Jones. “While we all our missions that serve the in the best interest of our Career Diplomacy by know them for their regional American people and the country. In many cases, we Harry W. Kopp and John K. Naland expertise and policy-making interagency community, in may provide input that calls skills,” Powell said “I had the guaranteeing that you have into question the wisdom September 20 additional joy of knowing the training you need to suc- of a policy direction or 12-1:30 p.m. them for their encourage- ceed, and in building on the challenges the validity of a AFSA Governing ment, their empathy and progress made in mitigating procedure. Doing so is a core Board Meeting their exemplification of poverty, disease and disas- element of leadership in the September 20 Foreign Service leadership at ters around the globe.” Foreign Service context, a 4:30-6:30 p.m. its finest.” See page 31 for FSJ Editor duty that is required of us. AFSA Networking In closing, Amb. Pow- Shawn Dorman’s interview The six members of the For- Happy Hour ell pledged that from her with Amb. Powell. eign Service we honor today October 2 12:00-1:00 p.m. Public Diplomacy Council: “How Finland Is Using Good ideas withstand scrutiny. Our country is stronger Public Diplomacy to Celebrate Its Centennial” for this Foreign Service community that encourages integrity and intellectual honesty to preserve, protect and defend the October 9 Columbus Day: Constitution of the United States. AFSA Offices Closed —Cecilia S. Choi

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 63 AFSA NEWS

[The department] is not without its blemishes, but it is wholly willing to acknowledge them, then fix them. That’s what makes State great. —Thomas T. Wong

all showed that leadership.” Ambassador Charles AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA Rivkin presented the Wil- From left, Under Secretary of State Tom Shannon, acting Under Secretary Bruce Wharton, Assistant Secretary liam R. Rivkin Award for Daniel Bennett Smith, Ambassador (ret.) Ruth Davis, Senator Richard Lugar, Charles Stuart ‘Stu’ Kennedy and Constructive Dissent by a USAID Counselor Tom Staal attended the AFSA awards ceremony on June 20 to show their support for AFSA and to congratulate the award winners. Mid-Level Foreign Service Officer, to Wendy Brafman in recognition of her efforts to 2016, adding increased Obedience is not patriotism... enhance transparency and transparency to the process. The importance the department accountability in Uganda’s Amb. Bill Harrop then pre- has historically placed on the value intercountry adoption sys- sented the F. Allen ‘Tex’ Har- tem. ris Award for Constructive of dissenting opinions speaks to the Amb. Rivkin then honored Dissent by a Foreign Service ideal of hope. four current and former Specialist to Elzar T. Camper, —Elzar T. Camper presidents of the Asian a Diplomatic Security spe- American Foreign Affairs cial agent at U.S. Embassy Association for their tena- Cairo. cious efforts to improve the Mr. Camper authored assignment restrictions a dissent cable arguing process at the Department against State Department of State. policy, which he feels has not The hard work of Chris- empowered and promoted tina T. Le, Cecilia S. Choi, Diplomatic Security to lead Mariju L. Bofill and Thomas in implementing many of the T. Wong paid off when a new increased screening objec- Foreign Affairs Manual chap- tives which are already spelled ter was issued in November out in its own programs.

We applaud and continuously promote the indispensable role that diplomats

and development professionals play in JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA protecting and serving America’s people, AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (right) with 2017 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy recipient Ambassador (ret.) interests and values. Nancy Powell in the Department of State’s C Street lobby, ahead of the —John S. Wood AFSA awards ceremony on June 20.

64 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

Each of this year’s dissent returned to recipients shows how the the podium Foreign Service is taking to present the ownership of the organiza- Nelson B. Dela- tion, making hard choices van Award for and refining processes to Exemplary Per- strengthen the institution. formance by an Office Manage- EXEMPLARY ment Specialist PERFORMANCE AWARDS to Diane Corbin, Dr. Sushma Palmer next who had just presented the first awards for returned from exemplary performance, the an immensely Mark Palmer Award for the challenging Advancement of Democracy. 29-month After recognizing runner-up tour in South Maria Elena Barrón, a USAID Sudan. Judith Foreign Service officer, for Brown of the her work promoting a demo- U.S. embassy AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA cratic transition in Nepal, Dr. in Yaoundé was At a champagne reception after the June 20 awards ceremony, friends, family and Palmer honored Ambassador the runner-up. colleagues celebrate the achievements of the 16 AFSA award winners. Tulinabo Salama Mushingi Jon Clements, with the 2017 Palmer Award CEO of Clements Worldwide, for his efforts to prevent presented the M. Juanita ple posts to engage local chil- dition of the Foreign Service. conflict during an attempted Guess Award for Exemplary dren in science, technology, Please visit www.afsa. coup d’état in Burkina Faso. Performance by a Commu- engineering and mathemat- org/video to watch the full Dr. Palmer presented the nity Liaison Officer to Aubrey ics (STEM) subjects, includ- ceremony, as well as selected second 2017 Palmer award Dowd of U.S. Embassy Dhaka. ing night-time astronomy highlights. Photos of the to René Gutel, the human Ms. Dowd generously observations and countless recipients, ceremony and rights officer at U.S. Embassy acknowledged her CLO school appearances. reception are available at Beijing. Against all odds, Ms. colleagues in Dhaka and A celebratory champagne http://bit.ly/2t1xBO4. n Gutel made significant head- expressed her appreciation reception in the depart- way in promoting human to AFSA for acknowledging ment’s Exhibit Hall followed rights and making common the important work CLOs do the ceremony, a fitting way cause with other democra- within the embassy com- to conclude an event whose cies in the diplomatic com- munity. Michael P. Murphy of purpose is to highlight and munity in China. U.S. Embassy Algiers was the reward those who carry out Amb. Stephenson runner-up. their duties in the finest tra- presented the Award for The final award of the Achievement and Contribu- afternoon was the Avis tions to the Association to Bohlen Award for Exemplary Promoting human rights overseas is Foreign Commercial Service Performance by an Eligible some of the most important and vital retiree John S. Wood, leader Family Member. On behalf work we can do in the State Department. of the energetic and engaged of the Bohlen family, Mette If we are to continue to be an example to Foreign Service retiree group Beecroft presented the the world, we must consistently represent in Austin, Texas, for his effec- award to Henry Throop of universal values, including freedom of tiveness in telling the story U.S. Consulate Mumbai. of the Foreign Service to our A NASA scientist, Dr. speech, freedom of religion and freedom fellow Americans. Throop has volunteered of association. Amb. Harrop then thousands of hours at multi- —René Gutel

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 65 STATE VP VOICE | BY KENNETH KERO-MENTZ AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA State VP. Contact: [email protected] | (202) 647-8160

Like a Bridge

We in the Foreign Service capable of managing uncer- hold to support this Service the Foreign Service as profes- understand the need for a tainty and thriving not in spite and this State Department— sionals serving the nation in strong union and professional of change, but because of it. and AFSA is poised to pro- often difficult and dangerous association to support and After all, we constantly pick mote and protect our entire circumstances. defend us and the important up our lives, our families and Foreign Service family. Change is coming. Rest work we do for the American our professional expectations There are reasons for assured, we will push back people. I am honored and and haul them off to new hope: the draconian cuts in where needed, influence deci- excited to serve all of you as corners of the world, with new foreign affairs budgets initially sions where we can and do your AFSA State Vice Presi- colleagues, new challenges proposed by some have faced our best to keep you apprised dent over the coming two and new things to learn. significant headwinds on Cap- of what lies ahead. Wherever years. And at each stop, we find itol Hill. Members of Congress possible, AFSA will seek to Having already served success, advancing American from both parties have made be the bridge that leads the four years on AFSA’s Gov- interests as no other orga- clear their belief that a robust Foreign Service through these erning Board and as AFSA nization can or does. Sure, diplomatic and development troubled waters and onto the post representative in Berlin problems arise, setbacks capability is as critical to U.S. path of a future every bit as (for which I received AFSA’s occur and unforeseen threats national security as a strong distinguished as our past. Post Representative of the present themselves. But we military deterrent. Setbacks may occur, but with Year award in 2009), I know carry on in the time-honored All indications suggest that your support for AFSA, we will well the important role AFSA traditions of our Service. It’s Congress plans to back these remain strong. plays—not only as the “voice who we are and what we do. views with a budget that con- And I will do everything in of the Foreign Service” to the Our esprit de corps holds tinues funding for the depart- my power to honor the trust world beyond Foggy Bottom, us together, inspires us to ment at appropriate levels. you have placed in me by but also as your ally and advo- help one another in adjusting AFSA continues to engage representing and encourag- cate. Together we will weather to the ever-changing realities actively with our allies in Con- ing that strength through the the challenges we face. of new homes and new jobs, gress, to press for passage of challenges ahead. This is my We all know change is new places and new people. appropriations that reflect the pledge. n hard, but we in the Foreign Now is a moment when that vital work of the Foreign Ser- Service are perhaps uniquely spirit of togetherness must vice and respect members of

RETIREE VP VOICE | BY JOHN NALAND AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA Retiree VP. Contact: [email protected] | (703) 437-7881 Focus on Retiree Issues

I thank those who elected with my job title, my primary Benefits: The current for foreign affairs agen- me as Retiree Vice President focus will be on issues which administration has proposed cies to attract and retain a for 2017-2019. Like all AFSA impact current Foreign Ser- dramatic cuts in federal talented and diverse work- Governing Board members, vice retirees and their sur- retirement benefits which force. I and others in AFSA I will support AFSA’s efforts vivors and which will affect would lower the standard of will join representatives to advance the interests today’s active-duty members living for current and future of other federal employee of the active-duty Foreign when they eventually retire. Foreign Service retirees and Service. But, in accordance Those issues include: would make it more difficult Continued on page 67

66 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FAS VP VOICE | BY KIMBERLY SAWATZKI AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA FAS VP. Contact: [email protected] | (202) 720-3650

Seeking Solutions and Sustainability

As a second-generation the great work we do to the ment to strengthen FAS; and and sends the message to FAS Foreign Service officer, new administration and ensuring that we all work in a all FSOs that the agency embassies and the Foreign the public, and protect our diverse and inclusive work- may “reward” your decades Agricultural Service have retirement benefits that are place. of dedicated service with a been a major part of my currently under threat. Foreign Agricultural Ser- forced assignment. So how entire life. They are not just I am excited for the vice officers are a creative, do we fill the positions? places of employment, but opportunity to advocate passionate and dedicated As a start, I suggest that the foundation of who I am on behalf of FAS Foreign bunch, and I am confident FAS management pursue today. Service officers and build that we can come up with a Re-Employed Annuitants Since my earliest memo- a strong, sustainable and innovative ways to solve the (REA or When Actually ries, they have instilled in compassionate Foreign challenges facing us, both Employed) program for me a sense of purpose, duty, Service. current and future. retirees to come back to joy and pride. My love and My “to-do list” includes One of the first challenges work temporarily to fill gaps, loyalty to my country, the fixing the time-in-service I would like to address is the including during transitions Foreign Service and FAS’ issue (22 years vs. 27 years) current shortage of FO-1s so FSOs can take the home mission have driven me that penalizes top perform- and FO-2s, which means leave and training they need to serve as the AFSA Vice ers; ensuring that there are that we do not have enough for onward assignments. President for FAS. good job opportunities for officers to fill our positions I am eager to talk with I want to work alongside Washington-bound FSOs; overseas. Forced assign- FAS Foreign Service officers, AFSA colleagues from all of exploring issues such as ments may help fill those to hear your concerns and the foreign affairs agencies giving credit for long-term slots, but at what cost? suggested solutions. Send to be the face of the Foreign training and limited career The practice of forced your thoughts and ideas to Service, demonstrate that extensions; improving assignments encourages me at kim.sawatzki@usda. strong diplomacy is critical training opportunities; more retirements, thereby gov. n for U.S. interests, publicize engaging with manage- exacerbating the problem,

Retiree VP Voice, AFSA’s efforts to educate Outreach: Retirees play ginia, I see the value of such Continued from page 66 members so they can avoid an important role in speak- groups around the nation in such problems. ing out in defense of the bringing together Foreign groups in urging Congress Member Services: When career Foreign Service and Service veterans to continue to moderate that package members do encounter in supporting funding for the camaraderie we felt of cuts. problems with retirement diplomacy and development. while on active duty. I will Education: As director of benefits, I will work with Toward that end, I will work encourage AFSA to assist State’s Office of Retirement, AFSA’s retiree counselor and with AFSA’s new retiree out- those groups in expanding I spent a lot of time helping Labor Management Office reach coordinator to expand their membership. employees and retirees get to assist them. To resolve advocacy efforts by retirees If you need assistance or out of holes they had dug for issues, I will meet with the with a goal of developing a have suggestions, you can themselves due to their lack Office of Retirement and, if domestic constituency for reach me at naland@afsa. of knowledge of the laws needed, travel to Charles- the Foreign Service. org. AFSA’s Retiree Counselor and regulations govern- ton, South Carolina, to Community: As a mem- Todd Thurwachter can be ing retirement benefits. As meet with the Retirement ber of the Foreign Affairs reached at thurwachter@afsa. Retiree VP, I plan to expand Accounts Division. Retirees of Northern Vir- org and (202) 944-5509. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 67 FCS VP VOICE | BY DANIEL CROCKER USAID VP VOICE | BY ANN POSNER

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA FCS VP. Contact: [email protected] | (202) 482-9088 AFSA USAID VP. Contact: [email protected] | (202) 712-1631

Facing Unprecedented Promoting USAID Interests Challenges After many years overseas, revised USAID Foreign With 80 percent of Foreign support. With our FY16 results first as the spouse of a For- Service Performance Commercial Service AFSA showing that we contribute eign Service officer and for Management procedures members voting in the 2017 $192 to the American econ- the last 20 years as a USAID are implemented, I would AFSA election, it’s clear that omy for every $1 of taxpayer executive officer (EXO), I like to know whether you we are keenly aware of the money spent, there are better am eager to use my busi- feel the new procedures are unprecedented challenges that places to cut spending. ness management skills, my an improvement over the we face. I want to thank outgo- Second, I will help the Com- EXO experience in overseas present system. I hope that ing FCS VP Steve Morrison for merce Department spend its missions, my exposure to the replacement system will serving our interests at AFSA appropriations for this mission the workings of USAID’s be less time consuming and since 2010 and for a smooth as effectively as possible. Washington, D.C., headquar- will be viewed as fair and succession. Commerce does so best when ters and the knowledge I’ve rational. Here are our three major pri- it continues to fund and pri- gleaned from working along- However, while important, orities for the next two years. oritize its highest-performing side our immensely talented revision of performance First, I will help Congress client-facing professionals. professionals to serve as management procedures is and the administration under- I will work closely with your AFSA Vice President. only one of the major topics stand the importance of the administration officials to My special focus will be that preoccupy us about our work that we do on behalf of ensure that if any cuts do have on the careers, families and careers right now. I pledge U.S. economic security—and to be made, they will have a lives of USAID’s Foreign that my responses to you the need to fund it accordingly. minimal impact on our ability Service professionals. will always be appropriate, The proposal to close 35 to serve the U.S. business My first effort will be to considered and prompt. I posts overseas and a sig- community with our unparal- reach out to all USAID FSOs will voice your perspectives nificant number of domestic leled track record of direct, to ask what they value and and represent your concerns field offices is quite simply results-oriented engagement. what aggravates them most in USAID Washington and at odds with the administra- Third, I will work with other about USAID, now and at with colleagues in the State tion’s desire to enforce trade members of AFSA’s Govern- other times during their Department. n obligations that help more U.S. ing Board to clarify FCS’ role careers. I invite you to tell companies compete on a level at post, particularly given the me about the service you playing field overseas, grow ongoing restructuring of the would like from AFSA during more U.S. exports and attract State Department and USAID. these tumultuous times. more foreign investment—all In Panama, as part of Ambas- I want to hear your ideas of which contribute directly to sador Barbara Stephenson’s and insights Your priorities the creation of good jobs in the outstanding country team, I will steer my efforts. What United States. experienced and appreciated is most urgent to you will be How do we serve that her collaborative approach. most urgent for me during mission? With a unique global I believe that our new AFSA the coming months as I try and domestic footprint and board will be able to inform to move initiatives forward. an unparalleled culture of State’s new look and feel in a As you all know, some outcome-oriented assistance way that maximizes its ability major initiatives and policy that we document rigorously to advance U.S. national inter- changes are taking place for more than 28,000 U.S. ests as efficiently as possible, within USAID right now. I companies each year. with minimal role overlap. want to make sure that the I plan to let members of I’ll need your assistance interests of the majority Congress know, both directly to deliver on this platform. of FSOs in the agency are and through our clients and Contact me at daniel.crocker@ taken into account as those multipliers, what we do for their trade.gov. n changes are being made. constituents—and ask for their For example, as the

68 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board Takes Office

On July 19, the first meet- tee: Secretary Ambassador ing of the 2017-2019 AFSA (ret.) Tom Boyatt proposed Governing Board took place the establishment of a Man- at the association’s E Street agement Committee consist- headquarters. ing of the president, secretary Welcome: AFSA President and treasurer and to include Ambassador Barbara Ste- constituency vice presidents phenson welcomed the new when matters within their board members and thanked purview are discussed. The them for stepping forward to motion was approved. serve. AFSA PAC: Amb. Tom Minutes Approval Com- Boyatt moved to recreate an mittee: Without objection, a AFSA Political Action Com- AFSA/CALEB SCHLABACH AFSA/CALEB Minutes Approval Committee mittee and appoint Amb. Tony Members of the 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board gather for the first board meeting at AFSA headquarters on July 19. From left: FCS Alternate was created and FCS Vice Wayne as chair and treasurer, Rep. Matthew Hilgendorf, Retiree Rep. Amb. (ret.) Al La Porta, BBG Rep. President Daniel Crocker and Executive Director Ian Hous- Steven Herman, State Rep. Josh Glazeroff, State Rep. Tricia Wingerter, State Representatives Tricia ton as assistant treasurer State Rep. Martin McDowell, President Amb. Barbara Stephenson, Secretary Amb. (ret.) Tom Boyatt, Retiree Rep. Phil Shull, Retiree VP Wingerter and Martin McDow- and Kalpna Srimal as keeper John Naland, Treasurer Amb. (ret.) Tony Wayne, State VP Ken Kero-Mentz ell were appointed to it. of records. The motion was and FCS VP Daniel Crocker. Management Commit- approved. n

Meet the 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board

The American Foreign Service Association is proud to intro- Foreign Service. She also served as consul general in Belfast duce the elected officers and representatives of the 2017-2019 and CG and COM in Curaçao, and received a Superior Honor Governing Board. Award for her work on the peace agreement in El Salvador. The AFSA Governing Board meets on the third Wednesday of With more than 30 years of service, she entered as a political each month from 12 to 1:30 p.m. AFSA members are welcome officer and has since served interfunctionally, meeting the to attend any board meetings and may request copies of the needs of the Service whenever and wherever called. minutes from Jennie Orloff at [email protected]. In her second term, Ambassador Stephenson will work to seize every opportunity presented by these challenging times AMBASSADOR to make the Foreign Service stronger in fact and in reputation. BARBARA STEPHENSON She will also continue efforts to improve governance at AFSA PRESIDENT to ensure that member dues are used as efficiently and effec- Barbara Stephenson has served as tively as possible for the benefit of the Foreign Service. president of AFSA since July 2015. As dean of the Leadership School at FSI (2013- AMBASSADOR 2015), she launched a department-wide THOMAS BOYATT dialogue—the Leadership Roundtable—to SECRETARY improve leadership and management to unleash the tremen- Ambassador (ret.) Tom Boyatt entered the dous talent at State. She served previously as ambassador Foreign Service in 1959 and retired in 1984 to Panama and deputy chief of mission/chargé d’affairés in with the rank of Career Minister. As an London. FSO, he served in every cone and at posts She won a Distinguished Honor Award for delivering the in four of the five geographic bureaus. He “civilian surge” to Iraq—without breaking the back of the served as U.S. ambassador to Burkina Faso (1978-1980) and

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 69 AFSA NEWS

Colombia (1980-1983). Erbil, in addition to Washington, D.C., assignments in the Amb. Boyatt earned the Department of State’s Heroism bureaus of European and Eurasian Affairs and Democracy, Award and AFSA’s Lifetime Contributions to American Diplo- Human Rights and Labor. macy Award for his service. He received the William R. Rivkin Mr. Kero-Mentz served as AFSA post representative in Ber- Award for Constructive Dissent by a Mid-Level Officer in 1970 lin, where he received the AFSA Post Rep of the Year award in and the Christian A. Herter Award for Constructive Dissent by 2009. He served two tours on the AFSA Governing Board from a Member of the Senior Foreign Service in 1979. 2011 to 2015 as a State representative. Born in Wyoming, Ohio, Amb. Boyatt received a bachelor’s Prior to joining the State Department, Mr. Kero-Mentz degree from Princeton University and a master’s degree from spent five years on Capitol Hill covering a wide range of Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He legislative issues, including foreign affairs. Raised in Vermont, is married to Maxine Shearwood. They have five children and he earned a B.A. in international affairs with a minor in Ger- seven grandchildren. man, and a master’s degree in public administration from the Amb. Boyatt has previously served AFSA as president, George Washington University in Washington, D.C. vice president and treasurer. He ran for the office of secretary Mr. Ken Kero-Mentz decided to run for the State VP position because he “wanted to continue to contribute to the excellent because he believes strongly in AFSA’s dual mission to defend work AFSA is doing in governance, outreach and strengthen- the Foreign Service and protect Foreign Service employees. ing the Foreign Service Act and the Service itself.” DANIEL CROCKER AMBASSADOR EARL FCS VICE PRESIDENT ANTHONY (TONY) WAYNE Daniel Crocker is a career member of TREASURER the Senior Foreign Service. Prior to his Ambassador (ret.) Earl Anthony Wayne election to the AFSA Governing Board, served as a Foreign Service officer from he was the commercial counselor at U.S. 1975 to 2015. He is currently a Public Embassy Madrid, promoting U.S. com- Policy Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson mercial interests in Spain. International Center for Scholars and Mr. Crocker was the first director of the Foreign Com- a senior non-resident adviser at the Atlantic Council and mercial Service’s newly created Office of Digital Initia- at the Center for Security and International Studies. Amb. tives, where he led the successful procurement and global Wayne is also an adviser for HSBC Bank in Mexico and Latin implementation of Salesforce, a customer relationship America on countering illicit finance. management product, to capture all of Commerce’s trade Tony Wayne served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico (2011- engagement. He was also the first executive director for FCS 2015) and Argentina (2006-2009), and as deputy ambassa- Western hemisphere operations, where he managed 230 dor in Afghanistan (2009-2011). He was assistant secretary officials in 14 countries. Mr. Crocker has served overseas in of State for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Panama, Mexico, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. (EB) from 2000 to 2006. Prior to his service with EB, Wayne Before joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Crocker worked in worked as principal deputy assistant secretary of State for the private sector with Schlumberger, Amsted Rail, Webvan, European affairs, deputy assistant secretary for Europe and HomeWarehouse.com and as an MIT consultant for Hewlett- Canada, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. mission to the Packard. Mr. Crocker is married with two children. European Union in Brussels and director for Western Europe He chose to run for office with AFSA because he “believes at the National Security Council. that AFSA is in an unparalleled position to advocate effec- In addition to his new post as AFSA treasurer, Amb. tively for a strong Foreign Service that includes the promo- Wayne chairs AFSA’s political action committee. tion and defense of U.S. commercial interests.”

KEN KERO-MENTZ ANN POSNER STATE VICE PRESIDENT USAID VICE PRESIDENT Ken Kero-Mentz joined the State Depart- After years of increasingly complex and ment in January 2000 as a member of broad management responsibilities as a the 95th A-100 class. An economic-coned Foreign Service executive officer (EXO) officer, he has served overseas in Rio de at overseas USAID Missions, Ann Posner Janeiro, Baghdad, Berlin, Colombo and returned to Washington, D.C., in 2012.

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Working with USAID’s Human Capital and Talent Manage- of Human Resources (as director of the Office of Retirement). ment Office, she helped start the Overseas Human Capital He retired from the Foreign Service in 2015. Initiative, strengthening coordination and support for USAID’s Mr. Naland is currently president of the Foreign Service overseas personnel, and worked to revise USAID’s telework Youth Foundation and coordinator of Foreign Affairs Retirees procedures worldwide. of Northern Virginia. He is co-author with Harry Kopp of the Ms. Posner served in the Africa Administrative Manage- third edition of Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the U.S. ment Services, dealing with various challenges in the region, Foreign Service (Georgetown University Press, 2017). including the post-Ebola problems confronting West Africa. A former U.S. Army cavalry officer who served in West She supported overseas posts’ evacuation planning and Germany during the Cold War, he is a graduate of the Army trained country desk officers. Most recently she served in War College. Born in Kansas, he grew up in New Orleans and USAID’s Overseas Management Division. graduated from Tulane University. He is married and has two Overseas, Ms. Posner has served as supervisory execu- college-age daughters. tive officer at USAID West Bank and Gaza, and in Bosnia and Mr. Naland was AFSA State VP from 1999 to 2001 and Albania. She was deputy EXO at USAID Russia. AFSA president from 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ms. Posner worked on a personal services contract as deputy EXO and EXO for USAID ANNE COLEMAN-HONN Czech Republic. STATE REPRESENTATIVE Anne Coleman-Honn is an FS-2 economic- KIMBERLY SAWATZKI coned officer who has served in four FAS VICE PRESIDENT bureaus and across cones. She served Kimberly Svec Sawatzki, a member of most recently as the political unit chief at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service for U.S. Embassy Stockholm. more than 20 years, recently completed As a founding member of the Balancing a tour as the agricultural counselor in Act employee organization, she has helped to bring best prac- Ankara. She previously served as senior tices from other parts of the federal government—such as the agricultural attaché in Moscow and as the voluntary leave bank and an emergency backup care program agricultural attaché in Brasilia, as well as on a detail to the for dependents—to the State Department. U.S. Southern Command. As a member of the AFSA Governing Board, she looks In Washington D.C., as area director for Africa and the forward to continuing to help employees meet their work and Middle East in FAS’ Office of Foreign Service Operations, and family obligations. Part of a tandem couple, she and her hus- in the Office of Negotiations and Agreements, the Grain and band, Aaron Honn, have three children. Feed Division, and the Dairy, Livestock and Poultry Division. She has a master’s in agricultural economics and interna- TRICIA WINGERTER tional trade from the University of Illinois, and B.A.s in econom- STATE REPRESENTATIVE ics, international affairs, and German from the University of Tricia Wingerter is the coordinator for the Maine. She is married and has one child. Ambassadorial Seminar. She is a Foreign Ms. Sawatzki is “eager to serve as the AFSA vice president Service office management specialist and for FAS in order to advocate on behalf of FAS Foreign Service has served at the Department of State for officers and build a strong, sustainable and compassionate more than 20 years. She has been posted Foreign Service.” overseas in Belgrade, Moscow (twice), Tel Aviv, Managua, Zagreb, Brussels, Beijing and London before JOHN NALAND taking up her current assignment at FSI’s Leadership and RETIREE VICE PRESIDENT Management School, Executive Development Division. John Naland’s 29-year Foreign Service This is Ms. Wingerter’s second term serving on the AFSA career included service in Colombia, Governing Board. She looks forward to serving the entire Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico and Iraq membership and especially on specialist issues. She is mar- (as leader of the Provincial Reconstruction ried and has two grown daughters. Team in Basra). Assignments in Washing- ton, D.C., included the Secretary’s policy planning staff, the White House situation room and the Bureau

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JOSH GLAZEROFF education from the University of Alabama in 1996 and an M.A. STATE REPRESENTATIVE in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2010. Josh Glazeroff has 20 years of experience Born and raised in Alabama, Mr. McDowell and his family now in the Foreign Service. He has served over- live in Fairfax, Virginia. seas in Santo Domingo, Durban and New Mr. McDowell ran for the AFSA Governing Board because “he Delhi. His postings in Washington, D.C, wanted to help protect our Foreign Service and help explain what include Burma desk officer, career devel- we do and why it matters to the American people.” opment officer in the Bureau of Human Resources, senior watch officer in the Operations Center and MATTHEW HILGENDORF manager of the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs for the FCS ALTERNATE Bureau of Consular Affairs. He currently serves as the chief of REPRESENTATIVE recruitment outreach for the State Department. Matthew Hilgendorf is a commercial Mr. Glazeroff was born in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in officer with the U.S. Commercial Service, Newburgh, New York, and earned a bachelor’s degree in biol- currently assigned to the Inter-American ogy from Harvard College and a master’s degree in teaching Development Bank in Washington, D.C. biology from Brown University. Prior to his assignment to the IADB, Mr. Hilgendorf supported Department of Commerce work in the LAWRENCE W.K. CASSELLE South Asia region as principal commercial officer in Kolkata, and STATE REPRESENTATIVE in Washington, D.C., as a member of the U.S.-India Strategic and Lawrence W. K. Casselle joined the State Commercial Dialogue coordinating team. Department as a Diplomatic Security spe- A native of New Mexico, he is a graduate of American cial agent in 2003. Mr. Casselle is currently University and the United World College of the Adriatic. He serving as deputy director in the Office of has previously served overseas in Chile and Mexico, and in the Intelligence Operations & Oversight in the United States as an international trade specialist in Santa Fe, Bureau of Intelligence & Research. New Mexico. Mr. Casselle previously served as the Diplomatic Security Mr. Hilgendorf stood for office with AFSA because he branch chief for Overseas Protective Operations, Facilities believes that “when you have an opportunity to make a posi- Protection Division; in the State Department’s Operations tive contribution, you must take it—both for your own good Center; on the protective detail for Secretary of State Con- and the good of your organization.” doleezza Rice and in Diplomatic Security’s New York Field Office. His overseas assignments include United Arab Emir- THOM WRIGHT ates, Afghanistan and Belize. A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, FAS ALTERNATE he is a 1998 graduate of Hampton University with a bachelor’s REPRESENTATIVE degree in political science. Thom Wright joined the Foreign Agricul- Mr. Casselle served on the AFSA Governing Board as a tural Service in 2006 and has served in State Representative from 2015 to 2017 and currently serves New Delhi and Jakarta. He is currently the on the Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board. deputy director of the FAS Office of Public Affairs. Mr. Wright holds a bachelor’s MARTIN MCDOWELL degree in French from Evergreen State College and a master’s STATE REPRESENTATIVE degree in agricultural economics from Michigan State Univer- Martin McDowell joined the Foreign sity. He grew up in Washington state and enjoys cycling when Service in 1998 and currently serves he is not spending time with his wife and two children. as the deputy director in the Office for Mr. Wright appreciates the chance to serve as AFSA FAS Central Europe in the Bureau for European representative as he believes strong dialogue between man- and Eurasian Affairs. Previous overseas agement and officers of all levels is essential for a healthy and assignments include Slovakia, El Salvador, robust Foreign Service. Moldova and Slovenia. In Washington, Mr. McDowell also worked as a special assistant to the under secretary for political affairs and as the desk officer for Norway and Sweden. He received an M.A. in

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STEVEN HERMAN Southern Europe, executive director to the special envoy for BBG REPRESENTATIVE the Multilateral Assistance Initiative and director of the Office Steven L. Herman is the White House of Cambodian Genocide Investigations. He earned a B.A. from bureau chief for the Voice of America. Georgetown University and master’s degrees from New York The veteran correspondent has been a University and the National War College. member of the Foreign Service since 2007, Since retiring in 2003, Amb. La Porta chaired the South- when he was named VOA’s South Asia east Asia area studies course at the Foreign Service Insti- bureau chief, based in New Delhi. Subse- tute, serves part-time in the State Department’s Bureau of quent overseas posts include Seoul and Bangkok. Mr. Herman Political-Military Affairs and is a consultant on Asian affairs to returned to the United States in 2016 to cover diplomacy, the U.S. Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since 2009 he based at the State Department, before moving to cover the has advised the Joint Staff/J7 and the U.S. Africa Command, new administration shortly after the inauguration. headquartered in Germany, regarding military exercise pro- Mr. Herman spent 16 years living in Tokyo and working in grams. In 2008-2009, he served as chief of party for Develop- media before joining VOA as a staff correspondent. A former ment Alternatives International on a USAID project to advise news reporter for the Associated Press, he began his career the foreign ministry in Pristina, Kosovo. in radio and television news in Las Vegas, Nevada. Originally Amb. La Porta served as president of AFSA in 1997, and from Cincinnati, Ohio, he is a graduate of Thomas Edison served as State vice president before that. He was first State University and holds an M.A. in public diplomacy from elected as a retiree representative in 2015. Mountain State University. Mr. Herman is a former president of both the Foreign PHILIP SHULL Correspondents’ Club of Japan and the Seoul Foreign Corre- RETIREE REPRESENTATIVE spondents’ Club. He is also a governor of the Overseas Press Philip Shull retired in 2016 after 31 years Club of America. He ran for office with AFSA because he “felt with the Foreign Agricultural Service. A an obligation to ensure that BBG/IBB/VOA members of the native of Wooster, Ohio, his interest in Foreign Service have representation.” food security and international relations was sparked from living as a boy in India, JOHN (J.J.) HURLEY where he saw severe malnutrition. APHIS REPRESENTATIVE Mr. Shull’s work maximizing exports of U.S. food and John (J.J.) Hurley joined the U.S. Depart- agricultural products and promoting global food secu- ment of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant rity included trade negotiations, capacity building, food Health Inspection Service in 2002. In 2006 safety, biotechnology, marketing and promotion, scientific he joined the APHIS Foreign Service. He exchange and economic analysis. His overseas assign- has held overseas assignments in Panama ments included Korea, Argentina (including Uruguay and and Guatemala, where he was responsible Paraguay), Hong Kong, Philippines and three tours in China. for overseeing binational and multilateral programs control- His final position was minister counselor for agriculture in ling insect pests affecting animal and plant health. Beijing. Mr. Hurley currently serves in Washington, D.C., with Mr. Shull ran for AFSA office for many reasons, among APHIS’ Trade Support Team, handling sanitary and phytos- them to use his private-sector contacts to promote public anitary trade issues for Latin America. Prior to joining APHIS support for the Foreign Service, particularly in the heart- he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras. J.J. grew up in a land; to defend the Foreign Service against unjustified Foreign Service family and gained youthful experience work- resource cuts; to help ensure our Foreign Service continues ing in several embassies. He and his wife have four children. to promote the full range of our traditional diplomatic and economic interests; and to create opportunities for retirees AMBASSADOR to demonstrate the value of the Foreign Service by sharing ALPHONSE LA PORTA their knowledge, experience and insights in universities and RETIREE REPRESENTATIVE other forums. n During 38 years in the Foreign Service, Ambassador (ret.) Al La Porta served as ambassador to Mongolia, political adviser to the commander of NATO forces in

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Behind the Scenes at the AFSA Election AFSA Governing Board Meeting, June 7, 2017

Consent Agenda: The Governing Board approved the consent agenda items, which were: (1) acceptance of the resignation of Awards and Plaques Committee members Daniel Martinez, Patricia Norland, Bridgette Walker and Chair Annie Pforzheimer; (2) appointment of Kalpna Sri- mal as AFSA-PAC keeper of the records. FSJ Editorial Board: On behalf of the Editorial Board, State Representative Kara McDonald moved that the Governing Board approve the six candidates recom- mended to be Editorial Board members, and four candi- dates to be backup members. The motion was approved. AFSA/GEMMA DVORAK AFSA/GEMMA Without objection, current board member Eric Green was Member Services Representative Natalie Cheung (second from left) and Executive Director Ian Houston (right) process AFSA Governing Board approved as the new chair of the Editorial Board. election ballots received by mail at the AFSA headquarters building. Scholarship Donors: The Governing Board reviewed proposed internal policy guidelines for donors to the AFSA On the morning of June In total, 4,130 ballots Scholarship Fund. Following discussion, the policy guide- 8, members of the AFSA were cast this year: 3,152 lines were approved. n Committee on Elections online and 978 on paper, an gathered to count the votes increase in voter turnout cast in the 2017-2019 AFSA from the 2015 election. This Governing Board election. figure represents 25 percent AFSA Governing Following closure of the of AFSA members eligible Board Meeting, online voting platform at to vote. 8 a.m., a committee mem- AFSA thanks Commit- July 5, 2017 ber collected the paper tee on Elections members ballots from a post office Susan W. Wong (chair), This meeting was the final one for the 2015-2017 nearby and sorting began at Harold ‘Lee’ Brayman, Mort Governing Board. approximately 9:30 a.m. at Dworken, Christopher R. AFSA headquarters. Green, Francis A. Hall, David Standing Committees: AFSA President Ambassador All votes were checked C. McFarland, Peter J. Mol- Barbara Stephenson requested that members of the to ensure they fulfilled the berg and Curt Whittaker, for standing committees (listed in the bylaws) remain in requirements for eligibility. their hard work throughout place until the new Governing Board reviews committee Only two ballots were chal- the election process. membership. lenged as unclear. A full breakdown of the Special Committees: As per AFSA bylaws, Amb. Stephen- The committee mem- 2017-2019 election results son moved that the board discharge the special commit- bers worked meticulously can be found at www.afsa. tees established under the 2015-2017 Governing Board— to ensure there were no org/results-2017-2019-afsa- they are the Governance; Executive; Finance, Audit and irregularities in the process. governing-board-election. n Management; and Awards & Plaques Committees. Preliminary results were The motion was adopted. available around 1 p.m., Thanks: Amb. Stephenson thanked departing members and the final tallies were of the Governing Board for their service to AFSA and to the announced to the member- Foreign Service. n ship on June 9.

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Sinclaire Award Recipients in Action

Annually, AFSA recognizes than 300 members of the For- outstanding accomplishments eign Service who have been in the study of Category III or honored since the award was IV critical languages and their established in 1982. Here we associated cultures through highlight seven of this year’s the Matilda W. Sinclaire recipients as they use their Language Awards. Mastery language at post. and professional utilization of AFSA is now accepting foreign languages, and knowl- nominations for the 2018 edge of the culture of the host Sinclaire Awards; nomination Brian Corteville is the consular country, are invaluable skills in guidelines are available on the chief at U.S. Embassy Pristina, a the Foreign Service. AFSA website, www.afsa.org/ position which requires Albanian In 2017, AFSA recognized 11 sinclaire. n language skills. Here he enjoys a local restaurant cum bookstore. recipients, adding to the more “Në këte fotografi, jam duke pirë Mariana L. Neisuler is the deputy një macchiato në restorantin tim economic counselor at U.S. të preferuar, Soma. E dije ti që Embassy Amman. In April 2017, Ms. Kosova ka macchiatot më të mira Neisuler visited Jordan’s largest ne botë? Ashtu thuhet, të pakten Syrian refugee camp, Za’atri, where këtu në Kosovë!” Translation: In this she spoke in Arabic with many of photo, I’m drinking a macchiato in those who have been displaced. my favorite restaurant, Soma. Did Here Ms. Neisuler speaks with two you know that Kosovo has the best 5-year-olds who have spent their macchiatos in the world? That’s what whole lives in the camp. they say, at least here in Kosovo!

James Waterman is a consular Jacob Rocca (left) studied officer in Tbilisi, Georgia. Here he Japanese while serving in Pakistan. discusses an American citizen He is pictured at the Foreign services case using his Georgian Service Institute with FSI distance language skills. language mentor, Mariko Price (right).

FSO Gregory Aurit speaks about the benefits of studying in the United States to a group of Japanese high school students at Aoyama High School in Tokyo.

Assistant Regional Security Officer for Investigations Kevin Gonzalez gives a presentation to Chinese local staff during Consular Leadership Day. Using the local language, in this case Mandarin, during a presentation helps to Jacob Glenn uses Hindi daily as he interviews visa applicants at the U.S. build a connection with the audience, resulting in effective delivery of the embassy in New Delhi. He also utilizes his language skills as he conducts message. As an ARSO-I, conducting investigations in the local language visa outreach trips, like this one with students. helps build essential rapport with interviewees.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 75 AFSA NEWS AFSA CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARDS

Profiles of award recipients compiled by Gemma Dvorak.

F. ALLEN ‘TEX’ HARRIS AWARD FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT BY A FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALIST ELZAR T. CAMPER Diplomatic Security as a Leader on Security Initiatives

Mr. Camper’s dissent provided department leadership with specific recommendations.

order and, crucially, pro- points for DS working group vided department leader- sessions with the Bureau ship with a series of specific of Consular Affairs and recommendations to effect also during meetings with positive change. officials from the National In the dissent cable, Mr. Security Council to discuss Camper explained why he future security initiatives. felt current visa security ini- Speaking about the tiatives were not as effective significance of dissent, Mr. as they could be and also Camper said, “History has highlighted the threat of shown dissent is central to AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA Diplomatic Security Special Agent Elzar Camper receives the F. Allen ‘Tex’ outsourcing visa security to any democracy, and the sus- Harris award from Ambassador William Harrop. a third party agency. “Diplo- tainability of a healthy and matic Security most clearly productive organizational In January 2017, Spe- by the Bureau of Diplomatic understands the importance culture.” cial Agent Elzar Camper Security. of fairly and safely facili- Elzar Camper joined the authored a dissent cable Although Mr. Camper tating travel for all foreign Foreign Service in 2008. He encouraging the department believed that current inter- nationals who meet our has served in the Bureau to empower and promote agency efforts to screen visa nation’s requirements,” he of Diplomatic Security’s the Bureau of Diplomatic applicants were satisfac- said at the AFSA awards Washington Field Office and Security to fully imple- tory, he felt compelled to ceremony. He also stated overseas in Kabul and Kara- ment its visa and passport highlight what he saw as that the Diplomatic Security chi, and was most recently security program mandate deficiencies and a lack agency “should be promoted the assistant regional secu- overseas. of coherent policies from through interagency policy rity officer for investigations Mr. Camper noted that the State Department. In as the department’s leading (ARSO-I) in Cairo. n many of the objectives particular, State’s failure operational authority on spelled out in executive to support and promote overseas visa and passport order 13769 (Protecting the the Bureau of Diplomatic security initiatives.” Nation from Foreign Ter- Security as the interagency With his permission, Mr. rorist Entry into the United lead for ensuring visa and Camper’s cable was shared States) related directly to passport security overseas. with senior leaders in the the Department of State’s Mr. Camper’s well- Bureau of Diplomatic Secu- mandate as laid out in 22 researched and constructive rity, where it had an immedi- U.S. Code 4802 and 4807 dissent provided a neutral ate impact. The recommen- and to programs already and objective viewpoint on dations contained therein developed and implemented a controversial executive were used to create talking

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THE WILLIAM R. RIVKIN AWARD FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT BY A MID-LEVEL OFFICER WENDY BRAFMAN Protecting Vulnerable Children in Uganda

Wendy Brafman is described cials duped U.S.-citizen par- by her nominator as a pro- ents into beginning adoption tector of U.S.-citizen parents procedures for children who and vulnerable Ugandan were not actually orphans. children. Though Ms. Brafman Consular officers at U.S. saw these practices on Embassy Kampala had been the ground, she was con- raising concerns about tinually pressed to proceed adoptions in Uganda. Among with cases. The pressure their concerns was the fact came from the prospective that documentation was adoptive parents, attorneys frequently non-existent; if it and members of Congress JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA William R. Rivkin Award winner Wendy Brafman (center) with Ambassador did exist, documents were advocating on behalf of their Charles Rivkin (left) and AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson. often fraudulent. constituents. The award is named for Amb. Rivkin’s late father. The Ugandan government Cast as was not enforcing its own “anti-adoption,” families there as well as U.S. rules and policies, so vulner- Ms. Brafman citizens seeking to adopt. able children were being was vilified on Accepting the award, accepted for adoption and social media and Ms. Brafman thanked her rushed through the system harassed by pro- colleagues at Embassy without due diligence. In spective adoptive Kampala for “seeking what addition U.S. citizens were families. Adoption is right for U.S. citizens and being pressed to pay bribes, agencies even the Ugandan children they and adoption intermediaries advised their cli- sought to adopt.” Consider- COURTESY OF WENDY BRAFMAN WENDY OF COURTESY charged substantial fees. ents that Ms. Braf- Wendy Brafman at Embassy Kampala with her ing the need for constructive On her arrival at post in man was blocking colleague Naela, a member of the local staff there. dissent, she quoted William 2015, Ms. Brafman immedi- adoptions and that Faulkner: “Never be afraid to ately faced pressure to expe- they should not tell colleagues and then via raise your voice for honesty ditiously process immigrant the truth when attending the cables. She produced a body and truth and compassion visas for Ugandan children embassy for their interview of 15 reports outlining the against injustice and lying being adopted by American with a consular officer. preponderance of fraud and and greed.” citizens. However, on inves- Despite the challenges the fleecing of U.S.-citizen Wendy Brafman joined tigating, she discovered an she faced, Ms. Brafman con- parents that was occurring the Foreign Service in 2005. increasing number of unethi- tinued to conduct diligent in Uganda. She has served in Kinshasa, cal and fraudulent practices, reviews of all adoption cases Thanks to her diligence Cairo, Baghdad and Wash- including cases where the and report frequently on the and perseverance, Ms. ington, D.C., and is now con- birth family had been misled alarming fraud and illegal Brafman persuaded CA to sular chief in Kampala. Ms. about what would happen to conduct she and her con- ban a particular adoption Brafman has a B.A. in French their children. sular team were discovering. provider—not only in Uganda and foreign affairs from the The average U.S. family She also repeatedly but worldwide. The bureau University of Virginia and a pays more than $30,000 raised her concerns about is also considering formally J.D. from the University of in fees and expenses in an violations of Ugandan law suspending all adoptions South Carolina School of adoption. With profit to be and regulations, initially in Uganda to protect the Law. Her husband is also a made, adoption agency offi- in conversations with CA vulnerable children and their Foreign Service officer.n

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WILLIAM R. RIVKIN AWARD FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT BY A MID-LEVEL OFFICER MARIJU BOFILL, CECILIA CHOI, THOMAS WONG AND CHRISTINA LE Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Assignment Restrictions AFSA/TOYA SOBIN JORDAN JORDAN SOBIN AFSA/TOYA Former AAFAA presidents (left to right) Mariju Bofill, Cecilia Choi and Thomas Wong, with current president Christina Le (far right) at the AFSA Awards ceremony.

The issue of assignment influence or preference. Mariju Bofill first raised the retary of State in 2015 and, restrictions and advocacy They also noted that issue with then-Secretary of with current AAFAA president for a more transparent and employees of Asian American State Hillary Clinton in 2009. Christina Le, worked with the equitable process has long dissent were disproportion- The longest-serving president Bureau of Diplomatic Secu- been a priority for the Asian ally affected by such restric- of AAFAA, Ms. Bofill oversaw rity and AFSA to negotiate American Foreign Affairs tions, leading to a perception a 300-percent increase in the the language for an appeals Association. This is reflected of mistrust and a bias (con- association’s membership, mechanism. in the fact that not one, but scious or otherwise) against and increased representa- Ms. Le continued to raise four former and current Asian American colleagues. tion for Asian American and the matter with the Deputy presidents of the AAFAA The disparate treatment Pacific Islander employees. Secretary throughout 2016. were honored with the Rivkin diverted careers and led During her 2012-2013 She also brought the matter Award for Constructive Dis- some to resign in disillusion- term as AAFAA president, to AFSA President Barbara sent by a Mid-Level Foreign ment and frustration. Cecilia Choi worked with Stephenson and met fre- Service Officer. Assignment restrictions the Bureau of Diplomatic quently with State Vice Presi- The AAFAA presidents also hindered the depart- Security to try to come to a dent Angie Bryan (and VP argued that the assignment ment’s efforts to utilize its fair solution on assignment Matthew Asada before that), restrictions process did not diverse workforce, and denied restrictions. as well as with AFSA Labor have sufficient transparency, employees the opportunity Thomas Wong (president Management Counselor accountability and oversight, to apply their language and of AAFAA for two terms, Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan and was based on ill-defined cultural skills to the depart- 2014-2016) presented a white to discuss the status of the concerns regarding foreign ment’s benefit. paper to the Deputy Sec- process.

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Finally, in November 2016, Guayaquil, Matamoros and the Foreign Affairs Manual Athens. In 2011, she received was updated to include the the Department of State new regulations for an assign- Equal Employment Opportu- ment restriction appeals nity Award for her leadership process. and commitment to promot- The presidents of AAFAA ing diversity. She is accom- successfully advocated for panied in São Paulo by her language creating an appeals husband and their two young mechanism that ensures children. employees receive notifica- Cecilia Choi serves as tion of the factual grounds the director for trade and for their assignment restric- investment at the National tion, can address the security Security Council. Her most concerns and may request a recent overseas assignment second review. was in Honduras, and she has Collectively, they showed also served in South Korea great dedication, patience and Turkey. In Washington, and passion over the years, D.C., Ms. Choi has served in working respectfully within the Bureau of Western Hemi- the system to get to a positive sphere Affairs and the Bureau conclusion that will be benefi- of Economic and Business cial to AAFAA members and Affairs. other department employees. Thomas Wong is an eco- Accepting the award, each nomic-coned officer assigned of the recipients acknowl- to the American Institute in edged that there were many Taiwan in Taipei. He previously AAFAA members who had served in Guadalajara and had bravely stepped forward to consecutive tours in Wash- tell their stories, even though ington, D.C., in the Bureau of it may have been unpopular Western Hemisphere Affairs. to do so. Prior to joining the Foreign Mr. Wong said that recogni- Service in 2010, Mr. Wong tion of the AAFAA presidents served in the U.S. Army. His confirmed that “the voices of wife, Suzanne, is also a For- constructive dissent at any eign Service officer and the level, if spoken with dignity couple has two children. and respect, can resonate Christina T. Le serves as with department leaders, and the special assistant to the can contribute toward making assistant secretary of State State a more diverse, more for the Bureau of Intelligence honorable, and more perfect and Research. She has organization.” previously served in Athens Mariju Bofill joined the and Monterrey, as well as in Foreign Service in 2004. Cur- Washington, D.C. n rently posted to São Paulo, she has also served in Paris,

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THE MARK PALMER AWARD FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF DEMOCRACY RENÉ GUTEL Promoting Human Rights in China

As the human Family ing that a valued contact rights officer at U.S. members of has been detained. However, Embassy Beijing, those detained “despite the repression in René Gutel pro- without trial have China, there are reasons to moted fair treat- confirmed that hope,” she states. “Of the ment of dissenters their loved ones more than 300 lawyers and and political prison- received better activists detained two years ers by the Chinese treatment as a ago, only a handful are still in government. result of interna- pre-trial detention.” In China, politi- tional attention Most impressively, Ms. cal dissidents are to their cases, Gutel has helped keep routinely detained and lawyers human rights at the forefront without trial and have pointed of U.S. policy in China, while tortured. Friends to reduced still maintaining a produc- and family of known sentences for tive relationship with the AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA or suspected activ- Dr. Sushma Palmer, right, presents René Gutel with the so-called “dissi- Chinese government and ists are harassed Mark Palmer Award for the Advancement of Democracy at dents” whose tri- holding productive bilateral the AFSA awards ceremony on June 20. Dr. Palmer is the and threatened. But widow of Ambassador Mark Palmer, for whom the award is als are attended dialogues with authorities on through creative named. by diplomats. rights-related issues. engagement with U.S. embassy and consul- Ms. Gutel’s As a testament to her the diplomatic community in ates in China, Ms. Gutel advocacy for cooperative efforts, reliable partnerships Beijing and strong relation- helped develop and maintain action ultimately led to a have been formed between ships with the Chinese a strong stance on human precedent-setting joint state- the U.S. embassy and Chi- human rights community, rights abuses in China. “If ment at the United Nations nese authorities that will aid Ms. Gutel succeeded in we are to continue to be an Human Rights Council on diplomats as they navigate persuading the Chinese example to the world,” she March 10, 2016, where more the evolving relationship. government to take action says, “we must consistently than 12 countries registered René Gutel joined the on human rights where they represent universal values, their profound concern at Foreign Service in 2010 might not otherwise have including freedom of speech, China’s deteriorating human and currently serves as the done so. freedom of religion and free- rights record and particularly human rights officer at U.S. Considering the different dom of association.” the ongoing detention of Embassy Beijing. Her previ- goals and sometimes com- While standing firmly rights activists, civil society ous overseas assignments peting interests of the diplo- behind the United States’ leaders and lawyers. include the U.S. mission to matic community in China, it established position on Acting in concert with UNESCO in Paris and the can be daunting for diplo- human rights, Ms. Gutel other countries has rein- U.S. consulate in Shenyang. mats to raise rights-related worked with other embassies forced to Chinese authorities Before joining the Foreign issues, especially when many in China and expanded the that the United States does Service, Ms. Gutel was a pub- fear that focusing on China’s network of diplomats willing not stand alone on human lic radio journalist working human rights record would to work together to promote rights issues. at NPR member stations in undermine cooperation human rights. Their actions Accepting the award, Ms. Alaska, Pennsylvania and Ari- between the United States have included issuing state- Gutel acknowledged that zona. Ms. Gutel is married to and Chinese authorities. ments and jointly attending aspects of her role can be poet John Tynan; they have But by working with her the trials of detained human hard, including documenting two young children. n colleagues throughout the rights lawyers and advocates. instances of torture or learn-

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THE MARK PALMER AWARD FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF DEMOCRACY AMBASSADOR TULINABO MUSHINGI Upholding Democratic Principles in Burkina Faso

As U.S. ambassador to 2014, a civilian-led tran- Ouagadougou and then Burkina Faso, Tulinabo sitional government was working with a former Mushingi earned the moni- in power, and elections president of Burkina Faso, ker “Sid Pawalamde,” which were set for November the papal ambassador and means “truth is not whis- 2015. a cardinal to negotiate his pered” in Mooré, the local As the Burkinabe surrender and fair trial. language. people began to pre- Recognizing the In 2014, Amb. Mushingi pare for elections, Amb. importance of legitimate publicly voiced opposition to Mushingi continued to elections at this stage, a constitutional amendment, meet and engage with Amb. Mushingi renewed proposed by the ruling party, the different communi- calls to carry on with the which would allow then- ties in the country, using vote, never wavering, President Blaise Compaoré his car as a mobile even as other diplomats to extend his 27-year rule. By office to keep in touch discussed a delay. communicating the policies when traveling. On Nov. 29, 2015, free of the U.S. government clearly During this time, and transparent elections and consistently in public and according to his nomi- were held and, one month nation, Amb. Mushingi WWW.TWITTER.COM/USMEMBASSYOUAGA later, the new president private speeches and on social Following an attempted coup in September media, and by demonstrat- was “approached 2015, Ambassador Talinabo Mushingi sought took office. This marked ing the principles of good constantly by people an audience with deposed Prime Minister Isaac the first-ever peaceful Zida, who was then under house arrest. The thanking him for being transfer of power from governance in their day-to-day embassy tweeted a “proof-of-life” image, which activities, Amb. Mushingi and ‘their voice’.” helped prevent violence in the streets. The text one civilian president to the staff of American Embassy On Sept. 16, 2015, reads: “I have just met with Prime Minister Zida, another in Burkina Faso. and I can assure you that he is well.” Ouagadougou supported the only two months before Amb. Mushingi began Burkinabe people in their the election, the Presidential his diplomatic career work- efforts to oust a dictator. Security Regiment staged ing for the U.S. Peace Corps Insisting that Burkina a coup d’état, holding the in Papua New Guinea, the Faso needed “strong institu- interim president and prime Democratic Republic of Congo, tions, not strongmen,” Amb. minister hostage. Niger and the Central Afri- Mushingi called for nonvio- Amb. Mushingi condemned can Republic. He joined the lence and a peaceful transfer the takeover and called for the U.S. Foreign Service in 1989 of power as protests in the immediate reinstatement of and has served in Malaysia, country became an uprising in the transitional government. Mozambique, Morocco, Tan- COURTESY OF AMBASSADOR TULINABO TULINABO MUSHINGI AMBASSADOR OF COURTESY October 2014. Facing mount- He met with Prime Minister Ambassador Mushingi reads to zania, Zambia and Ethiopia, ing pressure from civilian Zida, then under house arrest, students at a school outside of as well as Washington, D.C. He protesters, Compaoré fled the and tweeted a “proof-of-life” Ouagadougou. Amb. Mushingi often received an M.A. from Howard travelled in intense heat to visit country and members of the picture, reassuring the public communities throughout Burkina University and a Ph.D. from military took power. and preventing many from Faso and tell them about the United Georgetown University. Since Amb. Mushingi called on taking to the streets seeking States. leaving Burkina Faso, he has the military figures in charge revenge. been confirmed by the Senate to hand over power to civilian Demonstrating his the extrajudicial killing of the as ambassador to Senegal authorities, to reinstate the profound respect for the leader of the coup, first by and, concurrently, ambassador constitution, and to hold free democratic process, Amb. securing sanctuary for him to Guinea-Bissau. n elections. By mid-November Mushingi also helped prevent with the Vatican’s embassy in

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NELSON B. DELAVAN AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE BY AN OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST DIANE CORBIN

Fostering Community in South Sudan

of information, opposition forces. Assuming When not occupied at the guidance and the role of auxiliary consular embassy, Ms. Corbin spent encouragement officer, Ms. Corbin fielded many hours volunteering at for the entire hundreds of calls from Ameri- a local orphanage. To foster a community. can citizens concerned for sense of community in Juba, In the their safety. she organized weekly trips absence of a She worked tirelessly to for FSOs to visit the orphan- community collect their information, age to work and play with the liaison officer which proved invaluable when children. at post, Ms. it became necessary to evac- When accepting the award, Corbin took on uate U.S. citizens from South Ms. Corbin paid tribute to that role as well, Sudan. During the evacuation, her colleagues (both FSOs

COURTESY OF DIANE CORBIN OF COURTESY reaching out to she remained at the airport and locally employed staff): Diane Corbin (center) reading with Innocent (left) “My colleagues assigned to and Cecilia (right), two young girls at the Confident newly assigned under tough conditions, work- Children out of Conflict home in Juba, South Sudan. staff before they ing to validate and protect Embassy Juba are the most arrived and pro- U.S. passport information. dedicated employees I have Presenting the Nelson B. viding photos and documents Ms. Corbin’s sense of com- served with in the 15 years of Delavan Award to Diane about life in Juba to ease their my Foreign Corbin, Ambassador Wil- entry to post. Her friendly and Service liam Harrop called the role of informative emails not only career. The office management specialist helped to prepare officers for American “indispensable” to the effec- arrival, but also allayed the staff bid on tiveness and ultimate success concerns of their loved ones South Sudan of the Foreign Service’s over- about assignments to this because they seas mission. remote post. care—they As the only office manage- Ms. Corbin did whatever want to make ment specialist (OMS) for the she could to orient FSOs, a difference. U.S. embassy in Juba, South make their jobs easier and The local Sudan, Ms. Corbin’s official improve their quality of life— staff work to COURTESY OF DIANE CORBIN OF COURTESY assignment was to the front from organizing weekly game Delavan Award winner Diane Corbin, at right, helps local make their office. However, that does nights to arranging for local women pump water in Juba, South Sudan. country a not begin to describe the vendors to visit the embassy better place.” contribution she made to the compound for a monthly munity came to the fore once Diane Corbin has two embassy community over the market. again when a staff member children and is a proud New 29 months she served there. South Sudan has been died suddenly at post. She Englander (Go Sox!). She As well as day-to-day living with civil unrest for not only accompanied his joined the Foreign Service tasks such as managing the four of the six years since it remains home to the United as an OMS in 2002 and ambassador’s schedule and gained independence; Juba States but has maintained has served in Guatemala, making sure she had all the is an unaccompanied post. contact with his family, Panama, Ethiopia and the materials necessary to do However, in July 2016, even offering comfort and helping Dominican Republic, as well her job, Ms. Corbin was the more intense fighting broke to process paperwork and as Washington, D.C. n point of contact and source out between government and provide resources for them.

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THE M. JUANITA GUESS AWARD FOR A COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICE COORDINATOR AUBREY DOWD Boosting Morale in Bangladesh

It is a testament to Aubrey acted as the lead point of con- Dowd’s skills as a community tact for embassy families left liaison officer (CLO) in Dhaka stranded outside the country that AFSA received two sepa- when authorized departure rate nominations for her to was declared in the middle of receive the M. Juanita Guess the school holidays. Ms. Dowd Award. provided regular updates In her first week on the and guidance on rules and COURTESY OF AUBREY DOWD AUBREY OF COURTESY job in August 2016, Ms. Dowd regulations for travel and Aubrey Dowd (left) and her colleague Kathy Love prepare the back yard was tasked with organizing allowances. of the chief of mission’s residence for the Embassy Dhaka Christmas a “meet and greet” for the “The calm throughout the potluck party. embassy community with stormy aftermath of autho- ees Association then-Secretary of State John rized departure” is how one Board, Interagency Kerry. On short notice, she nomination described Ms. Housing Board, planned detailed logistics for Dowd. Her approach proved Post Employment a great event that drew 400 so successful that the Family Committee, coun- people and was a significant Liaison Office and Office of try team and the morale boost for the com- Human Resources at the Emergency Action munity. It was a taste of what Department of State are Committee, among Embassy Dhaka could expect developing best practices other bodies. Dur- from their new CLO. based on her methods. ing each meeting, In the past two years, Under increasingly severe she represented the Dhaka has changed from a security restrictions, it would needs and wants of post where children attended have been easy to give up on the community and a local school and families arranging events. Instead, crafted mecha- AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA walked freely to one with a Ms. Dowd worked overtime Aubrey Dowd receives the M. Juanita Guess nisms to relay curfew and movement restric- to boost the morale of the Award from Jon Clements. The award is named critical information for Mr. Clements’ mother. tions. Following an attack on community. Working closely back to the greater July 1, 2016, at a Western style with the Regional Security community as restaurant in which 22 people Office to arrange trips to chologist and Regional Medi- necessary. (including a U.S. citizen) were local shops and restaurants, cal Officer to create and dis- Aubrey Dowd has been killed, the post was approved she increased the number of tribute a post morale survey. A affiliated with the United for authorized departure. events from three to 15 per separate survey was created States military and govern- On her own initiative, Ms. month. She even donated her for eligible family members ment for her entire life, first as Dowd created a comprehen- own laptop to ensure that an evacuated during authorized a dependent, then a spouse sive database of all personnel embassy trivia night could go departure. Believed to be the and finally as an employee. that filled critical information ahead after the failure of the first such survey, it will allow She has a B.S. in early child- gaps and allowed embassy provided equipment. the department to better hood education from Augusta leadership to quickly answer As authorized departure evaluate the effect of evacua- State University and plans to questions relating to depart- continued into late 2016, Ms. tion on family members. pursue a master’s degree in ing families. Dowd worked closely with the Ms. Dowd sat on the social work when she returns During this time, she also Regional Medical Officer-Psy- American Embassy Employ- to the United States. n

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THE AVIS BOHLEN AWARD FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER HENRY THROOP Inspiring Young Children with Science

volunteer work has directly they also love what happens supported the mission goals in their own country. And by at each of his posts. seeing that their own coun- At the awards ceremony try is part of these collabora- on June 20, Dr. Throop tions, they can be directly reminded the audience that involved in these huge world- a number of scientific break- wide science projects.” throughs and successes He also noted that this have been brought about by is only the second time international collaboration. the Avis Bohlen Award He mentioned the largest has been given to a male telescope in the southern eligible family member. “I’m hemisphere, which is a joint happy to push that number COURTESY OF HENRY THROOP HENRY OF COURTESY Henry Throop sets up a telescope at Madikweng Senior Secondary school project built in South Africa up, in support of all of the in Limpopo, South Africa, for the students to see the moon and the rings of with partners from India, great women that the State Saturn. New Zealand, Poland and Department now has rising the United States—coun- in their ranks,” he said. It is not often that kids from Limpopo, South Africa, he tries working together to Dr. Throop is a senior a rural area get to meet a spent the day giving three accomplish things that scientist with the Planetary “real NASA scientist,” much long talks—and answer- simply weren’t possible 20 Science Institute in Tucson, less one as enthusiastic and ing engaging and inven- years ago. Arizona, where his research positive as Henry Throop. tive questions from the “These sorts of inter- focuses on the outer solar An astrophysicist who students—followed by an national projects inspire system. He is currently living works as a contractor evening observation session, students,” Dr. Throop said on in Mumbai with his wife, FSO on several NASA-funded where students and teach- accepting the award. “They Heidi Hattenbach, and their missions and projects, Dr. ers alike queued long in to love what the U.S. does, but three children. n Throop volunteers a sig- the night to view the rings nificant portion of time each of Saturn through one of his week to conduct unpaid telescopes. science-based outreach with In India, Dr. Throop has underserved students. spoken at schools for disad- During his wife’s post- vantaged children in Mumbai ings in Mumbai, Pretoria and delivered a lecture at the and Mexico City (as well American Center in Kolkata. as Washington, D.C.), By building people-to- Dr. Throop worked with people ties, encouraging embassy public affairs sec- kids to pursue careers in tions to organize outreach STEM (science, technology, opportunities and talks engineering and mathemat- across Mexico, India and ics) fields, and helping to South Africa. These have develop bilateral space- reached tens of thousands science relationships with JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA Henry Throop (center) with Mette Beecroft (left), who presented the award of students. each country where he on behalf of the Bohlen family, and AFSA President Ambassador Barbara At a typical event held in has worked, Dr. Throop’s Stephenson (right).

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AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ASSOCIATION JOHN S. WOOD Retirees: A Force Outside the “Beltway Bubble”

team, because he has the benefit of being outside the “Beltway bubble” and is in touch with the interests and world views of those not liv- ing in Washington, D.C. This perspective is invaluable to AFSA as the association aims to reach out to different communities across the United States and let them know how the Foreign Service works for them. He is exactly the type of retiree member that AFSA needs: dedicated, engaged, persistent and with a deep AFSA/TOYA JORDAN SARNO AFSA/TOYA Achievement and Contributions to the Association Award recipient John Wood (left) with AFSA President love of his profession. Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, who nominated him for the award. Accepting the award, Mr. Wood noted: “Geographi- cally dispersed groups like diplomats, their families “If all Foreign Service retir- of diplomacy, or its role as high-caliber speakers, from and friends can be a huge ees were like John, we could a labor union representing former ambassadors to force for good, given a few create a strong domestic Foreign Service members. academics. resources and encouraged constituency in no time As president of The For- It is worth noting that, to be creative.” He also at all,” said AFSA Presi- eign Service Group–Texas, in although this award does encouraged those present dent Ambassador Barbara Austin, Mr. Wood has been not take financial contri- to visit The Foreign Service Stephenson, introducing a tireless advocate for the butions into account, The Group–Texas’ website, www. John S. Wood, recipient of Foreign Service. Through his Foreign Service Group– tfsg.org for information the 2017 AFSA Award for efforts, the group punches Texas makes an annual about their activities. Achievements and Contribu- well above its weight when contribution to the Fund for Mr. Wood was born in tions to the Association, at it comes to events, outreach American Diplomacy, AFSA’s Winnipeg, Canada, and the June 20 ceremony. and influence. 501(c)(3) organization dedi- holds a B.S. and MBA, both This award recognizes In 2016, The Foreign cated to raising awareness from Columbia University. an active-duty or retired Service Group was by far of the Foreign Service and A 17-year veteran of the AFSA member of any of the most active in AFSA’s diplomacy. Foreign Commercial Service, the foreign affairs agen- campaign to place letters Mr. Wood is a proactive Mr. Wood served in Cal- cies represented by AFSA to the editor highlighting AFSA member, brimming gary, Mexico City, Mumbai, who has made a significant Foreign Service Day in Texas with ideas about how to tell Bangkok, Seoul, and posts (non-monetary) contribu- newspapers. The group the story of the Foreign Ser- in Washington, D.C., before tion to the association in its holds regular luncheons vice to the American public. retiring in 2001. n role either as a professional that bring together Foreign His insights are extremely association of practitioners Service retirees and attract valuable to AFSA’s outreach

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AFSA Award Runners-Up

MARK PALMER AWARD RUNNER-UP English speaking nannies. He researched local preschools and MARIA BARRÓN organized a playgroup for children from the diplomatic com- munity. At the start of Maria Barrón’s posting to Embassy With tight security restrictions still in place, Mr. Murphy Kathmandu in 2011 as the director of USAID persuaded members of the community to contribute to its Mission Nepal’s Democracy and Governance social activities. Thanks to him, embassy community mem- Office, the country’s political leaders signed an bers now volunteer to lead salsa lessons, crossfit workouts, agreement that furthered the peace process cooking lessons and other activities. He also established a begun five years earlier which had ended a decade wellness committee to address morale concerns. of civil war and stalled development. The new Algiers was one of the few posts without a video in the agreement called for reintegrating Maoist combatants, drafting Overseas Briefing Center, so Mr. Murphy developed one, a new constitution, holding new elections and restructuring the showing the joys and challenges of living in Algeria. Several state. new arrivals stated that the video had persuaded them to bid Ms. Barrón played an instrumental role in interpreting the on a post they might never have considered otherwise. opaque political landscape and advising where U.S. involve- Mr. Murphy is an eligible family member married to Carolyn ment could best help achieve the peace process milestones. S. Murphy and has previously been posted to the U.S. Mission Ms. Barrón’s insight and ability to quickly reorient pro- to NATO. Prior to that, he served for 22 years as U.S. Army offi- gramming enabled the U.S. government to take advantage of cer, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2013. new opportunities. With the support of her team, Ms. Bar- rón managed a complex portfolio of programs that have had NELSON B. DELAVAN AWARD RUNNER-UP tangible and far-reaching impact, such as the reintegration JUDITH BROWN of nearly 20,000 Maoists into society and assistance in the November 2013 elections. While the Republic of Cameroon fought Boko Following the earthquakes in 2015, Ms. Barrón also cre- Haram militants in the Lake Chad Basin region, atively expanded Embassy Kathmandu’s counter-trafficking Judith Brown served with great distinction in persons and local governance programs into the most- as office management specialist (OMS) to affected districts. the chief of mission (COM) at U.S. Embassy Ms. Barrón skillfully guided and shaped U.S. foreign policy, Yaoundé. married development and diplomacy skills, and navigated the As U.S. security assistance increased in Cameroon, and complex political structures to support Nepal through a defin- with the everyday work of promoting security and good ing moment in its history. Ms. Barrón’s previous posts include governance, managing pandemic health risks and promoting USAID missions in Afghanistan and Mexico. private sector investment, the pace of the front office became frenetic. But Ms. Brown “brought Zen calm” to the chaos, M. JUANITA GUESS AWARD RUNNER-UP according to her nomination. MICHAEL MURPHY Arriving as the political-economic OMS, Ms. Brown stepped into the role of COM OMS following a sudden retirement. When In the last two years, U.S. Embassy Algiers has staffing gaps left Ms. Brown as the sole OMS at post for several undergone a massive transition from a hard-to- months, she quickly adapted, transforming the front office from fill post to one that is family-friendly, brimming a place of tension and drama to a place people enjoyed visiting. with community and cultural activities. Com- In addition to her regular duties, Ms. Brown chairs the munity Liaison Officer Mike Murphy led the Interagency Housing Board, ensuring fairness to the point wave of change, demonstrating extraordinary that not a single appeal has been raised to the front-office leadership as the embassy transformed itself. level during her tenure. Though it is unusual for a second- An unaccompanied posting for many years due to terrorist tour OMS to chair the IAHB, Ms. Brown’s position reflects the threats, Embassy Algiers had no resources in place to support broad respect she commands across all sections and agen- families. Mr. Murphy improved the embassy’s approach to cies at post. n community support, from sourcing baby supplies to recruiting

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Celebrating Foreign Service Youth Achievements AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA AFSA/JOAQUIN AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (far right) and Scholarship Committee Chair Ambassador (ret.) Lange Schermerhorn (far left) with the nine local winners of AFSA Merit Award scholarships at the July 7 award ceremony.

On July 7, the American Foreign Service Association honored its 2017 Merit Award winners and sponsors in a first-time joint ceremony with sister Foreign Service organizations at the State Department’s George C. Marshall Center. More than 55 students, living in the United States or at posts overseas from ages 5 to 18, were honored as awards were presented by AFSA, Associates of the American For- eign Service Worldwide, the Overseas Briefing Center and the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Resources Constance Dierman gave the keynote address. The Family Liaison Office was instrumental in providing administrative support. AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson and AFSA Scholarship Committee Chair Ambassador (ret.) Lange Schermerhorn presented awards to nine recipients (out of 24 AFSA awardees) who were present at the ceremony. In her remarks, Amb. Stephenson praised the resilience of children in Foreign Service families, and recognized the hard work of those receiving awards at the ceremony. AFSA recipients in attendance were Claudia Amadeo- Luyt; Emma Bachman; Peter Huson, accepting for his brother, Scott; Harry Kamian; Marianna Karagiannnis; Jules Levy; Jarrah May; Alice Naland and Jane O’Connor. Also present were AFSA Merit Award donors John and Priscilla Becker, Jim Elmore of Embassy Risk Management, Continued on page 90

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 87 AFSA NEWS

Meet the 2017 AFSA Merit Award Winners

1. Emma Bachman – daughter 7. Hannah Gage — daughter of Brian (State) and Jan Fischer of John (State) and Ok Gage, Bachman, graduated from graduated from The American Thomas Jefferson High School School in Switzerland (TASIS), for Science and Technology, Lugano, Switzerland. She plans Alexandria, Virginia. She plans to attend Ohio State University. to attend the University of Okla- homa and received the Embassy 8. Scott Huson — son of Risk Management Academic Tim Huson (State) and Anne 1 5 Merit Award. Braghetta (State), graduated from The Country Day School, 2. Isaac Burkhalter – son of San Rafael de Alajuela, Costa Edward (State) and Susan Rica. He plans to attend Brown Burkhalter, graduated from Saint University. Maur International School, Yoko- hama, Japan. He plans to attend 9. Harry Kamian — son of Robin the University of Virginia and Dunnigan (State) and Harry received the Louis C. and Valeria Kamian (State), graduated from Hebert Memorial Academic Washington-Lee High School, Merit Award. Arlington, Virginia. He plans to attend Williams College and 3. Adrianna Carter – daughter received the Donald S. Memo- of Mark (State) and Malynda rial and Maria Giuseppa Spigler 2 6 Carter, graduated from Ameri- Academic Merit Award. can School of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. She plans to attend 10. Marianna Karagiannis — the University of Virginia and daughter of Alexander Kara- received a Care First Blue Cross giannis (State) and Katherine Blue Shield Academic Merit Ingmanson, graduated from Award. J.E.B. Stuart High School, Falls Church, Virginia. She plans to 4. William Clements — son attend the University of Chicago of Sue Saarnio (State), gradu- and received the Promax Man- ated from McLean High School, agement Academic Merit Award. McLean, Virginia. He plans to attend the College of William and 11. Augustus “Gus” Kmetz — Mary and received the John and son of John (State) Kmetz and 3 7 Priscilla Becker Family Academic Dr. Loretta Bass, graduated from Merit Award. Norman High School, Norman, Oklahoma. He plans to attend 5. Evan Dastin-van Rijn — son Brown University and received of Michele (State) and Paul a Joanna and Robert Martin Dastin-van Rijn, graduated from Academic Merit Award. St. John’s International School, Waterloo, Belgium. He plans to 12. Seamus Lawton — son attend Brown University and of Daniel Lawton (State) and received a Joanna and Robert Paula Hawkins, graduated from Martin Academic Merit Award. Methodist College Belfast, Bel- fast, United Kingdom. He plans 6. Vidalia Freeman — daughter to attend Amherst College and of Jeremy (State) and Cheryl received the Turner C. Cameron 4 8 Freeman, graduated from Ameri- Jr. Memorial Academic Merit can School of Doha, Doha, Qatar. Award. She plans to attend Utah State University.

88 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

13. Alice Naland — daughter of Art Honorable John Naland (State-retired) and Barbara Reioux, graduated from Mention Winners Washingon-Lee High School, Jarrah May — son of Kent Arlington, Virginia. She plans (State) and Melanie May, gradu- to attend UCLA and received a ated from Redondo Union High Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield School, Redondo Beach, Cali- Academic Merit Award. fornia. He is attending Temple University – Tyler School of Art. 14. Jane O’Connor — daughter of Matthew O’Connor (State) Art Commended and Dawn Park, graduated from Urbana High School, Ijamsville, Winners 9 13 Maryland. She plans to attend Lillian Bills — daughter of Hillsdale College. Thomas (State) and Rebecca Bills, is graduating from Inter- Academic Merit national Community School of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She Honorable Mention plans to attend Brigham Young Winners University. Claudia Amadeo-Luyt—daugh- ter of Stefanie Amadeo (State), Ian Boly — son of Richard graduated from United Nations (State-Retired) and Wendy International School, New Plummer Boly, graduated from York, New York, and will attend Walt Whitman High School, Barnard College, Columbia Bethesda, Maryland. He plans to University. She received an attend Virginia Commonwealth 10 14 AFSA Academic Honorable University School of Arts. Mention Award, the AFSA Best Essay Award and the Linda K. Jules Levy — son of James Fitzgerald Memorial Community Levy (State) and Bonita Shuen, Service Award. graduated from George Mason High School, Falls Church, Jane Christensen—daughter Virginia. He is attending George of Darin (State) and Elizabeth Mason University. Christensen, is graduating from George Mason High School, Falls Katrina Sliter — daughter of Dr. Church, Virginia, and will attend Karen (APHIS) and David Sliter, Brigham Young University. graduated from International School of Brussels, Brussels, Art Winner Belgium. She is attending Ben- 11 15 nington College. 15. Grace Thompson — daugh- ter of Dean (State) and Jane Thompson, graduated from Community Service American International School of Winner Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania. 16. Claudia Amadeo-Luyt – She plans to attend Miami Uni- see her biography above and versity and received the Louis C. visit www.afsa.org/scholar for and Valeria Hebert Memorial Art information about her commu- Merit Award (Creative Writing). nity service. n

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THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 89 AFSA NEWS

Kennan Award Salutes Strong Writing

Each June, the AFSA-spon- currently serving as deputy sored George F. Kennan director of economic policy Strategic Writing Award is in the Bureau for Western bestowed on a distinguished Hemisphere Affairs. He previ- Foreign Service graduate ously served three-year tours during the National War as the chief economic officer College’s award and distin- in Guangzhou and Tirana. guished graduate recognition He also served in Mexico ceremony. City and Kyiv, and as Serbia This year’s Kennan Award desk officer in Washington, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE WAR THE NATIONAL OF COURTESY winner is David Schroeder, D.C. Prior to joining the State Kennan Award winner David Schroeder (center) receives his certificates an AFSA member who was Department, Mr. Schroeder from USAF Brigadier General Darren E. Hartford (right) and Ambassador honored for his individual practiced law as a trial attor- Paul Wohlers (left), commandant and vice commandant of the National War College, respectively. strategic research project, ney for 11 years in Alexandria, “Ethiopia: The Long and Short Virginia. that “George Kennan was a deeper ways that can refresh of It.” He is a graduate of the hero of mine.” and reframe how the Foreign The award is given to a University of Virginia and Asked about his experi- Service views its work. Foreign Service officer for obtained his law degree from ence at the National War Col- AFSA congratulates each the cumulative effort of his the College of William and lege, Mr. Schroeder empha- of the eight members of the or her research project and Mary. He is married to a fellow sized the value of being able Foreign Service who were the individual’s overall writing career diplomat, Roxanne to take a year to think more honored with National War throughout the academic Cabral. The couple has three deeply about the strategies College writing awards this year. In addition to the Ken- sons. employed by the Foreign year, including AFSA mem- nan award, Mr. Schroeder Mr. Schroeder said that it Service. He urged his col- bers Mark Schapiro and received an award for the best was an honor and “extremely leagues at the Department of Natalie A. Baker. n short essay in his course. gratifying” to receive this State to seek similar assign- Mr. Schroeder is an FSO prestigious award, adding ments, to think in slower and

Honoring Foreign Service Youth, Continued from page 87

Gayle Nelson time they applied. This year, ships. AFSA would like to of CareFirst for the first time ever, the thank the members of the BlueCross Animal and Plant Health AFSA Scholarship Commit- BlueShield and Inspection Service had an tee and 14 other AFSA mem- Ron Riddell of AFSA Merit winner. Congrat- ber volunteers who judged Promax Man- ulations to Katrina Sliter, this year’s submissions. agement, who daughter of Dr. Karen Sliter For more information on sponsored an and her husband David, the AFSA Scholarship Pro- award for the who won an Art Merit Com- gram and to view the Merit first time. mended Award. Awards winners, please Of the 24 This year, a total of 106 visit www.afsa.org/scholar. Merit Award high school seniors submit- A recording of the awards AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA AFSA/JOAQUIN recipients, 11 ted applications for AFSA’s ceremony is available on the Young attendees admire some of the winning artwork at a reception following the award were located academic, art and commu- AFSA website, www.afsa. ceremony. overseas at the nity service merit scholar- org/video. n

90 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL IN MEMORY

n James H. Feldman, 92, a retired can Foreign Service Association and Mrs. Krebs was deeply invested in Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Infor- DACOR. her life as a diplomat’s wife. She and her mation Agency, died on May 26 at his Mr. Feldman leaves behind four chil- husband strongly believed that they were home in Silver Spring, Md., of cancer. dren: James H. Feldman Jr. of Philadel- equal partners in this career, a dedicated A native of Chicago, Ill., Mr. Feld- phia, Pa., Regina Koch of Silver Spring, and interdependent team. This was the man was a veteran of World War II and Md., Susan Madden of Sterling, Va., and Foreign Service ethos in those days and a graduate of the University of Illinois, Henry Feldman of Pikesville, Md.; and Mrs. Krebs had all the qualities that where he was a member of the Beta Tau three grandchildren. made her a successful example of what fraternity. the diplomat’s wife could contribute. Before joining USIA (now part of the n Esther Winn Krebs, 95, the widow She took on the many challenges of this Department of State) in 1962, he worked of Ambassador Max Vance Krebs, died in life with her characteristic gusto, strong for the Chicago Bureau of the former Greenfield, Mass., on July 3, 2016. sense of humor and positive, take-charge International News Service, the Des Esther Winn was born in Karuizawa, attitude. Moines Register and the Cincinnati Post. Japan, the daughter of Presbyterian mis- In their farewell address to Mrs. While in Cincinnati, he also served as a sionaries. At the age of 7 she returned to Krebs, the Buenos Aires Embassy correspondent for the Wall Street Journal Massachusetts, where she spent the rest of Women described her leadership style and McGraw Hill Publications. her childhood. She received her B.A. from with this tribute: “Power and authority Mr. Feldman served as an informa- Smith College in 1942 and then married may compel, but such things as good- tion officer and press attaché in India, Max Vance Krebs, who was in military ness, friendship, love and truth invite.” Belgium and Indonesia. In New Delhi he service during World War II. In 1974, Max Krebs was appointed was editor of The American Reporter, an In 1948 the young couple began their ambassador to Georgetown, Guyana. embassy biweekly publication aimed at long career representing the American The couple retired in 1976 and settled in explaining American foreign policy. people and the American government in the Pinehurst area of North Carolina. During a Washington, D.C., tour diplomatic assignments to Montevideo During their time there, Mrs. Krebs he served as editor of USIA’s East Asia (1948-1950), Bogota (1950-1952), Ant- served on the boards, and as president, Wireless File and as country officer for werp (1952-1955), Manila (1960-1964), of both the local arts council and the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island Rio de Janeiro (1964-1967), Guatemala local chapter of the National Alliance on countries. City (1967-1970), the Panama Canal Zone Mental Illness. Following retirement from the Foreign (1970-1971) and Buenos Aires (1971- An accomplished singer, she partici- Service in 1983, Mr. Feldman served for 1974). pated in church choirs, singing groups two years as Washington correspondent In 1955, the Krebs returned to the and charity performance events. She for the Indonesian Observer, an English- United States, where Mr. Krebs took up an played tennis into her 80s, and friends language daily published in Jakarta. assignment as special assistant to Under and family members recall her as a “dan- He also served for 15 years as a Secretary of State Christian Herter. When gerous” bridge player. She and Mr. Krebs reviewer with the Department of State Herter became Secretary of State on the continued to enjoy traveling abroad, Office of Contemporary Documents death of John Foster Dulles, Mr. Krebs always exploring new places. Review and for six years as a volunteer remained in his role as special assistant Ambassador Krebs died in 2006. In with the Montgomery County Police until 1960. 2010 Mrs. Krebs moved to Greenfield, Department. During their tour in Guatemala, U.S. Mass., to be near family members. Mr. Feldman was active in community Ambassador John Gordon Mein was Mrs. Krebs leaves her son, Timothy affairs at Riderwood Village Retirement assassinated by communist guerrillas. Max Krebs, and her daughter, Marlynn Krebs Community in Silver Spring, Md., for Krebs, who was then the deputy chief of Clayton (and her husband, Garry Krin- almost 16 years, serving three terms as mission, was suddenly thrust into the role sky) both of Greenfield, Mass. She also secretary, information officer and chair of “acting ambassador.” Mrs. Krebs served leaves a grandson, Sasha Winn Clayton, of the Resident Advisory Council. with great strength and courage during this who lives in Washington, D.C. He was also a member of the Ameri- frightening and tumultuous time.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 91 n Selena Nelson-Salcedo, 38, an n Sharon Elspeth Oper, 76, a retired of whom—“Two-Two”—survives her active-duty FSO serving as U.S. consul in Foreign Service office management spe- and has been lovingly adopted by local Bratislava, died suddenly there on June 4. cialist, died on June 2 in Longboat Key, Fla. friends with an African grey of their own. A native of Minnesota, Mrs. Nelson- A native of New Jersey, Ms. Oper was Ms. Oper loved animals, and many Salcedo earned a bachelor’s degree from born on Jan. 16, 1941. Her entry into public friends remember the little dog she the University of Wisconsin and a master’s service began in the early 1970s when she had early in her career. She never degree from the Humphrey School of Pub- was hired as an aide to Representative allowed herself another pup, however, lic Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Bella Abzug (D-N.Y.). because she knew she would be travel- She joined the U.S. Foreign Service in She established and managed two ing too often to give a dog the affec- 2008 and had served in Santo Domingo congressional offices, worked as a field tion it deserved. But she couldn’t resist and in Kuala Lumpur prior to her assign- representative and program analyst for the Two-Two, or the hundreds of birds she ment to Bratislava in 2014. Known for Head Start program, and held professional photographed on the beach just near her innovation and customer service in status in the Department of Housing and home. consular affairs, she was the recipient of Urban Development’s Office of Congres- Known as “Fluffy” to many in the several Superior and Meritorious Honor sional Relations before joining the Foreign Foreign Service (owing to a coat she once Awards from the State Department. Service in 1974. wore), Ms. Oper was a member of Temple Mrs. Nelson-Salcedo was an enthu- Ms. Oper enjoyed overseas postings in Beth Israel, and a member of a syna- siastic and skilled student of foreign Chile, Spain, Zaire (now the Democratic gogue in every country in which she lived languages and relished exploring cultures; Republic of the Congo), Pakistan, Thailand throughout her career. She had a lifelong at her untimely death she spoke five and Kenya during her 20-year Foreign passion for international cultures and languages fluently. Her passion for civil Service career from 1974 to 1994. cuisine and for tennis, and was a stead- rights and social justice was reflected in During her last assignment, she was fast supporter of the Democratic Party. her excellent work as a diplomat around selected as a member of the State Depart- Ms. Oper was a true champion of the world. ment “advance team” for Secretary of State diversity and inclusion long before those She was also a dedicated wife and Warren Christopher and was in and out of ideas became buzzwords, friends recall. mother. Friends and family members the Middle East a dozen times. Four life- She excelled as a friend: she listened well, recall her as an exceptional human being long friendships were born of the intensity and remembered the details. She took with a huge heart, unlimited compassion of those trips, and Sharon took great pride your side and worried alongside you, and and an irrepressible smile, who lived life to in watching as three of those colleagues enjoyed sharing a discussion of current the fullest. rose to the role of ambassador. events or a laugh. Her enthusiasm for life Selena Nelson-Salcedo is survived by Ms. Oper retired from the Foreign Ser- was matched only by her ability to find her husband, Jorge, and their daughters, vice in 1995 and settled in Florida. humor in even the simplest moment. Antonella, age 4, and Gaia, age 3; her Admitting that she was terrified of most Ms. Oper is survived by her nieces, parents, Janice Hobbs and Don Nelson; her down escalators and heights in general, Zoe Oper and Gail Oper Stumpf; her stepmother, Mary Kay Perrin; her mother- friends recall, Ms. Oper insisted she was nephew, Joseph Oper; and by her cousin in-law, Consuelo Barbosa; her siblings: never afraid of living in strange places. Her Beth Vandroff and lifelong friend Sally Jenna, Jeremy (and his wife, Clara), Micah life stories were the delight of her friends Arce, both of whom were supportive (and his wife, Lindsay) and Simone (and and evidence of her strength of charac- presences in her last days. her husband, John); and six nieces and ter—whether the time in Chile when she nephews: Henry, Diego, Emma, Max, hid three American nuns from the secret n James D. “Jim” Rosenthal, 85, a Homer and Nelson. police; or the charming anecdotes involv- retired Foreign Service officer and former To make a contribution to educa- ing her aging mother, who lived with her ambassador, died on June 20 at his home tion funds for Selena Nelson-Salcedo’s during postings in Thailand and Kenya. in San Francisco, Calif. daughters, go to: https://scholarshare. Seven years of living in Africa trans- A native San Franciscan, Mr. Rosen- ebilling.com, and enter code CAR6jpB and formed Ms. Oper into an aficionado of thal graduated from Lowell High School CAhAU5G (one account for each child). African art and African grey parrots, one in 1950. He was on the swimming and

92 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL football teams, and was editor of the Vietnam expert. desk in Washington, assisting in dealing school newspaper. He entered Stanford Mr. Rosenthal was first posted to with the tumultuous political situation University in 1950, graduating summa Saigon as a political officer in 1961. in South Vietnam, including the famous cum laude with a B.A. in international During the next four years, he was the Tet Offensive of 1968. In 1970 he was relations in 1953. embassy’s chief contact officer for the assigned to Paris, where in he helped Mr. Rosenthal served for two years as politically minded Buddhists, and he also backstop Secretary of State Henry Kiss- a Marine Corps officer. He was particu- headed up a unique provincial report- inger’s efforts to negotiate an end to the larly proud of his time in the Marine ing unit designed to assess conditions Vietnam War in the Paris Peace Talks. Corps, which he said introduced him to in the countryside. He was wounded in His next assignment was as deputy the “real” world and honed his leader- the communist attack on the embassy in chief of mission and chargé d’affaires ship skills. He participated in various March 1965. in Bangui, where his responsibilities Marine Corps events throughout his Mr. Rosenthal’s next tour, in 1965, was included handling a volatile African lifetime. as assistant professor on the faculty of the leader, Central African Republic Presi- In 1956 Mr. Rosenthal joined the U.S. U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He dent Jean-Bédel Bokassa. Foreign Service. His first overseas post was the first State Department repre- After completing a year at the National was Port of Spain, where he was admin- sentative and civilian on the faculty, and War College in 1975, Ambassador Rosen- istrative officer. He then studied French taught comparative politics and interna- thal returned to take charge of the Indo- and Vietnamese at the Foreign Service tional relations. china desk at the State Department in the Institute, and went on to become a noted In 1967 he returned to the Vietnam wake of the fall of Indochina to commu-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 93 nist rule. He was part of the first postwar of the Lowell Alumni Association, the U.S. delegation to Hanoi that sought World Affairs Council and the Marines resolution of the MIA issue and that also Memorial Club. He was board president explored the possibility of establishing of the International Diplomacy Council, relations. The latter effort was premature as well as the University of San Fran- and unsuccessful, and the two countries cisco’s Center for Asian Studies. He was had no relations for the next 17 years. also chairman of the Foreign Service Mr. Rosenthal followed this tour with Association of Northern California for an assignment as deputy chief of mission many years. in Kuala Lumpur, where he was instru- He is survived by his wife of 59 years, mental in assisting the very successful Britta, of San Francisco, Calif., and his Indochina refugee program. three children: Carolyn, Stephen and His next posting was as DCM in Suzanne. Manila, then the largest U.S. mission In lieu of flowers, memorial contri- abroad. He not only continued to oversee butions can be made to the American refugee programs, but also dealt with Foreign Service Association or DACOR many issues involving the major U.S. mili- Bacon House in Washington, D.C. tary bases then located in the Philippines. President Ronald Reagan appointed n William C. Sherman, 93, a retired Mr. Rosenthal U.S. ambassador to the Foreign Service officer and former Republic of Guinea in 1983. During his ambassador, died on July 3 at the Ingle- tour the country’s nationalist leader, side Retirement Community in Washing- President Ahmed Sékou Touré died, and ton, D.C. Guinea began a transition to a more open Born in Edmonton, Ky., in 1923, Mr. society and market-oriented economy. Sherman graduated from the University Ambassador Rosenthal concluded his of Louisville. He served with the U.S. 34-year diplomatic career as deputy direc- Navy for more than three years during tor of operations at the State Department. and immediately following World War II In 1990 he retired from the Foreign and joined the Foreign Service in 1951. Service, returning to his native San In addition to Japanese, he spoke Italian Francisco to become executive director and French. of the prestigious Commonwealth Club During an impressive 35-year career of California. He hosted numerous heads in the Foreign Service, Mr. Sherman held of state, high-level politicians and other top positions at the Department of State prominent personalities to this nationally and served in important posts in Asia and renowned forum. Europe. He retired again in 1996, and then A leading expert on Asian affairs, spent much of his time leading and Mr. Sherman spent more than 14 years lecturing on tours to Southeast Asia and in Japan. He was director for Japanese around the world. He also greatly enjoyed affairs from 1973 to 1977, after which he the company of his children, all of whom was selected as Ambassador Mike Mans- were born abroad, and six grandchildren, field’s deputy chief of mission in Tokyo. and delighted in getting the entire clan During earlier assignments in Japan together for cruises and resort stays every he served as counselor for political affairs year. and as consul general in Osaka. He also Amb. Rosenthal served on the boards served extensively in Europe, and was

94 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL based in Rome for five years in the politi- cal section. In the course of his official duties in Washington, D.C., in the late 1960s, Mr. Sherman traveled overseas frequently with President Lyndon Johnson and Vice President Hubert Humphrey. In 1981, Mr. Sherman was assigned to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York where he served, with ambas- sadorial rank, as deputy U.S. representa- tive on the Security Council. In 1984 he returned to Washington for a two-year assignment as deputy assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs. The Japanese government conferred an official decoration on Ambassador Sherman in recognition of his myriad contributions in fostering U.S.-Japan understanding and friendship. After retiring from the Foreign Service in 1986, he served for eight years as dip- lomat-in-residence at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced Interna- tional Studies, where he taught graduate students, consulted for both private and government organizations and wrote and lectured on world affairs. Colleagues cite Ambassador Sherman as the finest Japan expert of his genera- tion. Friends and family members fondly remember his breadth of interests, flaw- less memory and surpassing decency. The latter, they recall, made a profound impression on all who were privileged to know him. Amb. Sherman is survived by a daughter, Courtney Simon of New York, N.Y.; a son, Woodson Sherman of Char- lottesville, Va.; a son, John Sherman of Columbus, Ohio; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Virginia Institute of Autism, Adult Services, in Charlottesville, Va. (www. viaschool.org). n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 95 BOOKS

A Field Guide to U.S. about key policy how does locality pay work? What was Diplomacy initiatives and the impact of the Palmer lawsuit? Why is plummeting morale there controversy surrounding account- Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in among State’s career ability review boards? There are few the U.S. Foreign Service, 3rd Edition diplomats and civil important issues that are not addressed Harry W. Kopp and John K. Naland, servants. This book herein. Georgetown University Press, 2017, might offer key play- As a reference work, Career Diplo- $89.95/hardcover, $29.95/paperback, ers at the White House and National macy could prove invaluable for 296 pages. Security Council some much-needed university career counselors, foreign Reviewed By Carey Cavanaugh education. affairs journalists and the Washington Like an Audubon Society field diplomatic corps. For some, however, This year may mark a historic shift in guide, which provides comprehen- its inclusiveness will make for a difficult American global leadership, as the new sive accounts of the traits, habitats read. Aspiring foreign affairs profession- administration raises questions about als, simply seeking to learn about the the reliability of international secu- functions of a U.S. diplomatic mission, It is probably the best and the rity commitments, moves away from may be better served by Shawn Dor- multilateral trade arrangements and worst time for a definitive man’s Inside a U.S. Embassy (AFSA FS joint action on climate change, and de- work to be published on this Books, 2011). emphasizes the promotion of democracy subject. Those who decide to take the plunge and human rights. and sign up for the Foreign Service President Donald Trump’s contra- exam, however, will be well served by dictory statements, tweets and actions and behaviors of birds or insects, this the authors’ extensive elaboration of have left friends and foes uncertain outstanding volume details nearly what remains a unique and complex about exactly where Washington stands every aspect of career diplomacy in the entry process. New employees at State on major policy issues and unsure United States. From the 13 oral assess- (Foreign Service or Civil Service) cer- of how best to effectively engage the ment dimensions and A-100 classes tainly should add Kopp and Naland to United States. The task of addressing to dissent, expeditionary diplomacy, their personal professional libraries. such uncertainty and facilitating such tandem couples and LGBT issues, the It is probably the best and the worst engagement—as Career Diplomacy authors dissect the Foreign Service as time for a definitive work to be pub- recounts—traditionally falls to the an institution, describe the profession, lished on this subject. Best, because a Department of State and the U.S. For- chart typical career trajectories and greater understanding of the importance eign Service. contemplate the future. of diplomacy and the contributions Regrettably, Trump’s team has This third edition, by Harry Kopp and made by the State Department and the largely sidelined America’s diplo- John Naland (taking over from the late Foreign Service is desperately needed. mats, questioning both their value Charles “Tony” Gillespie), draws not Worst, because even though Career and loyalty. It has shown neither an only on the authors’ decades of experi- Diplomacy takes into account the early appreciation for their deep, specialized ence as career FSOs, but on interviews days of the Trump presidency, there is knowledge and expertise, nor an under- with 140 current and former foreign little doubt that some steps being taken standing of the critical roles that the affairs practitioners. today will have lasting impact. The State Department and Foreign Service What the authors have produced authors would be well-advised to start play in protecting and advancing U.S. is encyclopedic in breadth, offering working on the next edition. vital interests. considerable detail on topics that would Many pundits forecast dire times The consequences of this have been be hard to find elsewhere. How does the ahead for American diplomacy. Career widely reported: easily avoided protocol Foreign Service rank-in-person and up- Diplomacy, however, describes a and policy missteps, uncoordinated gov- or-out system contrast with that of the Foreign Service and State Department ernment action, significant confusion Civil Service? What are FSOs paid, and that remain professional, flexible and

96 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL resilient. Both institutions have evolved buys a ticket to Israel, where she intends chafes against the limitations placed on profoundly, continuously enhanc- to volunteer on a kibbutz. her by her position as the DCM’s wife. ing their ability to help maintain our But it’s the summer of 1973, and Some of the odd linguistic choices she nation’s security, advance its prosperity shortly after she arrives at the kibbutz, makes, however, may jar the Foreign and promote American values. located near the Golan Heights, she Service ear. It should come as no surprise that finds herself in the middle of the Arab- For example, she calls the DCM the many of the presidents and Secretaries Israeli War. Hooked on the fear, excite- “deputy ambassador” and, after her of State who first questioned the loyalty ment and adrenaline rush of war, she husband is promoted, refers to herself of both institutions have left office ultimately decides to become a foreign as an “ambassatrix” and writes about impressed by the knowledge, determina- correspondent, working in wartorn and attending what she calls “Ambassatrix tion, energy and discretion of America’s otherwise dangerous locales as far from School.” Perhaps it’s just a nod to her career diplomats. her suburban upbringing (and from her non-FS audience, but such word play Kopp and Naland quote Henry Kiss- annoying mother) as possible. might instead be a deliberate roast inger, for example, who declares that he The early part of the book chronicles of diplomatic culture (or at least its knew of no Secretary of State who did not Schuster’s almost accidental entry into buttoned-down caricature). come to “admire the dedicated men and the world of journalism and her subse- The book is a curious mix of ridicule women who supply the continuity and quent adventures as a foreign corre- and respect for the Foreign Service spouses expertise of our foreign policy. I entered spondent in Central and South America, and employees she meets: ridicule when the State Department a skeptic. I left a the Middle East and Mexico, where she she encounters spouses who are trying convert.” Career Diplomacy reveals why. writes mostly about war and terrorism. their best to live within the confines of She meets, marries and their diplomatic prisons and don’t seem as Ambassador (ret.) Carey Cavanaugh is a loses her first husband, a impressively fearless as her journal- professor at the University of Kentucky’s Pat- much older war corre- ist friends; and begrudging respect terson School of Diplomacy and Interna- spondent for a compet- for some of those diplomats and tional Commerce. During his Foreign Service ing newspaper, within their spouses who work well within career, Amb. Cavanaugh served overseas in the span of a year; the the system, surviving evacuations Berlin, Moscow, Tbilisi, Rome and Bern, in story of how they meet and war just as successfully as they addition to assignments at the State Depart- and fall in love takes up survive boring dinner parties with ment, Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. prime real estate in this their foreign counterparts. section. Schuster survives an evacuation The Ambassatrix Speaks Eventually the of her own, from Liberia in 1989. It young widow meets isn’t until she is ordered to leave her Dirty Wars and Polished Silver another man, U.S. diplomat Dennis husband and dogs behind that she Lynda Schuster, Melville House, 2017, Jett, and begins a long-distance relation- realizes that “in marrying a diplomat, $26.99/hardcover, 321 pages. ship with him. When he is assigned to I’d married the State Department, too, Reviewed By Malawi as the deputy chief of mission, and ceded my independence.” Donna Scaramastra Gorman she decides to marry him and move her Still thinking of herself as a tough career to Southern Africa. war correspondent, she is surprised at Sixteen-year-old Lynda Schuster is bored Like many Foreign Service spouses the level of helplessness she feels as the at home in the Midwest, angry about her before and since, she ultimately realizes fighting in Liberia inches ever closer to parents’ divorce and embarrassed by she isn’t going to be able to hold on to the capital while she is forced to stay her mother, a dull suburban housewife. both husband and career, so she quits inside, away from danger. “To be on the In search of adventure and eager to put her job to become a full-time diplomat’s ground during a conflict as a civilian,” some distance between herself and her spouse. Sound familiar? she writes, “watching the inexorable mother, Schuster flies to London, osten- Foreign Service readers will nod march of violence headed my way, is sibly to visit her father, then secretly their heads in recognition as Schuster very different from watching—clear-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 97 Still thinking of herself as a tough war correspondent, she is Her path from an adventure-seeking surprised at the level of helplessness she feels as the fighting in teen full of angst and anger at her home- Liberia inches ever closer to the capital while she is forced to maker mother, to wife (herself a home- stay inside, away from danger. maker) and woman seeking her own individual purpose separate from that of her husband, is one that many who have headed and rational—the same situa- Many spouses have their own horror married into the Foreign Service will tion from afar as a journalist.” stories of giving birth abroad, or evacu- recognize all too well. n At times her depictions of spoiled ating a war-torn country on short notice, diplomats grow stale, especially as or even just trying to find one’s place Donna Scaramastra Gorman is a freelance she herself is living the same life she and fit in at each new post. writer and frequent FSJ contributor, whose ridicules. But certainly any FS spouse As a former newspaper correspon- work has appeared in Time Magazine, can relate to her stories of waiting up dent, Schuster knows how to string Newsweek, The Washington Post and The for a husband who walks out the door together a story. The dialogue at times Christian Science Monitor. The spouse of a during a crisis and reappears hours seems forced (can anyone really recall a Diplomatic Security agent, she has lived in later, unable to share anything he knows years-old conversation, verbatim?), but Amman, Moscow, Yerevan, Almaty, Beijing about what is going on out there beyond the story itself will pull you in, whether and Washington, D.C., where she currently the compound gates, where she’s been or not you’ve been posted to any of the resides. forbidden to go. same countries as Schuster.

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104 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL REFLECTIONS

to sell (with U.S. Treasury permission) an A Baltic Tale amount of gold per year at market price, with the proceeds invested at interest, BY TOM LONGO the yield could suffice to finance all three legations. With periodic gold sales, the s a 14-year-old boy in Boston, the United States that had been blocked arrangement could be supported indefi- I followed the dramatic 1956 by our government to prevent their trans- nitely. uprising in Hungary and its fer to the Soviet Union. It took a year of patient negotiations to Acrushing by the Soviet Union Each year, on State Department persuade Anatol Dinbergs to agree. I then with rapt attention. I learned then that request, the U.S. Treasury would license had to persuade the other two chargés, as in 1940 the United States had refused the release of sufficient resources to well, because the three countries had not to recognize the Soviet Union’s forcible permit the three chargés d’affaires (Ernst been used to working with each other. incorporation of the three Baltic states, Jaakson, Estonia; Anatol Dinbergs, Latvia; Keeping my State superiors, the White Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. At the time, and Stasys Backis, Lithuania) to keep their House, interested members of Congress, that impressed me as a very honorable legations going. the Treasury Department and Federal little corner of American foreign policy. The three, whom I remember vividly, Reserve, as well as Baltic-Americans, Today, as tensions with Vladimir were professional Baltic diplomats who informed and quiet—lest we give the Putin’s Russia over the status of Ukraine had been in the United States in 1940, and Soviets propaganda ammunition—was a heighten and concern once again haunts stayed. True Baltic patriots, they should be challenge. But it worked! the newly independent nations of Eastern a lasting source of pride for their coun- Before I left Baltic affairs on reassign- Europe, I am reminded of that early trymen in the three now-independent ment in 1981, another problem arose. introduction to U.S. foreign policy and nations. Some 40 years had elapsed since the how, later, the Foreign Service gave me the As the blocked assets dwindled inexo- forcible Soviet takeover in 1940; the three opportunity to contribute personally to rably, I was faced with a dilemma. Direct chargés were now very elderly, and there Baltic affairs. U.S. funding of the legations, even if Con- was no one with diplomatic credentials to As the Hungarian and Baltics desk gress had agreed, was a nonstarter. First, succeed them. officer in the late 1970s, I was the State it would have fed the Soviet propaganda U.S. appointment of successor diplo- Department point person for imple- line that the legations, like the non-recog- matic representatives was, of course, out menting the U.S. Baltics non-recognition nition policy itself, were simply puppets in of the question. policy. As a corollary of the policy we con- U.S. hands. But because relevant decisions could tinued to recognize and accredit legations Second, direct U.S. support would have be taken by the State Department, with of the three countries. However, survival made the three supposedly independent consent from Congress and the White of the importantly symbolic legations was legations subject to the annual budget House, we were able to establish that the threatened both by dwindling resources process. Private financing by Baltic-Amer- three chargés could nominate their own and biological longevity. icans, even if that could be realized, would successors from the respective ethnic By 1979 the three small legations were also have been ridiculed by Moscow. communities. These nominations would in financial straits. They had been sup- In researching the issue, I discovered be subject to tacit agreement from the porting themselves from Baltic assets in that Latvia’s remaining blocked assets U.S. government, in the same way that it included a considerable amount of gold in receives ambassadors named by foreign D. Thomas Longo Jr. was an our Federal Reserve Bank. Since President governments. FSO from 1969 to 1993. He Richard Nixon had untied gold from its It is gratifying to me to know that with served in Ankara, Budapest, longstanding $35-per-ounce peg in 1971, these two measures, sovereign representa- Düsseldorf, Palermo, Ottawa its value fluctuated with the market. At the tion of the three Baltic states in the United and Washington, D.C. Before joining the time it was several hundred dollars per States was ensured until they regained Foreign Service, he served in the Navy from ounce. their full independence in 1991. n 1963 to 1967. If I could persuade the Latvian chargé

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 105 LOCAL LENS BY CHRISTOPHER SHEA n ŠTRBSKÉ PLESO, SLOVAKIA

Please submit your aken in the pitch black of night, this photo captures the calm of Štrbské favorite, recent photograph to be Pleso and the stars over the High Tatras Mountains of beautiful north- considered for Local ern Slovakia. The glacial lake is located in High Tatras National Park at Lens. Images must be high resolution (at least an elevation of about 4,200 feet above seal level. This area is used as 300 dpi at 8” x 10”, or 1 T the Winter Olympics training ground for the Slovak nation. n MB or larger) and must not be in print elsewhere. Please include a short Chris Shea, a Foreign Service specialist, served as the information technology officer description of the scene/ in Bratislava from 2014 to 2016. He joined the Foreign Service in 2009 and has served event, as well as your overseas in Zagreb, Bratislava and Erbil. He visited Štrbské Pleso during his last six days name, brief biodata and the type of camera used, in country, and shot this photo at 1:30 a.m., using a Panasonic GH-4, 20mm, fl.7, 26-sec to [email protected]. exposure, 400 ISO.

106 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL