The Foreign Service Journal, June 2015

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION JUNE 2015

ADVANCING DIVERSITY

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FRENZY EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT

U.S.-LATIN AMERICA RELATIONS: TWO PATHS

FOREIGN June 2015 SERVICE Volume 92, No. 5

AFSA NEWS FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Governing Board Candidates Human Rights for LGBT Persons / 20 Hold Town Hall Meetings / 51 A Q&A WITH SPECIAL ENVOY RANDY BERRY AFSA Welcomes QDDR Release / 51 VP Voice State – Congressional Advocacy / 52 How Far We’ve Come, How Far We Have to Go / 25 VP Voice FCS – FS Diversity and BY SELIM ARITURK the Civil Rights Act of 1964 / 53 VP Voice Retiree – The Case for Mentoring / 54 Promoting an LGBT-Inclusive Human Rights Agenda / 28 AFSA Launches Palmer Award / 54 BY RICHMOND BLAKE Foreign Service Advocacy Day / 55 AFSA on the Hill / 56 Diversity: The Mentoring Dimension / 34 DACOR Hosts Vietnam Hands / 57 Working with Affinity Groups / 58 BY JENNIFER ZIMDAHL GALT AND THAO ANH TRAN AFSA Road Scholars in D.C. / 59 A History of AFSA / 59 Toward a Foreign Service Reflecting America / 39 Issue Brief: On State Department BY LIA MILLER Workforce Development / 60 Retiree Job Search Program / 61 AFSA President Reaches Out to Making Inclusion Real: Affinity Groups in Action / 41 Students / 62 Promoting Disability Diversity at the State Department Speakers Bureau Grows / 64 BY AMANDA RICHARD AFSA Welcomes New Staff and Summer Interns / 64 BIG: Working to Make Diversity Operational Rivkin Award Donor Luncheon / 65 BY MARCUS C. SINGLETON COLUMNS Executive Women @ State: Breaking Barriers President’s Views / 7 BY SUSAN STEVENSON A Story of Foreign Celebrating Arab-Americans in Foreign Affairs Service Leadership BY ROBERT J. SILVERMAN BY JAMAL AL-MUSSAWI Letter from the Editor / 8 FEATURE Advancing Diversity and Inclusion BY SHAWN DORMAN The United States and Latin America: Speaking Out / 17 Individuals vs. Institutions / 46 Employee Plus One: Marriage and the War for Talent BY THOMAS E. MCNAMARA BY MICHAEL GUEST

EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT DEPARTMENTS Letters / 9 Frank Bruni Takes on College Admissions Insanity / 66 Talking Points / 13 Books /103 BY FRANCESCA KELLY Local Lens / 114 Schools At A Glance / 78, 80, 82 MARKETPLACE Classifieds / 106 Real Estate / 109 Gap Happy: One FS Student’s Experience / 97 Index to Advertisers / 112 BY MARYBETH HUNTER

On the cover: Consul General Randy Berry addresses the annual Pride Reception at Consul- ate General Amsterdam on July 29, 2014, during the Amsterdam Gay Pride festival. Photo: Edgar van de Burgt/U.S. Consulate General Amsterdam.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor Shawn Dorman: [email protected] Managing Editor www.afsa.org Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected]

Associate Editor Maria C. Livingston: [email protected] CONTACTS AFSA Headquarters: LABOR MANAGEMENT Editorial/Publications Specialist (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 General Counsel Brittany DeLong: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Sharon Papp: [email protected] Ad & Circulation Manager (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Deputy General Counsel Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] USAID AFSA Office: Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Labor Management Specialist Art Director FCS AFSA Office: James Yorke: [email protected] Caryn Suko Smith (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh: [email protected] Editorial Intern GOVERNING BOARD Staff Attorney Shannon Mizzi President Raeka Safai: [email protected] Advertising Intern Robert J. Silverman: [email protected] Staff Attorney William Read Secretary Angela Dickey: [email protected] Andrew Large: [email protected] Treasurer Hon. Charles A. Ford: [email protected] Labor Management Counselor Contributing Editor State Vice President Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: Steven Alan Honley Matthew K. Asada: [email protected] [email protected] USAID Vice President Editorial Board Labor Management Assistant Sharon Wayne: [email protected] Beth Payne, Chair Jason Snyder: [email protected] FCS Vice President Hon. Gordon S. Brown Executive Assistant Steve Morrison: [email protected] Stephen W. Buck Lindsey Botts: [email protected] FAS Vice President Ruth M. Hall USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Mark Petry: [email protected] Richard McKee Douglas Broome: [email protected] Retiree Vice President John G. 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Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the Homeyra Mokhtarzada and Legislation writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Nancy Rios-Brooks Matthew Sumrak: [email protected] the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries Daniel Spokojny Administrative Assistant and Office Manager and submissions are invited, preferably by email. The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, USAID Representatives Ana Lopez: [email protected] photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. Jeri Dible All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Jeffrey Cochrane COMMUNICATIONS AFSA reserves the right to reject advertising that is not FCS Representative Director of Communications in keeping with its standards and objectives. The appear- Kristen Fernekes: [email protected] ance of advertisements herein does not imply endorse- William Kutson ment of goods or services offered. Opinions expressed in FAS Representative David Mergen Director of New Media advertisements are the views of the advertisers and do BBG Representative Andre de Nesnera Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] not necessarily represent AFSA views or policy. Journal APHIS Representative Mark C. Prescott Publications Manager subscription: AFSA member–$20, included in annual Shawn Dorman: [email protected] dues; student–$30; institution–$40; others–$50; Single Retiree Representatives issue–$4.50. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; Marshall Adair Online Communications Specialist foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid Hon. David Greenlee Jeff Lau: [email protected] at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Communications and Press Specialist Indexed by the Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). F. Allen “Tex” Harris Hon. Edward Marks Allan Saunders: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Special Awards and Outreach Coordinator Phone: (202) 338-4045 STAFF Perri Green: [email protected] Fax: (202) 338-8244 Executive Director Web: www.afsa.org/fsj Ian Houston: [email protected] ADVOCACY Executive Assistant Advocacy Director © American Foreign Service Association, 2015 Patrick Bradley: [email protected] Javier Cuebas: [email protected] PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Senior Legislative Assistant BUSINESS DEPARTMENT David Murimi: [email protected] Postmaster: Send address changes to Director of Finance Professional Issues and Policy Adviser AFSA Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] Attn: Address Change Janice Weiner: [email protected] Controller 2101 E Street NW Washington DC 20037-2990 Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] SCHOLARSHIPS Assistant Controller Scholarship Director Cory Nishi: [email protected] Lori Dec: [email protected] Scholarship Senior Associate Jonathan Crawford: [email protected]

6 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS

A Story of Foreign Service Leadership

BY ROBERT J. SILVERMAN

dvocating for the Foreign ranges, skirt the Armenia-Azerbaijan war like Ex-Im and OPIC, and the banks, as Service has taught me some in Nagorno-Karabakh, and connect insur- well as the internal calculations of both lessons. Among them is this: the gencies in Georgia and Eastern Turkey? the international companies and the A old saw that the Foreign Service The initial response was a flat no. local governments. They spoke with each has no constituency on Capitol Hill is We can’t get ahead of the commercial party in his or her own language, but kept wrong. We have the Virginia and Maryland decision-making; we support multiple foremost in mind the strategic goals of the delegations, with thousands of Foreign pipelines and won’t take sides between United States. Service members. Then we have a diffuse them. Furthermore, our leadership (Strobe So in May 2006, 13 years after the idea group who know the Foreign Service Talbott and Jim Collins) do not want us was first raised with the department, the somewhat and are interested, but need involved in former Soviet projects opposed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline began deliv- more information. This situation creates by our friends in Moscow. ering Azeri oil to tankers in the Mediter- good storytelling opportunities. Several factors converged to change the ranean, preventing both Russia and Iran Allow me to travel back to December Washington consensus. The project had an from gaining a chokehold on Azerbaijan’s 1991, when Secretary James A. Baker American commercial champion. A major economic independence. Later a paral- announced that we would open 12 new regional ally, Turkey, was committed to it. lel pipeline for Azeri gas was built, giving embassies in the former Soviet Union. The A steady demand for oil helped. But former Georgia an alternative source of supply to department offered to break assignments players on this issue cite one element as Russian gas and helping preserve Georgia’s and move us to exotic places in Central indispensable: Foreign Service officers independence. Asia and the Caucasus. One key require- who persisted in advocating for the project Foreign Service officers and Civil ment was for economic officers to help knowing that it was both doable and good Service experts were not the only U.S. gov- new countries gain economic indepen- for U.S. strategic interests. ernment players. This was an interagency dence, and thus effective sovereignty, from I am talking about mostly entry- and team effort, largely led by FSOs, but involv- Moscow. mid-level economic officers, together ing the whole of government. This is the story of how the U.S. govern- with Civil Service experts, who drafted My main take-away from this story ment got involved in one project, and cables and memos, took assignments has nothing to do with pipelines. (In fact, helped international oil companies build that involved energy issues, and had the the success of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan may a thousand-mile pipeline to bring Caspian support of their ambassadors, assistant have led us, and others, to over-invest in oil and gas to the Mediterranean, bypass- secretaries and National Security Coun- pipelines as a potential foreign policy tool.) ing existing Russian and Iranian pipelines cil senior officials. These career officers It has to do with investing in the Foreign and securing the independence of Azer- were indispensable partly because newly Service as the indispensable tool, and in baijan and Georgia. independent, former Soviets sought the relying on career officials to lead efforts It was an improbable project when comfort of a government-to-government aimed at long-term, strategic results. first raised with relationship to enter into deals with the You no doubt have many stories that the department capitalists running our oil companies. resonate with members of Congress and in January 1993. More generally, however, the FSOs the public. Please contact AFSA as you Support a pipeline offered then—and still offer today—a think about ways of telling them. that would cross unique combination of skills. They under- Be well, stay safe and keep in touch, the Caucasus and stood the capabilities of the World Bank Bob Taurus mountain and IMF, the state export credit agencies [email protected] n

Robert J. Silverman is the president of the American Foreign Service Association.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 7 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Advancing Diversity and Inclusion

BY SHAWN DORMAN

he Foreign Service Act of 1980 to evolve, pick up speed and gain vis- In our Speaking Out column, says that the United States ibility. We begin our focus with a look “Employee Plus One: Marriage and the should have a professional at the current highest-profile diversity War for Talent,” retired Ambassador T Foreign Service that is repre- and inclusion issue, rights for LGBT Michael Guest lauds the major steps sentative of the American people. The 2015 persons (a category that encompasses toward equality LGBT federal employees Quadrennial Diplomacy and Develop- lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender have taken, but warns that this is not the ment Review for the State Department individuals, but can include other gender right time for State to end the Same-Sex and USAID echoes that call. But does the identities and allies, as well). All eyes are Domestic Partners program. Foreign Service look like America? Not yet. on the Supreme Court and its imminent Considering diversity and inclusion “The Foreign Service Is Too White,” decision on marriage equality. more broadly, FSO Lia Miller looks at Ambassadors Thomas R. Pickering and The foreign affairs agencies continue two innovative programs that help bring Edward J. Perkins lament in a May 18 to grapple with the changing landscape, diversity into the Foreign Service, the Washington Post op-ed. The most recent both internally for their employees and Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs statistics available from State’s Office externally, as they manage and advance Fellowship and the Charles B. Rangel of Human Resources show that as of diversity and inclusion issues. International Affairs Program. Then 2012, 80 percent of State FS officers and This spring, the State Department Consul General Jennifer Zimdahl Galt specialists were white, 7 percent black, 5.7 established a new position—Special and entry-level FSO Thao Anh Tran team percent Hispanic/Latino and 6.6 percent Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT up to discuss the power of mentorship Asian-American. Of the total, 34.8 percent Persons—and tapped FSO Randy Berry to sustain that diversity into the senior were women. In contrast, the U.S. popula- to carry the message of inclusivity both at ranks. tion in 2013 was about 62 percent white, home and abroad. Just before taking up Finally, in “Making Diversity Real,” 17 percent Hispanic/Latino, 12 percent his post in May, Mr. Berry told us about four affinity groups—Disability Action black and 5 percent Asian-American. Of plans for the new role and the ways he’ll Group, Blacks In Government, Execu- the total, 51 percent were women. try to coordinate across federal agencies tive Women @ State and the newly Those numbers do not tell the whole to ensure that the U.S. approach to the established Arab-Americans in Foreign story, of course. For about the last 20 global protection of the rights of LGBT Affairs—give an overview of their work. years, the State Department recruitment persons is consistent and focused on tan- We will feature other affinity groups in division has prioritized bringing in more gible results. Find out more in that Q&A, future issues of the Journal. minority candidates, chiefly by working to “Aiming for Sustainable Progress.” As Amb. Pickering and Amb. Perkins raise awareness among underrepresented In “How Far We’ve Come, How Far say in their Washington Post op-ed, “U.S. groups of the Foreign Service as a potential We Have to Go,” GLIFAA President Selim foreign policy is informed and improved career path. But awareness and hiring are Ariturk offers his take on progress for both by a wider range of experiences, under- only the first major hurdles. The next is the group—founded in 1992 as Gays and standings and outlooks. To represent retention, and the jury Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies—and America abroad and relate to the world is still out on that. the issue, and challenges that remain. beyond our borders, the nation needs Meanwhile, the Next, FSO Richmond Blake presents diplomats whose family stories, language national conversation an overview of how the United States is skills, religious traditions and cultural about diversity and working overseas to promote an LGBT- sensitivities help them to establish con- inclusion continues inclusive human rights agenda. nections and avoid misunderstandings.” Read on to find out more about how Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal. that’s going. n

8 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Lessons of Vietnam of how, in 1975, a small group of mid- it was unnecessary. The respective sides Thank you for the April Journal’s look level FSOs organized and then imple- had views of events and circumstances back at Vietnam. I was struck by the mented the evacuation of large numbers almost totally at odds with each other. reference in “History Revisited” (Editor’s of at-risk Vietnamese when Saigon fell The American frame of reference was Introduction) to an AFSA editorial of June drew me powerfully back into that time. the Cold War and the need to contain 1975 advocating a “post mortem of the I was not in Saigon in 1968; I had left communism—hence the “domino Vietnam era…to which the career Service for my next post (Kinshasa) only months theory”—and the Vietnamese can contribute greatly.” You noted that before the Tet Offensive. frame of reference was their “there is little to indicate that such an Although I was in the State experience of French colo- assessment was ever undertaken.” Department in April 1975, I nialism. Their interest was in One was in fact undertaken, albeit in was working on the Laos desk, national independence, not haste, in early May of 1975. It was done vividly aware of what was going spreading communism. in response to a memorandum from the on in Vietnam next door. Could such mutual White House requesting an analysis of We may be grateful that misperceptions be operating “The Lessons of Vietnam.” I drafted it, but some of these FSOs, in particu- also today, in, for instance, it reflected comments and ideas of liter- lar Kenneth Quinn, Parker Borg our dealings with Iran? ally dozens of FSOs and others who had and Joseph McBride, have now Theodore L. Lewis served in Vietnam over many years and had a chance to tell their stories. FSO and FSR, retired in many different capacities. They acted without official orders and to Germantown, Maryland It was hardly a definitive study, of some extent contrary to them. But I think course, but it was an honest first attempt they represented the Foreign Service at A Vietnam Backstory to look comprehensively at what had its finest. The FSJ retrospectives on the fall of gone wrong and why. The editor’s introduction commends, Saigon were excellent reading. However, The paper never got to the president’s rightly, the call of the June 1975 Foreign there is another backstory worth telling, desk. Instead it went to Henry Kissinger Service Journal for a “post-mortem” on which concerns advance warning to us (both Secretary of State and National the Vietnam era. I believe the function by Vietnamese seers. Security Advisor at the time), along with was admirably performed, later, by Rob- After my arrival in Saigon on March 6, comments from his staff. A few days later, ert McNamara. 1973, my official duties included interac- Kissinger wrote to the president, in his As Secretary of Defense in the Ken- tions with select opinion leaders who in own inimitable style, on the lessons of nedy and Johnson administrations, he some cases turned out to be practitioners Vietnam. was among the chief proponents of the of the occult. Our memo (attached) was better, in Vietnam War. Yet in his books—In Retro- First was President Nguyen Van my opinion. spect (1995) and Argument Without End Thieu’s astrologer. In mid-1973 he told David Lambertson (1999)—he acknowledged, courageously, me that Thieu would be forced out of Ambassador, retired that we were “terribly wrong.” His basis office in 1975 “after Tet.” This practitioner Winchester, Kansas for saying this was a series of conferences of Chinese astrology had been consulted (Editor’s note: Look for both memos in that he was instrumental in organizing by Thieu before the 1967 presidential the July-August FSJ.) between senior American wartime lead- election and told Thieu he would win. For ers, diplomatic and military, and their this reason, he was kept on for regular Perceptions and Vietnamese counterparts, each side giv- advice. Misperceptions ing their view of the course of the war and Another group of seers with whom I The April FSJ is outstanding. I knew the negotiations attempting to end it. often met were Cao Dai Church educa- that it was going to feature Vietnam, but Two salient conclusions emerge from tors in Tay Ninh Province. They organized I was not prepared for its impact. The McNamara’s presentation. One is that the séances led by clairvoyant young women. accounts both of what befell Embassy war was unwinnable at any acceptable The “spirits” indicated that the com- Saigon during the 1968 Tet Offensive and cost. The other, even more striking, is that munist conquest was imminent. The Ho

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 9 Chi Minh Trail, which moved tanks and how the country has moved along after a If AFSA is serious about supporting troops south, ended near Tay Ninh. When period of uncertainty. diversity and inclusion, it must make on one occasion I showed videotapes of There is still much to be learned from radical changes to its method of doing the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, the Cao the American experience in Vietnam and business and providing services. A few Dai politely saw through it as an empty how it applies to the issues of our day. years ago I was interested in volunteer- exercise. Gilbert H. Sheinbaum ing for a committee but was told by AFSA One provincial leader in central Viet- FSO, retired that if I didn’t live in the Washington, nam had a remarkable gift of clairvoyance. Vienna, Virginia D.C., area it would be on me to make sure In late September 1974, he warned that I that I got to the meetings. was exposing my family to grave danger. Connecting With AFSA Earlier, I wrote an email to AFSA He seemed to know that my wife and two I read with great admiration retired requesting that the organization be more young children were in Saigon with me. Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft’s and responsive to those who don’t always think He said that an order was being pre- AFSA President Robert J. Silverman’s let- and live inside the Beltway. I was told that pared for my new assignment, and a mes- ters in the April 2015 Journal concerning it would take time to make any changes. sage would arrive in two weeks. I asked inclusion of both diversity and objectivity I am sure changes can be made if him if the assignment was in the United in selecting recipients of AFSA awards. AFSA wants to make them. Members States or another country. As a regular reader of the Journal should not be limited to what commit- He replied that I was going to a cold since retiring in 2009, I have observed lit- tees or meetings they can participate country, not the United States. Indeed, an tle diversity and objectivity in the award in just because of their location. Cost is official telegram from USIA Washington nominations or selections. Specialists minimal, if any, as there are several ways came in early October offering me direct and other minorities (yes, I choose this to videoconference (e.g., Skype). transfer to Embassy Santiago. term even though it seems outdated and Members, retired and active-duty, This backstory on seers has a denoue- overused) do not seem to be included at need to become more involved in how ment. On April 30, 1975, on local radio, the same rate as others. our union is communicating and doing the Voice of America relay reported that Like many retirees, I regularly attend its job, even if we are not in the Washing- President Duong Van Minh, aka General the State Department get-togethers— ton, D.C., area. “Big” Minh, had surrendered to the North for specialists and officers—in my I am still sincerely dedicated to the Vietnamese Army at Saigon’s Indepen- hometown. Some of us have gone on to principles of the Department of State. I dence Palace. The news came to me while establish new careers and some have recently signed on to the AFSA Commu- the cold autumn wind was blowing in continued to participate in State activities nity and have volunteered to monitor a southern Chile, just as the provincial seer and even continue working, specialists retiree While Actually Employed group. had predicted. and generalists alike. But there seems to I am aware that the community itself is Jose Armilla be little or no interest in AFSA and what new, and I look forward to being one of FSO, retired it does or would like to accomplish in the monitors on this particular group. Vienna, Virginia regard to retirees. There seems to be a Juan Becerra huge disconnect between these retirees IMO, retired Still Much to Learn and AFSA. Rio Rancho, New Mexico My compliments to Editor Shawn The recent AFSA survey, also in the Dorman, the Foreign Service Journal staff April FSJ, indicated that members have Remembering and the contributors (most of whom I a number of concerns. On retirement Charles William Thomas know) to the FSJ issue on Vietnam. Each issues, exactly a quarter of those sur- Philip Shenon begins his recent book, article was uniquely informative and well veyed felt that more needed to be done. A Cruel and Shocking Act: The Secret His- written. I served in Vietnam from 1964 to Another concern was this: “AFSA seems tory of the Kennedy Assassination, with a 1968, both in Central Vietnam and Sai- to be more interested in generalists’ focus on the 1965 reporting from Mexico gon. I have visited Vietnam several times issues rather than specialist.” AFSA needs City by FSO Charles William Thomas, since then and have followed closely to take action on these matters. whose all-too-short career in the Foreign

10 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Service has never been adequately recognized. Thomas, then a political officer at Embassy Mexico City, believed that Lee Harvey Oswald’s six-day visit to Mexico City, and his contacts with the Cuban and Soviet embassies there, only six weeks before the assassination, had potential significance that the supposedly definitive Warren Commission report had failed to probe in sufficient depth. Out of my affection and deep respect for Charles Thomas, I’m moved to bring this new recognition of him to your readers’ attention. I served with him in Haiti during my first FS assignment from 1962 to 1963 and was fortunate to have had him as my mentor. Thomas was 37 years old when he arrived in Haiti in 1961. Port-au-Prince was his third post after Ghana-Liberia and Tangier-Morocco in Africa. As the embassy’s political officer, he had the lead in reporting on the situation in Haiti, a country dominated by its radical president, Francois Duvalier. With Fidel Castro a looming threat to the Caribbean area, the United States and Haiti were thrown together in an uncomfortable and unpre- dictable relationship. Thomas’ reporting was widely circulated and regarded as brilliant. Indeed, Thomas was a bright, ener- getic officer, who was much admired and from whom much was expected. He was an expert linguist. He had served as a naval officer and fighter pilot. He had completed law school and passed the bar. To us, his colleagues, Thomas was the epitome of an American FSO: loyal, devoted and hardworking. The news of his onward assignment to Embassy Mexico City struck us as well- deserved recognition of his talents. The subsequent news of his selection out of the Foreign Service was a shock for those

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 11 Take AFSA With You!

Change your address online, visit us at www.afsa.org/address who knew him and had worked with him. Or As it turned out, that ruling was a mistake attributable to the department’s mis- Send changes to: handling of his personnel file. Sadly, it AFSA Membership was probably a contributing factor in his Department decision to take his own life. 2101 E Street NW Shortly before his last day in the State Washington, DC 20037 Department in 1969, Thomas composed a memo to Secretary of State William Rogers, spelling out the allegations that had been made to him about Lee Harvey Oswald’s Cuban contacts in Mexico City and noting that if these became public without further investigation, they could add fuel to continuing conspiracy theories and undercut the Warren Commis- Moving? sion report. State asked the CIA to comment on that memo and his reports. The CIA replied curtly that there was “no need for further action.” The department did not follow up. From interviews Philip Shenon conducted for a new 2014 edition of his book, he wrote in The Washington Post on Sept. 24, 2014, that the Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories are still alive half a century later and that even members of the Warren Commission staff have come around to believing that Oswald may have been manipulated, even if he acted alone. Thomas’ warning to Sec. Rogers was prophetic, and it is surely time for the Foreign Service to recognize his heroic persistence and loyalty. We who served with Charles Thomas remember him as a loyal and brilliant colleague, an FSO who deserves to be remembered by the newer generations of the Foreign Service as a devoted American public servant. n Ralph C. (Robin) Porter III FSO, retired Wickford, Rhode Island

12 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL TALKING POINTS

Eyes on State—One America’s LGBT of the “Best” Ambassadors Places to Work n March 24, the six he State Department Ocurrent U.S. ambas- Twas the only federal sadors who are openly gay agency to rank in the top participated in a panel 50 of “best employers” in discussion at the New- a new survey by Statista. seum, co-hosted by the com released by Forbes Human Rights Campaign, magazine on March 25. the Harvey Milk Founda- To create this list, tion and the affinity group Forbes asked more than GLIFAA. 20,000 workers from COURTESY OF GLIFAA The six are John Berry, The six current U.S. ambassadors who are openly gay, at the Newseum panel different fields—large ambassador to Australia; discussion on March 24 in Washington, D.C. From left, John Berry, James companies, nonprofit “Wally” Brewster, Rufus Gifford, Daniel Baer, James Costos and Ted Osius. James “Wally” Brewster, institutions, govern- ambassador to the Domin- ment agencies—a simple ican Republic; Rufus Gifford, ambassador making sure people in other countries question: “On a scale of 0-10, how to Denmark; Daniel Baer, ambassador to meet and interact with openly gay officials likely would you be to recommend your the Organization for Security and Coop- can help move equality issues forward. employer to someone else?” eration in Europe; James Costos, ambassa- Amb. Gifford agreed: “Every personal Google took the top spot on this dor to Spain and Andorra; and Ted Osius, story matters…to be able to talk about who ranking—no surprise, certainly. The a Foreign Service officer and ambassador we are, and give a slightly more nuanced State Department was the highest-rank- to Vietnam. version of what it means to be American.” ing federal agency, coming in 34th. The Also attending were GLIFAA President Amb. Brewster addressed some of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Selim Ariturk and newly appointed Spe- challenges he faced in moving to the very Service ranked next highest at #60. cial Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT socially conservative Dominican Repub- The Partnership for Public Service Persons, Randy Berry, both FSOs. lic: “You don’t address the people who publishes its own list each December: Ambassador Osius, the only career dip- make the bad comments. All you do is talk “Best Places to Work in the Federal lomat among the ambassadors, discussed about love. … When you talk about that, Government.” The views of more than how far the State Department has come the goodness of the people comes out. 392,700 federal employees are included since he helped found GLIFAA in 1992. At And it became a social conversation that in this survey, which ranks more than that time, employees ran the risk of losing was needed in the Caribbean.” 389 federal organizations. The State their security clearance, and ultimately Though the department has come a Department also fared well in this their jobs, if they were discovered to be long way, there have never been ambas- survey, ranking 3rd among large-sized gay. sadors who “represent the ‘L,’ the ‘B’ and agencies for 2014. “Just a few decades ago, if you worked the ‘T’ in LGBT. At last year’s GLIFAA The Partnership for Public Service’s in the Foreign Service, being gay was your Pride event, Secretary of State John Kerry data collection and its analysis of that most closely guarded secret,” HRC Presi- reaffirmed, “I’m working hard to ensure data is impressively thorough. The new dent Chad Griffin commented. “Today that by the end of my tenure, we will have Forbes list, not so much. Forbes notes, there is no clearer sign of our progress lesbian, bisexual, and transgender ambas- for example, that the State Department than the fact that there is not one, not two, sadors in our ranks, as well.” has 9,761 employees—a number that but six openly gay ambassadors serving Amb. Baer perhaps summed it up best: is clearly inaccurate. The Partnership this country overseas.” “There is an arc that bends toward justice, for Public Service reports nearly 24,000 Amb. John Berry argued that being out but it takes a lot of work to bend it.” State employees. and visible is extremely important, and —Shannon Mizzi, Editorial Intern —Debra Blome, Associate Editor

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 13 Time to Recognize “The Great Crime”? Contemporary Quote pril 24 marked the 100th anniversary Aof the beginning of the period (1915- This administration is under no illusions about the continued barri- 1923) during which 1.5 million Armenians ers to internationally recognized freedoms that remain for the Cuban were systematically displaced and killed people, nor are we under illusions about the nature of the Cuban govern- under Ottoman rule. Of the remain- ment. When we sat down with our counterparts in Havana, we were clear ing population, 90 percent fled to other that our governments have both shared interests and sharp differences. From countries. mail service to counternarcotics to oil spill mitigation, we owe our people The Armenian diaspora, a large part of a diplomatic relationship that allows an effective pursuit of their which lives in the United States, continues interests. On these types of practical issues, we agreed to continue to commemorate the trauma of “Medz dialogue and increase cooperation. Yeghern,” the “Great Crime.” Although —Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson speaking the genocide is now an acknowledged before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Feb. 3. historical fact, only 25 countries recognize the events of 1915-1923 as genocide. tion of the genocide on April 23, which The Most—including the United States—do Foreign Service Journal attended. Chaired not officially use the term, in deference to by Rep. Chris H. Smith (R-N.J.), the hear- Turkey. ing featured testimony from both academ- Many advocates have expressed hope ics and representatives from the Armenian that the 100th anniversary year will be National Committee of America, the a turning point. In April, Pope Francis Armenian Assembly of America and the became the first Pope to publicly rec- Genocide Education Project. ognize “the first genocide of the 20th Mentioned at the hearing was the fact KRIS CONOR/GETTY IMAGES FOR NCAGC century.” In response, Turkey recalled its President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan that, as a senator, Pres. Obama advocated Vatican-based envoy, who stated: “I find speaks at the National Commemoration for recognition of the Armenian genocide the Pope’s statement immoral, and can’t of the Armenian Genocide Centennial and criticized those who refused to use the Ecumenical Service at Washington reconcile it with basic Christian values.” National Cathedral on May 7 in term. All five witnesses, as well as Chair- Germany, Austria and the European Washington, D.C. man Smith, urged official recognition by Parliament all reversed their positions the United States. of non-recognition in April. Russia and exclamation points in her anniversary Van Krikorian of the AAA noted that France have long recognized the geno- tweets, millions of Twitter and Instagram many Turks are increasingly interested in cide, and Presidents Putin and Hollande users heard about the Armenian geno- investigating their national past, but “it is attended the anniversary ceremonies in cide, probably for the first time. still dangerous to advocate for genocide Yerevan. In Washington, President Barack recognition inside Turkey, and journalists From the United States, reality TV star Obama issued a statement of sympathy, who do so have been imprisoned, tortured and pop culture fixture Kim Kardashian, avoiding use of the term genocide. Arme- and even assassinated.” who is of Armenian descent and has nia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian Other panelists emphasized that U.S. publicly called for genocide recognition spoke at the National Press Club on May 7 non-recognition is “hypocritical,” and for several years, visited Yerevan for the as a member of President Serzh Sargsyan’s that the government cannot continue to anniversary. Her trip was widely covered delegation to the commemorative events uphold American values only when con- by mainstream media outlets and docu- in Washington that drew thousands from venient. They maintain that recognition mented for her reality television show, the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. would make it more difficult for the Turk- Keeping Up with the Kardashians. In connection with the anniversary, the ish government to suppress free speech Although Kardashian was criticized for Helsinki Commission held a hearing on and obscure historical truths. her use of, perhaps overly enthusiastic, the effects of continued U.S. non-recogni- —Shannon Mizzi, Editorial Intern

14 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 50 Years Ago

On Russian Nature mong the major peoples of the earth, the Russians have always been Ainsufficiently understood by the rulers and publics of other countries. Yet if we are to live in peace with him, we must learn to understand his nature, which is both virtuous and unchaste, is rich in imagination and vision but short on the organizational talents so essential to 20th-century life. It is not accidental that those who try to probe the Russian soul have per- sistently noted one of its ingredients to be an inbred suspicion toward other persons’ principles and motivations. Mistrust comes easily to a community which has so often been forced to defend itself against its neighbors and even more distant powers. … Centuries of contact with all kinds of enemies have made the Russians a people able to detect hidden meanings and inten- tions with great skill. To the Russian, any opportunity to procure authentic information is as valuable as money in other societies. Questions asked of foreigners are searching and penetrating. They reveal both a genuine desire to be informed and a process of serious thinking. —From “The Russian Nature,” by James A. Ramsey, FSJ, June 1965.

USAID Responds to Nepal Earthquake Crisis he United States TAgency for Inter- national Development deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Nepal, India and Bangladesh following the magnitude COURTESY OF USAID 7.8 earthquake that The U.S. Disaster Assistance Response Team works with devastated the region canine rescue units to locate survivors in Nepal. on April 25. The team comprised more than 130 Fire Department. As of press time, the of USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disas- death toll from the quake stood at more ter Assistance humanitarian specialists than 8,000. and urban search and rescue personnel The DART arrived in Nepal on April from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue 29 and began addressing immediate Department and the Los Angeles County concerns including the critical need for

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 15 shelter. It airlifted 700 rolls of heavy-duty dogs are trained to track the scent of liv- military about what assets we might be plastic sheeting to benefit an estimated ing people in ‘high-probability’ locations. able to bring in.” 7,000 households, or up to 35,000 people. In addition, USAID/OFDA contrib- For donations and to learn the best The International Organization for Migra- uted $10 million in humanitarian assis- ways to help the relief efforts, USAID tion, a USAID/OFDA partner, distributed tance to address earthquake response (www.usaid.gov/nepal-earthquake) the plastic sheeting along with other and recovery efforts. USAID’s Office of has posted a full list of organizations supplies such as rope, wire and basic Food for Peace contributed $2.5 mil- provided by the Center for International hand tools. lion to the operation for the purchase of Disaster Information (www.cidi.org/ Search-and-rescue teams coordinated 1,390 metric tons of rice in support of the nepal). Monetary donations to any of efforts with the government of Nepal United Nations World Food Program’s these organizations are encouraged. and other international USDAR teams efforts to distribute provisions in the area. For most immediate updates, visit to conduct initial damage assessments. “We’re mobilizing emergency shelter the USAID website (www.USAID.gov) or They worked with canine rescue units to for about 35,000 people,” said Director Twitter page (www.twitter.com/usaid). n search for survivors in the rubble of col- of USAID/OFDA Jeremy Konyndyk in an —Brittany DeLong, Assistant Editor lapsed buildings. April 27 interview with MSNBC. “We’re According to an April 29 Time article working with those search-and-rescue covering USAID responders in Nepal, the teams and we’re also talking with the U.S.

SITE OF THE MONTH: State Department Office of the Historian

he State Department’s Office of the Historian (http:// Another terrific T history.state.gov) is digitizing its multivolume series resource is a database Foreign Relations of the United States. Each volume in that lists past principal the series is a huge collection of U.S. government foreign officers and chiefs of affairs documents. These volumes “present the official mission and records of documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy the travels of presidents and Secretaries of State. Country decisions and significant diplomatic activity.” profiles include detailed histories of American diplomatic The series covers events beginning in 1861. Today there relations with each, and the site also facilitates access to are 450 individual volumes, with 11 planned for release the diplomatic records of these nations where possible. in 2015. As of May, 240 of the volumes were available A unique tool for public education at home and abroad, online through the website. Users may conduct full text the website has abundant resources for students and searches by both topic and presidential administration. teachers. The ebook versions of the FRUS series are avail- The digitization project should be complete by 2018. able free of charge, and the Historian’s Office also creates Volumes covering the last 65 years (164) are also available curriculum supplements for teaching middle and high to download as ebooks. school students about diplomacy. The most recent online release of a FRUS volume Run by Department of State Historian Dr. Stephen relates to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Randolph and a team of professional historians, the and captures a collection of notes and letters from citi- Historian’s Office is responsible for conducting research zens and foreign governments around the world respond- for officials from the State Department and other agen- ing to his death on April 14, 1865. cies, evaluating historical lessons and providing the The volumes offer diplomats, scholars and the public background information necessary to make today’s key unprecedented access to fascinating unclassified and foreign relations decisions. declassified primary source materials tracing the history —Editorial Intern Shannon Mizzi and of the United States’ international engagement. Editor Shawn Dorman

16 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL SPEAKING OUT

Employee Plus One: Marriage and the War for Talent BY MICHAEL GUEST

n 2001, I was sworn in as our country’s Department managers have proposed an first Senate-confirmed, openly gay effective end to the same-sex domestic ambassador. Six years later, I pulled partner program. Ithe plug on my Foreign Service career, in protest of the State Department’s refusal to remedy policies that discriminated against gay and lesbian Foreign Service families stationed abroad. public or congressional opposition to the The Negative LGBT Impact Those twin milestones seem like notion that LGBT human rights matter, On its face, the argument for ending ancient history now. Today partnered gay or that a gay person can represent our the partner program is simple. Marriage and lesbian employees are covered by country abroad. equality now exists in 37 states, and a the same transfer, housing, training and Supreme Court ruling expected soon, other support policies their straight mar- An Easy Write? perhaps even by the time this article ried colleagues have long enjoyed. The When the Journal sought my assess- is published, may institutionalize that policy changes pioneered at State have ment of how matters have changed for equality nationwide. become a template for similar accommo- State’s LGBT employees, I expected it But that optimism ignores the dations across the federal foreign affairs would be a breeze to write. Our country is situation in many of the countries to agency community. changing rapidly on these matters, after which LGBT talent and their families In addition, six openly gay ambas- all, and Foreign Service policies have are assigned. Given that navigating sadors, one a career officer, have been changed, as well. foreign cultures is bread-and-butter to tapped by the Obama administration to But as we enter the Obama adminis- the department’s many missions, State serve our country. A new special envoy tration’s home stretch, department man- should take greater note of that reality. position has been created to strengthen agers have proposed an effective end to From my work with the Council for how we integrate lesbian, gay, bisexual the same-sex domestic partner program. Global Equality (www.globalequality. and transgender issues into our broader Such a move would adversely affect org), I naturally see value in having human rights policy goals. LGBT employee families and careers, openly LGBT personnel representing our Yet these appointments are less blemishing in turn both the administra- country abroad, particularly in countries remarkable than the paucity of organized tion’s and Secretary of State John Kerry’s where fairness is little understood. Per- distinguished record of support for sonally, I also support marriage equality Michael Guest, a Foreign Ser- LGBT-fair policies. and believe strongly in the public and vice officer for 26 years, served Ending partners’ equal access to ben- community commitment that marriage as ambassador to Romania efits would also have negative repercus- represents. My own marriage is perhaps from 2001 to 2004. After retiring sions for State’s Foreign Service mobility the best decision I ever made. in 2007, he co-founded and con- needs. It would drop State behind many Still, gay, lesbian, bisexual and tinues to advise the Council for Global Equal- corporate and multinational employ- transgender friends and colleagues at ity, a coalition of human rights and LGBT ers, too, and set back innovation in how State and other foreign affairs agencies advocacy organizations that seek a strong and the department retains its talent, gay or are keenly aware that overseas postings consistent U.S. voice on LGBT human and straight. render decisions on whether to marry civil rights abroad. Let me explain. their partners complex. They are entitled

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 17 A marriage-for-benefits policy could as it is for our straight colleagues, and including partners in the Foreign Affairs complicate assignment of gay Foreign Manual’s already-expansive definition Service personnel to a range of gay- of “eligible family members” was an easy unfriendly places. and obvious fix. The “eligible family members” solution was one of the recommendations offered by President-elect Barack to that same understanding by their Obama’s State Department transition employer. team, on which I served. Secretary of My involvement with the Council State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s early attunes me daily to dangers in many places adoption of it led to one of the most strik- around the world that often attach to LGBT ing innovations of the administration’s individuals. In some cases, the partners 2009 domestic partner program: tacit rec- of lesbian and gay foreign affairs agency ognition that the department could base employees hail from countries where these the provision of employee benefits on a threats are grave. For them, an act of mar- broad definition of family, rather than on riage—entirely traceable in today’s Internet marital status. age—could carry negative consequences, Six years later, why would the Obama especially for families back home. administration retreat to a retrogressive And just as tabloids already have mali- position—again pinning provision of For- ciously exposed the identity of gay people eign Service benefits to marriage, rather in many homophobic countries, surely than embracing, without qualification, all they could do the same for our own per- families that accompany our employees sonnel. In that respect, the public aspects abroad? of a marriage-for-benefits policy could Michael Guest on the Jan. 29, 2008, cover of the nation’s leading LGBT complicate assignment of gay Foreign Putting Families First newsmagazine, The Advocate. Service personnel to a range of gay- Instead of ending the partner pro- unfriendly places. It also would seem to gram, logic would call for its expansion to counter the department’s own interest in spot in addressing the needs of unmar- include all unmarried couples, gay and assuring worldwide availability of talent. ried employees and their families in the straight alike. No doubt State will pledge to imple- multidimensional workforce its “Strong Since leaving our Service, I’ve been ment any change in policy flexibly, to State” agenda is presumably meant to privileged to work with, and learn from, account for special needs. But once out support. talent-support professionals from some of the bottle, the genie cannot be put To be blunt, tying benefits to mar- of America’s best corporations. Most back in. A recorded marriage may be riage, rather than to the employee, seems understand that their job is as much fine in Paris. But in today’s world, might a surprising throwback to … you guessed about retaining talent as it is about offer- open-source knowledge of that marriage it, the administration of President ing a solid, entry-level job. Innovative impede an onward assignment else- George W. Bush. State leaders during his policies to match what their companies’ where? presidency consistently turned back all best employees—single or otherwise— requests to address LGBT family needs need and expect is a preoccupation, not Wider Understanding by citing the supposed limitations of the an incidental concern. of Diversity Defense of Marriage Act. Great companies pull out stops to What I find far more troubling about Citing that law, of course, was a red make themselves employers of choice. the department’s trial balloon, however, herring. Family support is as much a They stay out of the marriage license is what it indicates about State’s blind prima facie need for LGBT employees business, opting instead for “employee

18 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL plus one” insurance and other benefits ing again in the political process. By the policies. If the department isn’t willing time I sat down with Secretary-designate to modernize its policies (or is just too Clinton, during the transition, to discuss cheap to do so), it may as well drop any the discriminatory impact of State’s pretense of being serious about winning practices, her leadership in seeking a the so-called “war for talent.” policy reversal seemed certain. She and An even-handed partner support Cheryl Mills, her talented chief of staff, policy—accessible by all, without respect approached gender and LGBT equality AFSA Scholarship to marriage—could be based on the from the standpoint of principle. AFSA.org/Scholar relationship affidavit requirements This time, I want to believe that contained in State’s current same-sex the department’s senior-most career Carlsbad International School domestic partner program. It would management leaders—those on the carlsbadschool.cz reflect service equities across our institu- seventh floor, and in the front offices of Clements Worldwide tion and community. It would be fair, and key bureaus—will be our champions. I clements.com would help State assure talent mobility to want them to present the case not only as meet mission-based needs. It also would to why continued LGBT accommodation Embassy Risk Management reflect the realities of today’s workforce is needed, for the well-being of gay and Embassyrisk.com expectations, in a highly competitive lesbian personnel who serve abroad, but international job market. how the service equities of our unmar- The Hirshorn Company Given the strains that overseas service ried straight colleagues demand the same Hirshorn.com/USFS inherently places on newly minted, not- treatment for them. I want our career yet-ready-to-marry couples, unmarried managers to fight for what’s right for the McGrath Real Estate Services employees don’t need shotgun weddings. long-term future of our Service, and of McGrathRealEstate.com They need employment mechanisms to the men and women who support Ameri- Peake Management, Inc. support their developing relationships, can interests abroad. www.peakeinc.com and to help lead toward stable marriages. I say this not to minimize the importance of political leadership. Sec. Kerry is Given the fact that unmarried LGBT PROMAX Management Inc. employee families already can receive a proven LGBT ally, and one who surely promaxrealtors.com partnership benefits, surely legal issues understands that supporting his people can be resolved to extend those same is critical to their, and ultimately his, suc- WJD Management benefits to all unmarried employees. cess. I’d like his tenure to be remembered wjdpm.com for ratcheting personnel policies forward Watching Each to better meet the needs of our multifac- Other’s Back eted workforce. A decade ago, when I was fighting the But wouldn’t it be heartwarming if department’s old, exclusionary poli- those charged with advancing career Ser- cies, I became disillusioned at how little vice needs were the ones to stand up and support I received from our Bureau of champion those changes? Wouldn’t it be Human Resources. Indeed, the director reassuring to know that we in the career general at the time told me flatly and Service have each other’s back? definitively that nothing could be done. The question isn’t whether we career Ultimately, that proved not to be the diplomats, past and present, can take a case. leadership role in transforming our per- When Senator Obama’s campaign sonnel support from good to great. called me in 2008 and pledged to fix these I know we can. The question is policies, I began a journey toward believ- whether we will. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 19 FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Human Rights for LGBT Persons: Aiming for Sustainable Progress A Q&A WITH SPECIAL ENVOY RANDY BERRY

Shawn Dorman: What will you do as Protecting the existence human rights issue, not as a special the Special Envoy for the Human Rights and rights of the LGBT or boutique issue. In that role, I’ll be engaging in an exciting new public- of LGBT Persons? What’s the job? community has become a Randy Berry: I’m thrilled to have private type of approach. the opportunity to work hard to protect, core issue in the U.S. human There are key elements of the job preserve and advance the human rights rights mission worldwide. that are inward facing, and those that of the global lesbian, gay, bisexual and are more outwardly focused. For the transgender community. I think it’s former, I’ll be playing a coordina- important to highlight that my new role isn’t “Special Envoy tion role, not only within State, but across federal agencies to for LGBT Rights”—it’s “Special Envoy for the Human Rights of ensure, as much as possible, that our approach to the global LGBT Persons.” It’s a meaningful distinction, since the con- protection of the rights of LGBT persons is uniform, consistent cept underscores our very approach to these issues—as a core and focused on tangible results. On the latter, in addition to the usual diplomacy we do with governments, an essential part of Randy Berry was appointed by the State Department as my job will be to engage robustly with civil society organiza- the first international envoy for the human rights of LGBT tions, foundations and businesses, both in the United States persons in February 2015. He joined the Foreign Service and overseas, on promoting greater respect for the essential in 1993 and has served as consul general in Amsterdam human rights of these people. from August 2012 through March 2015 and in Auckland from 2009 to 2012, and as deputy chief of mission at Embassy Nepal SD: Will you have a home bureau? DRL? from 2007 to 2009. Earlier assignments include Bangladesh, Egypt, RB: Yes. One of the most important aspects of the role—to Uganda and South Africa, as well as Washington, D.C. He and his hus- me, and I think to many others who care deeply about the sus- band, Pravesh Singh, have a 3-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son. tainability of our efforts—is that the work of the special envoy Berry graciously agreed to be interviewed over email by Editor Shawn is entirely coordinated with the other vital work of the Bureau Dorman in April while he was in transit, leaving his post in Amsterdam of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. That’s important and heading for Washington via a few days of leave. because we are not working on an issue of special rights—

20 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL KARA HALL/CONSULATE GENERAL AMSTERDAM Consul General Randy Berry hands over Consulate General Amsterdam’s first L2 visa issued to a same-sex spouse, Mr. Johannes Conradie, in August 2013. we’re working on an issue of human rights with a particular focus on a global community at risk. We are not working on an Embedded within DRL, I’ll be working to ensure that issue of special rights— respect for the human rights of LGBT persons is a key priority integrated into strategies across bureaus at State, and within we’re working on an issue the government as a whole. I mentioned in my remarks with of human rights with a Secretary of State John Kerry at the end of February that though this position is new, the core work is not—there’s an exception- particular focus on a ally talented group within DRL and the department as a whole global community at risk. who have been working hard on these issues since President Barack Obama and then-Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton identified them as a foreign policy priority in 2011. I’m honored to now be working with that team.

SD: Who will you work with inside State and among other international organizations, like the United Nations, European U.S. government, nongovernmental and international entities? Union and Organization of American States, among others. RB: Our network and range of partners will be broad and inclusive. Inside State, that means coordination and effec- SD: Who will be your counterparts overseas? tive communication with both the regional and functional RB: In addition to our government-to-government contacts, bureaus to ensure that the Secretary’s priority on this issue I will be placing a key priority on engagement with foreign civil is being approached in a consistent and meaningful manner. society organizations and with leading business interests. We More broadly in government, it means close coordination with must be attentive to the needs and opinions of local civil society our USAID colleagues and with the other agencies working in organizations, since they are doing the most difficult work, international policy and programming. It also will require an under some of the most difficult circumstances. They are also open and robust dialogue with leaders in U.S. civil society and the organizations, not unlike those here in the United States, that

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 21 EDGAR VAN DE BURGT/CONSULATE GENERAL AMSTERDAM Randy Berry engages with Amsterdam University students about his career in the Foreign Service.

I will be placing a key also empower Foreign Service members at our embassies to engage more deeply on these issues. One of the GEF’s tools that priority on engagement promotes this engagement is the LGBT small grants program. with foreign civil society Through small grants, our network of embassies and consulates is able to provide targeted support to grassroots organizations organizations and with working to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons. I look forward to working to build additional partnerships leading business interests. through the GEF, and beyond.

SD: As a gay FSO, have you faced difficulties working in and with countries where homosexuality is still illegal? RB: Complications, yes; but difficulties, not really. I’ve been have the capacity to work for change in constructive and mean- extremely fortunate to have worked with positive, supportive ingful ways. Our first rule will be to do no harm. But do no harm mission teams throughout my career, and under the leadership doesn’t mean do nothing. It means we must engage in creative of some truly impressive chiefs of mission, who have effec- ways within the context of broad partnerships and coalitions. tively set the tone in terms of acceptance and equality within One key way we are currently partnering with like-minded our embassies and consulates overseas. I’ve worked in several governments, private foundations and business leaders is countries that criminalize same-sex relationships, including through the Global Equality Fund, which was launched in 2011 Bangladesh, Egypt and Uganda; but I can honestly say that I as a public-private partnership to support programs to advance never encountered a serious level of difficulty in any of those the human rights of LGBT persons around the world. Through places. However, I’m also well aware that this is not the norm, the fund, we’re able to provide critically needed support to and that at least part of that lack of difficulty also stemmed civil society organizations in the work that they are doing and from being a U.S. diplomat, which somewhat shielded me from

22 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL the types of harassment and inequality that nationals face in those countries.

SD: Can you tell us about your experience in Uganda and elsewhere, any examples of times when you worked on promoting tolerance and reducing discrimination? RB: Over the course of my career, I’ve worked in a number of roles that have dealt with promoting tolerance and reducing discrimination, mostly between either religious or ethnic communities. But the principle of equality remains the same, regardless of the identity of the group. As a refugee coordinator in the African Great Lakes Region, which was one of my most meaningful tours in the Foreign Service, I spent a lot of time working in dis- placement camps and with some amazingly dedicated staff within U.N. agencies, the AMSTERDAM GENERAL BURGT/CONSULATE DE VAN EDGAR In commemoration of the victims of 9/11, Consulate General Amsterdam has an Red Cross and local organizations to care annual event to give back to those less fortunate. Here Randy Berry and staff member for those who had largely been the victims Heidi Westfa are frying hamburgers for an Amsterdam homeless shelter in October of tribal or ethnic strife. 2014. A key element there was reintegrating people into their communities and sending the message that ting, with mission support, the draft human rights report on diversity is a strength, not a point of division. That’s an essentially Uganda in 1998 and 1999, which included a reference to hard- American viewpoint, isn’t it? E pluribus unum—out of many, one. ships experienced by the LGBT community. Report editors In my work in South Africa on the President’s Emergency Plan for in DRL at the time removed the material, indicating that this AIDS Relief account, I worked with organizations seeking to stop didn’t fall within our concept of human rights at that time. discrimination against HIV-positive individuals. Now, DRL is the engine that drives our efforts. That’s a pretty But I’d also note that it took my last tour in Amsterdam, a positive change in my book. place renowned for its historical tolerance, to learn that while tolerance is a commendable step forward from division, con- SD: What lessons did you learn from those experiences, and flict and persecution, it isn’t enough of a goal in and of itself. what lessons will you bring to the new position? Tolerance is a point along our path to the embrace of diversity. RB: I learned to be persistent, consistent and not confuse progress with perfection. Progress and pragmatism will guide SD: Can you share any particular successes and/or times my efforts, and we’ll need to work to realize that in some when progress was not possible? places, our successes will be measured in small, but impor- RB: I’m proud of my work in South Africa with the organiza- tant, ways. It would be a mistake to think that just by applying tion Mothers2Mothers, which works with HIV-positive mothers greater political pressure the United States can effect a change to provide proper health information and to care for, educate of hearts and minds or of policy. and empower young women. While my experiences with the Engagement to promote greater human rights observance organization related to its first sites in the townships surround- across the board by speaking clearly and openly to governing Cape Town, they’re now working extensively throughout ments is important, but it’s not going to achieve the results Africa and elsewhere. we’d like in every case—particularly in more difficult environ- On the flip side of success, I do recall writing and submit- ments. That will take a broader, more nuanced and sometimes

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 23 quieter approach to ensure we’re making sustainable progress, and doing so within a broad range of partnerships.

SD: In terms of LGBT issues, how has the culture of the State Department changed over time? RB: I think there has been tremendous evolution, but I have also always found leadership and colleagues within the department to be committed to fairness, open-mindedness and equality. I believe the department mirrors the much broader evolution on equality and treatment of the LGBT community that has occurred in the country during recent years.

SD: What is different today compared to when you came into the Service in the early 1990s? RB: I entered the Foreign Service just after the policy under which FSOs could lose their security clearances due to sexual orientation effectively ended. That had meant basically losing your job if you came out. So much has changed since then. But I think it’s important to note that change came about due to a sense of fairness from department leadership, and also through FSOs engaging and working with allies to ensure change. I’m thinking of Ambassador Michael Guest, our first openly gay career FSO, who faced some formidable challenges; and of those who founded Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies, including Ted Osius, now serving as ambassador to Vietnam. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of joining an event in Washington where all six sitting openly gay ambassadors were in attendance. That’s a fairly visible and tangible sign of progress, though there’s still room to go, of course.

SD: What challenges remain? In this position, will you be getting involved in advocacy for LGBT rights at home? RB: The last few years have seen tremendous positive change in the rights and benefits for LGBT members of the Foreign Ser- vice. With the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision and subsequent steps taken by the Obama administration, even more substantial progress has been made on ensuring that LGBT FSOs receive equal benefits. Clearly, though, challenges remain—including the fact that there are a significant number of countries that fail to provide proper diplomatic accreditation to LGBT family members, which obviously reduces the number of countries in which LGBT families can serve. GLIFAA has done a commendable job of engaging with department leadership on these issues. While I clearly care about, and am personally and professionally affected by, this set of issues, in my role as special envoy I’ll be focusing my efforts on progress in the international sphere. n

24 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

How Far We’ve Come, How Far We Have to Go: GLIFAA in 2015

With significant successes to celebrate, GLIFAA is broadening its reach in the campaign for full equality for LGBT individuals.

BY SELIM ARITURK

s our country has changed, so, too, transgender; we like to think the + stands for every additional “let- has GLIFAA. The group that was ter” one could conceivably think of—including any that our allies founded in 1992 as Gays and Lesbi- might choose. ans in Foreign Affairs Agencies now For those who remember the dark days of the “Lavender welcomes more and more members Scare,” or have read the book of the same title, and know about the who are neither gay nor lesbian. terrible witch hunts to root out all the “pansies” and “pinkos” at Some of them identify as bisexual or State throughout the Cold War, but particularly during the 1950s, transgender, and some as allies. our March 24 event with six “out” ambassadors was an inspiring With that reality in mind, this year reminder of just how far the march toward equality has brought us. our members voted to make our acronym our name: GLIFAA. Imagine: Six out and proud ambassadors on stage, each talk- AEveryone has always been welcome in GLIFAA, and we want to ing about the work he can do more effectively because he can be make that openness even more explicit. Similarly, our new tagline open. Now imagine that panel being moderated by Stuart Milk, is “LGBT+ Pride in Foreign Affairs Agencies.” I suspect most FSJ nephew of the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, who readers will know that LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and so famously showed us the importance of being out in government service. This may have seemed unimaginable to GLIFAA’s Selim Ariturk, a Foreign Service officer since 2005, teaches founders in 1992, but in March the whole thing was recorded and public diplomacy training courses at the Foreign Service beamed around the world on msnbc.com for any post to use as Institute. His overseas postings have included Seoul, they tell this very American story. Baku and Erbil. The president of GLIFAA (originally Gays Many of GLIFAA’s founders were in the room for that event. and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies), he previously One, Ted Osius, was on the panel as an out ambassador. Another, served as that organization’s policy director, vice president and first post Jan Krc, was among those who were once kicked out of the Foreign representative coordinator (when that position was created in 2009). Service just for being gay. Jan sued to get back in, lost, and then, The views expressed here are his alone and not necessarily those of the after the law changed, showed his great patriotism by signing up U.S. government. to join our proud Foreign Service once more.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 25 More than half of Foreign serve. The Obama administration has appointed more openly gay ambassadors than all its predecessors combined. Still, we have Service postings abroad not yet seen an out woman, or an out ambassador of color. If we’re are in countries that will going to live up to the example of Harvey Milk and other LGBT+ pioneers, we need Secretary Kerry to keep his promise to be the not grant diplomatic status first Secretary of State to appoint openly lesbian, bisexual and to our family members. transgender chiefs of mission, as well. This year, transgender employees and family members in the foreign affairs community finally gained access to health insurance. Before that, the Office of Personnel Management required Have we reached full equality yet? If the next A-100 class were all plans to exclude any care related to gender transition, so many to welcome a lesbian candidate, her straight brother and their health care providers interpreted that language so broadly that all transgender sister, would each of them have an equal shot at suc- care for a person who had transitioned was excluded. Thankfully, cess in the Foreign Service? OPM has changed, and those hurtful days are over. We salute the I wish I could say yes. I wish I could say all our work was done. American Foreign Service Protective Association and Aetna for But instead, let me tell you some of the challenges GLIFAA is leading the way by offering plans that welcome our transgender working on today. colleagues. Still, our transgender peers cannot yet count on well-informed, A Good Start, But… discreet handling of information around their gender status in all Let’s start with the positive: the great progress we have seen. personnel, medical and security channels, nor within communi- Employees who fall in love with someone of the same sex may ties at posts abroad. Being transgender is very different from being now marry legally in 37 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. lesbian, gay or bisexual. While some are proud to be out, many The federal government recognizes those marriages, and the other transgender individuals want nothing more than to be qui- employees and their spouses all enjoy the same benefits and etly known as members of the gender to which they belong. Each protections from Uncle Sam as their heterosexual colleagues. In of us should support their wishes in that regard, and address them addition, transgender individuals are serving proudly in the ranks as they wish to be addressed. of the department and are counted among family members within our Foreign Service community. And in February, Secretary of Love and Marriage State John Kerry announced the appointment of Randy Berry as Many well-meaning friends and colleagues ask, “Now that the first Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons. gays and lesbians can get married just like anyone else, should we With all those accomplishments, why aren’t we there yet? do away with domestic partner protections?” The answer is that, Well, to start, many foreign governments do not recognize our quite simply, the unique challenges faced by GLIFAA members relationships. More than half of Foreign Service postings abroad mean that we can’t get married “just like anyone else.” Imagine are in countries that will not grant diplomatic status to our family if that lesbian officer, her straight brother and their transgender members. In some of those societies, both the government and sister are all hired into A-100 as Russian speakers, then posted to some citizens are actively hostile to LGBT+ persons, and GLIFAA Moscow, where all three fall in love with Russian women. Who members serving in such places face discrimination, harassment would claim that these employees are similarly situated, much and violence. less that each can get married—in Moscow or anywhere—“just The LGBT+ staff who come to GLIFAA for support are not like anyone else”? surprised to learn how much discrimination there is around the There is simply no comparison in terms of the challenges they world, but they are surprised to learn how little the department face—and that’s why a small but important number of GLIFAA does to push back against those governments. Too often, we hear members might never feel safe getting married. In countries that it’s the employee who feels pushed—either to go along and around the world, a marriage certificate is a public record, and the stop complaining, or to find another job. sad truth is that any foreign diplomat can march into a Wash- All of us at GLIFAA are so proud of the six out ambassadors, ington, D.C., court and say, “I want a copy of Svetlana’s marriage and of the president and the Secretary of State under whom they certificate right now.”

26 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Today, most American companies recognize all domestic partnerships. Wal-Mart and Olive Garden are among those who give domestic partner benefits to their staff, gay and straight alike. More and more young people join the Foreign Service and go abroad with unmarried partners, whether the department pays for it or not. What ambassador would like to tell a partner, gay or straight, in the middle of a natural disaster or terrorist attack: “We’re evacuating post, but I guess you’re not a recognized eligible family member, so best of luck and let us know how it works out?” We believe the fairest way forward for the department is to follow the example set by American business: count all COURTESY OF GLIFAA GLIFAA’s board of directors with Secretary of State John Kerry (center) and other guests at domestic partners as EFMs. the June 2014 Pride event at the State Department. Front row, from left: Selim Ariturk, David Finally, as much as this progress Kim, AFSA Counsel and winner of the 2014 GLIFAA Equality Award Sharon Papp, Russian- has benefited our American col- American writer and activist Masha Gessen, Jay Gilliam and Blake Bergen. Back row, from left: John McGuire, Kerry Neal, Robyn McCutcheon, Sec. Kerry, Janice Caramanica of the leagues, we must remember that our Office of Civil Rights, Chris Hoh and Jeramee Rice. locally employed staff in most countries do not enjoy the same rights and protections, either under U.S. law, or in their home legal systems A small but important and societies. In many countries, these colleagues are exposed to severe discrimination, harassment, violence, arrest or even death number of GLIFAA if they are known or suspected to be LGBT. Sometimes we can and do help LE staff in dire need with asylum applications, but the pro- members might never feel cess of being forced to leave home for your own safety is inherently safe getting married. a traumatic one.

The Importance of Hope U.S. missions abroad must reflect our highest standards and the full breadth of our society. So it is important to continue Though it has been a long time coming, our country’s progress expanding the visibility and diversity of LGBT+ colleagues and toward tolerance is inspiring. Although much work remains, we family members in the foreign affairs community. know that we have a president and a Secretary of State who have We need to ensure that everyone is up to date on policies that done a great deal, and who appreciate the unmet challenges. have removed earlier discrimination. And we must press foreign I remain optimistic that by the end of their terms, we will see governments to recognize and protect all U.S. diplomats and their a Foreign Service that even better represents the full diversity of families, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, even as we our great country. And, I remain optimistic that when I’m in Jan press them to extend equal protection to their own LGBT+ citizens. Krc’s shoes, looking back on all I’ve seen in my career, I, too, will Harvey Milk famously said “You gotta give ’em hope,” and for see a Foreign Service that is stronger and more diverse than ever. all of us in GLIFAA, and for so many people who are struggling We wouldn’t be honoring Harvey Milk’s sacrifice if we settled for around the world, our out ambassadors are doing just that. anything less. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 27 FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Promoting an LGBT-Inclusive Human Rights Agenda

The progress of LGBT rights in Europe and the Americas has elicited a backlash in other parts of the world. Strong U.S. leadership can help reverse this alarming trend and mitigate the threat of widespread violence.

BY RICHMOND BLAKE

he violent extremist group that The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community calls itself the Islamic State recently is not only under violent attack from this barbaric violent released a series of videos in which extremist group, but from various hate groups, vigilantes and black-hooded men are seen push- governments around the world. Human rights organizations ing victims from the top of high-rise report that so far this year, scores of LGBT persons have been buildings. The clips depict people murdered or imprisoned simply because of who they are and gathering below to watch the victims, whom they love. More than 75 countries outlaw homosexuality, accused of being gay, fall to their and in at least seven of them, the penalty is death. deaths before maiming their corpses. The social and political success of the LGBT movement, notably in Europe and the Americas, has elicited a strong TRichmond Blake serves as a special assistant in the Office backlash in other parts of the world. A Pew Research Center of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democ- survey reports that in many African and Middle Eastern coun- racy and Human Rights. In 2013, he received the State tries, more than nine in 10 people say they do not accept LGBT Department’s Human Rights and Democracy Achieve- people as part of their society. ment Award for his work as a political officer in La Eager to win votes or to distract from corruption or other Paz. The master’s thesis he co-authored, “Protecting Vulnerable LGBT government failings, politicians often play to this popular Populations: An Opportunity for U.S. Global Leadership,” was awarded homophobic and transphobic sentiment. This strategy has Harvard University’s top prize for graduate-level research in the field of resulted in draconian new anti-LGBT laws and frequent arrests human rights in 2011. around the world, and it exacerbates a cultural climate that not

28 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL only permits but encourages harassment and discrimination, which often leads to violence.

Providing External Assistance to Support Local Leadership In many countries, the LGBT community does not have the financial resources or the political clout to defend itself; and in the places where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are most in need, the broader human rights community often fails to offer meaningful support. With such widespread animosity, the potential for larger-scale arrests, attacks or even the systematic elimination of LGBT persons remains a serious threat. In the absence of local support for these vulnerable populations, only the international community, including the United States, can offer the aid this embattled minority group des- perately needs. U.S. leadership, expressed through a strong, sustained diplomatic effort, is required to reverse the backslid- ing on LGBT rights and to mitigate the threat of widespread violence. This human rights priority will necessitate that the United States government employ its full arsenal of diplomatic tools from robust public diplomacy to foreign assistance. But the persistent challenge for Washington and other external actors is how to best offer support without further inflaming the backlash, or opening indigenous LGBT groups up to accu- sations of being foreign-driven. Recognizing the inherent risk in providing external support, a U.S. LGBT rights promotion strategy must be flexible, not “one size fits all.” Mindful that effective interventions vary widely across the globe, Washington should develop country- specific strategies in partnership with local gay community leaders. Following the lead of local LGBT actors and their allies on these issues is essential, since they are the most credible and persuasive voices within their own communities, and have the most finely tuned cultural and political understanding of the opportunities for LGBT rights promotion in their countries. An approach that seeks to lift up and empower the local gay community also offers the long-term benefit of creating powerful, sustainable partners who will become less dependent on external assistance over time.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 29 COURTESY OF RICHMOND BLAKE Richmond Blake visits Caquiaviri, Bolivia, in 2013 to meet with female entrepreneurs who formed a sewing microenterprise with the support of the Office of Global Women’s Issues. The 18-month project, “Strengthening Sewing Microenterprises to Increase Incomes for Indigenous Women in Rural Bolivia,” created eight sewing cooperatives to provide economic opportunity for more than 80 women in the La Paz department community.

Supporting Our New Special Envoy raising global awareness about its plight, and will develop and The United States has already taken significant steps to coordinate U.S. rapid-response mechanisms to address new address anti-LGBT violence and discrimination worldwide, threats. Berry will also amplify the effect of the State Depart- and there is a history of bipartisan support in Congress for ment’s work by raising additional funds to support LGBT rights diplomatic efforts to protect the international LGBT com- promotion initiatives through public-private partnerships. munity. In 2010, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution But as important as the creation of the position is to condemning anti-gay legislation and encouraging the Secretary advancing a comprehensive LGBT rights-promotion strategy, of State to closely monitor anti-LGBT human rights abuses and the special representative will need the support of the entire to work to repeal egregious laws. diplomatic service, especially from frontline officers. Every Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry have been bilateral relationship has its own nuances, and opportunities quick to condemn hate-motivated attacks, and they have led for engagement on LGBT issues differ from post to post. Yet multilateral efforts to codify international recognition of rights there are low-cost options that every mission can immediately for LGBT persons. With robust U.S. backing, last September the pursue, not just to fulfill its obligation to monitor and report United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution on the status of gay rights, but to protect the LGBT population calling for an end to violence and discrimination against lesbian, from the violence and discrimination that plague it. gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development financially Offering Support in Hostile Anti-LGBT support foreign gay and trans rights organizations, and are also Environments empowering diplomatic missions, using the Bureau of Democ- Even in country contexts where public U.S. advocacy for racy, Human Rights and Labor’s small grants program, to sup- LGBT rights could provoke a political backlash, there are port LGBT rights-promotion initiatives tailored to local contexts. opportunities for engagement. U.S. embassies can work behind Certainly, Sec. Kerry’s February appointment of Randy the scenes to promote LGBT issues within the broader civil Berry as the first-ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of society context. Embassies can encourage existing civil society LGBT Persons in February is a significant diplomatic achieve- partners to initiate programming or to speak publicly in sup- ment, and it is an important sign of the strong U.S. commit- port of tolerance and nonviolence. Finding and amplifying ment to LGBT rights. The position creates a new realm of powerful religious or cultural voices that support protections opportunity for protecting this vulnerable community, by for the LGBT community could begin to change local attitudes

30 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Mindful that effective interventions vary widely across the globe, Washington should develop country-specific strategies in partnership with local gay community leaders.

and allow enough space for local organizations to begin to operate safely in the open. In repressive environments, the U.S. government can work closely with local LGBT organizations to provide seed grants to support local research and monitoring of violence and discrimination and facilitate publication of their findings. Embas- sies can also provide support for embattled activists to speak at international conferences or multilateral fora, or with foreign media, to refute the claim of some governments that no LGBT persons live within their borders. U.S. embassies and consulates can subtly signal support of LGBT rights at representational and public affairs events. Embassy Independence Day celebrations, for instance, present an opportunity to expose local political leaders to LGBT advocates and their families. In climates where such individuals are uncomfortable with coming out, embassies can host cultural events, such as art exhibits, featuring the work of anonymous but local LGBT artists and activists. And when illiberal politicians call for violence against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, or when repressive governments arrest them and hold sham trials, the U.S. government must send clear and unequivocal signals of its dismay. LGBT organizations that operate in the most repressive environments indicate that it is typically unhelpful for the U.S. government to take a public role in support of LGBT rights; however, in the most dire situations or in crisis scenarios, most LGBT advocates want Washington to take a strong, public role. When I was conducting research in Uganda on effective interventions to support the LGBT community in January 2011, for instance, local organizations made clear to me that to com- bat the anti-homosexuality bill then pending in Parliament,

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 31 U.S. missions in hostile environments must work hand in hand with the local LGBT community to identify the red line at which point the benefit of U.S. public intervention would outweigh concerns of a backlash.

they not only supported, but needed public U.S. engagement. (A version of the legislation was later passed and then ruled invalid by the Constitutional Court in 2014.) Ugandan activists point to the power of Sec. Clinton’s public pressure on their government as a successful model, and expressed concern about the potential consequences if U.S. public pressure were to wane. With that in mind, missions representing the U.S. government in hostile environments must work hand in hand with the local LGBT community to identify the red line at which point the benefit of U.S. public intervention would outweigh concerns of a backlash. Ideally, Washington would also rally like-minded countries to sign on to the same plan in advance, to facilitate a rapid, multilateral response when crisis-level, anti-LGBT situations arise.

Advancing a Public Diplomacy Approach In countries that provide some legal protections for LGBTs, but where violence and discrimination persist, the U.S. government can play a strong role in accelerating the spread of tolerance. Diplomatic missions can work to empower the local LGBT community by providing seed grants to nascent organizations or to fund joint projects executed by several fractious groups to encourage the consolidation of political power. U.S. embassies can arrange educational exchanges to allow local leaders to seek training in the United States on successful advocacy practices that can then be implemented locally. And by leveraging existing relationships with local law enforcement institutions, missions can conduct human rights training that

32 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL is inclusive of LGBT rights, to sensitize local law enforcement to the dangers that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens face and how best to offer them protection. U.S. embassies can also use a wide array of public diplomacy tools to support the local LGBT community. In fact, last year alone, more than 120 missions engaged in some form of public diplomacy in support of the local LGBT community. Missions can amplify local organizations’ outreach on their Web platforms or lend credibility to the organizations by hosting events, like film screenings or research presentations, featuring the participation of high-level embassy personnel, including the ambassador. Embassies can also host prominent American LGBT media, political or sports personalities, who can use their star power to make personal appeals through local media interviews and other public engagements.

An Urgent Need Advocating for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in other societies is extremely difficult—and in many places, it can be dangerous. But the need could not be greater or more urgent. The advocates I have met in my work with the State Department—a straight South African woman whose sister was a victim of the terribly misguided “correc- tive rape” phenomenon, a prominent Ugandan activist who was later brutally murdered in his own home and a Bolivian transgender woman forced to flee violence in her indigenous community—all press for the same thing: They ask that I share their stories with the American people and the U.S. government. These activists are not looking to the outside world to solve their problems or to lead their movements. But they are seeking partnership, resources, strategic advice and training, and diplomatic assistance to defend themselves. LGBT rights are now a core component of our efforts to advance human rights globally—what Sec. Kerry rightly calls “the heart and conscience of our diplomacy.” All U.S. diplomats, especially those serving in the most anti-LGBT environments, have an opportunity and responsibility to advance this national human rights priority. Working strategically in partnership with local human rights advocates, our diplomats can improve social attitudes toward this vulnerable population. And in the process, they can help eliminate the widespread violence and discrimination that continue to threaten LGBT persons around the world. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 33 FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Diversity in Diplomacy: The Mentoring Dimension

It is one thing to recruit a diverse workforce; it is quite another to sustain that diversity into the senior ranks and reap the benefits. Mentoring is one of the keys.

BY JENNIFER ZIMDAHL GALT AND THAO ANH TRAN

iversity in all its forms is important at of asymmetric advantage—the challenge is to leverage that advan- every rank of the Foreign Service. As tage. We need and deserve an organizational culture that incor- representatives of the United States, porates all types of diversity to assure new officers and specialists we should reflect our nation’s diversity, that they can aspire to successful careers in the Foreign Service. a core American value from which It is no secret that the Foreign Service needs more diversity. we draw our strength. A more diverse According to the 2014 promotion statistics, gender and racial Foreign Service also will contribute to disparity persists in promotions and the gaps widen at the Senior more effective foreign policymaking. Foreign Service level. From FS-4 to FS-3, promotion rates for The different perspectives that men and women were roughly equal at 42.7 percent for men come from embracing diversity can give the United States a kind vs. 40.4 percent for women, whereas from OC to MC, only 23.9 D percent of those promoted were women vs. 30.3 percent men. Thao Anh Tran served in Guangzhou from The pool of eligible minority candidates for promotion shrinks 2012 to 2014. She is currently in language significantly at the higher ranks. From FS-1 to OC, of 379 who training at FSI in preparation for her as- competed, only 49 were non-white and 127 were women. From signment to a rotational political/consular MC to CM, only 29 non-whites vs. 132 whites and 44 women vs. officer position in Panama starting in late 117 men competed for promotions. July. Jennifer Zimdahl Galt is in the final months of her tour as principal We believe that a robust mentorship program is vital to officer in Guangzhou, where she has served since 2012. She was recently achieving and sustaining greater diversity in the Foreign Service. nominated to be the next ambassador to Mongolia. The authors will be The State Department’s advancements in recruiting minorities maintaining their mentor-mentee partnership across 12 time zones for and ensuring equity across the diversity spectrum should be the next tour, as they have been doing since Thao Anh’s December 2014 expanded to sustain diversity into the senior ranks. We propose departure from Guangzhou. embedding diversity into the mentoring program, and offer tips The views in this article are entirely those of the authors and do not based on our own experience for how mentors and mentees can represent the views of the Department of State. establish more fulfilling, diversity-focused partnerships.

34 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL A Diversity-Focused Mentoring Program: A Worthy Investment The State Department’s formal mentoring program for members of the Foreign Service has three components: The first two provide structured mentoring for entry- level generalists and specialists; a third component allows mid-level professionals to request situational mentoring at a specific time to help quickly resolve problems. Mentors and mentees submit forms to the Bureau of Human Resources, and the Mentor Council pairs them up based on shared interests. Both mentor and mentee may dissolve the mentoring relationship at any time by mutual agreement. A diversity-focused mentoring program has the power to alter participants’ behaviors for the better in terms of their ability to interact with a diverse group GUANGZHOU GENERAL CONSULATE SECTION/U.S. AFFAIRS PUBLIC Consul General Galt and Thao Anh Tran tour the Guangzhou English Training Center for the of people, process diverse ideas Handicapped campus during a September 2014 visit to the school to promote education and and internalize diverse values. It disability rights in south China. CG Galt delivered a speech to kick off the new academic year; also provides members of under- Thao Anh served as her control officer. represented groups with career advancement paths in the Foreign Service. When managers mentor with a focus on diversity, they officers (ELOs) and specialists can best engage with mentors for acquire a heightened awareness and become strong advocates their mutual benefit. Class mentors should meet with each ELO for diversity across the department. We propose four changes and specialist individually or in small groups throughout their to improve the program’s overall effectiveness and establish the training. With a better understanding of the assistance mentors vital connection between mentoring and diversity. can provide, ELOs and specialists will be more likely to stay in 1. Make sustaining diversity a mentoring program goal. touch and seek additional mentorship opportunities later in While the Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel Fel- their careers. The department should guarantee that all ELOs lowships are good first steps to help bring diverse minorities and specialists will be assigned formal mentors on completion into the Foreign Service, formal and informal mentor-mentee of initial training and before they take up their first assignments. partnerships can help sustain diversity beyond the recruitment 3. Mentor-mentee matching should be employee-driven stage. These partnerships enable both parties to reciprocate rather than HR-directed. Instead of the Mentor Council exchanges and to be included in each other’s networks, which pairing mentors and mentees, we propose that the program will enhance and sustain diversity over time. supply a list of short biographies of available mentors and allow 2. Formalize and strengthen the role of A-100 and special- mentees to decide which would be a good fit for them, possibly ist class mentors. During A-100 and specialist classes is the via SharePoint or another intranet site. Prospective mentees ideal time to discuss the role of mentorship and how entry-level could search for available mentors, while mentors decide for

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 35 who could benefit from guidance on tackling professional challenges throughout their careers. As mentors, senior managers gain a better understanding of the talents that exist within the Foreign Service and can deploy human resources in ways that benefit the whole organization. Mentees can learn from watching their mentors in action and, later, emulate their best qualities and behaviors. When senior managers serving as mentors demonstrate respect for diversity, more junior employees, especially minorities from underrepresented populations, will be inspired

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION/U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL GUANGZHOU GENERAL CONSULATE SECTION/U.S. AFFAIRS PUBLIC to stay in for a career. CG Galt greets a participant in the 20th anniversary celebration of the Guangzhou Our own mentor-mentee relationship is both English Training Center for the Handicapped, a school that provides disabled unique and illustrative. We were fortunate to serve students with higher education and English-language skills to prepare them for employment after graduation. Thao Anh is nearby capturing images on an iPad for together at Consulate General Guangzhou, and CG Galt’s microblog. to have reaped immediate rewards from our partnership. Thao Anh’s out-rotation to the front office led to her heightened interest in public diplomacy A true partnership means outreach. She had the opportunity to observe Consul General Galt understanding the interact with her Chinese counterparts and the Chinese public. CG Galt’s encouragement to Thao Anh led to their joint cooperation diversity that each brings on several social media projects, including creation of the “Voice of to the relationship. the CG” position, whereby first- and second-tour officers have the opportunity to draft microblog posts for the CG’s hashtag. Another example was creation of an interactive map on the consulate web- themselves how many mentees they are able to provide guidance site where Chinese netizens can track the CG’s travel and public to at any point in time. Mentors and mentees could update the site events. Throughout our collaboration, CG Galt benefited enor- following a successful match. mously from Thao Anh’s expertise in social media, which helped 4. Provide incentives for mentoring. The Director Gen- strengthen her outreach to diverse audiences. For Thao Anh’s part, eral’s March 2015 cable notes that mid-level and senior officers as a political-coned officer, she was inspired by watching CG Galt are encouraged to include mentoring among their formal work in action and plans to bid on public diplomacy positions in the requirements. We recommend extending this to all FS-1 and SFS future. officers and specialists, regardless of their positions. This would Over the course of two years, we formed a strong partnership add depth to mentoring at posts where currently only the DCM or that has stood the test of time and geography. Our experience also principal officer has formal mentoring responsibilities. We further provided us with insights on how the department can leverage recommend that the department develop a system of incentives to its mentoring program to promote a more diverse and inclusive encourage officers and specialists to become mentors and to take Foreign Service. Here are our tips for other mentoring partners. their mentoring responsibilities seriously, particularly with regard • True Partnerships. Successful mentor-mentee pairings are to promoting diversity. true partnerships that benefit both parties. While the mentor is clearly the more experienced, this should not preclude her or him Tips for Successful Diversity-Focused Partnerships from also learning from the mentee. A true partnership means Given the many different personalities in the Foreign Service, understanding the diversity that each brings to the relationship. each mentor-mentee partnership will likely require a different The key is respect for that diversity and the desire to see it carry prescription for success. Interactions within partnerships can help through to the highest ranks of the Foreign Service. mentors identify talented colleagues from different backgrounds Communication. Regular and focused communication is

36 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL essential for an effective and enduring partnership. Mentees should initiate contact with their mentors and come to every meeting with prepared agendas. We encourage mentees to articulate their expectations. Being able to effectively manage partnerships with mentors is a great way to learn to be proactive in personal and professional development. Mentees also have the opportunity to learn how to “manage up,” a valuable

Foreign Service skill. Meanwhile, GUANGZHOU GENERAL CONSULATE SECTION/U.S. AFFAIRS PUBLIC mentors should demonstrate interest CG Galt listens to Jay Vinyard, a 91-year-old U.S. veteran Hump pilot, describe his experiences in World War II as part of the opening ceremony of the Flying Tigers Heritage and commitment by gauging their Park in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 28. mentees’ needs and always respond- ing to communications in a timely manner. Locally employed and Civil Motivation and expectations. Mentees should enter partnerships with the appropriate motivation, while mentors should Service colleagues can continually challenge their mentees to pursue opportunities that also be fantastic mentors, are advantageous for their long-term career prospects. Mentees should not assume mentors are obligated to help them secure lending their cultural and future assignments. Instead, mentees should strive to build a institutional knowledge. foundation of mutual trust and understanding with their mentors. Through regular interaction over time, mentees will learn skills to enhance their competitiveness in the bidding process. with authenticity—both characteristics that can aid diplomats in Meanwhile, mentors should be prepared to assume multiple their daily work. Since mentors are not usually in one’s chain of roles, including serving as a sounding board and providing acco- command, mentees can freely share concerns without regard to lades and support at certain times. position or EER. Mentoring partnerships offer ELOs a chance to Learning and growing equally. Both parties should actively learn to work comfortably with more senior managers. participate in learning and growing together. Mentees will feel Confidentiality. While mentor-mentee partnerships are not more invested in ensuring a successful partnership if they are exclusive, any information shared should remain confidential to given the opportunity to contribute as equal partners and to enhance the openness and strength of the relationship. Mentors reciprocate their mentors’ contributions over time. should not disclose information in their mentees’ EERs without Sharing experiences and constructive feedback. Mentors their prior consent. Mentees should keep private conversations should strive to encourage their mentees to share their previous with their mentors truly private. experiences and perspectives, and both should be prepared to • Multiple Partnerships. Having access to multiple mentors provide each other positive and constructive feedback. Mentors will enable mentees to receive different types of support. We can help entry-level employees learn the unwritten rules of the recognize that mentors and mentees will not always live in the Foreign Service, while mentees can provide valuable input as new same city, and that relationships may evolve over time. For this employees of the department. Mentees are frequently able to pro- reason, we recommend that mentees be proactive in seeking out vide expertise in areas where their mentors may lack familiarity. multiple mentors—including a mentor whose personal back- Networking. Among the many benefits for mentees is the abil- ground, age, gender, race and professional experience differs ity to tap into their mentors’ networks of information and influ- significantly from their own. In fact, partnerships with great dif- ence. Mentees also will learn to develop mutual trust and interact ferences between the mentee and mentor offer the greatest learn-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 37 ing potential for both parties given the different insights they can mentoring, it is an absolute prerequisite for a successful online provide each other. mentoring partnership. Both mentor and mentee must redouble • Diverse Partnerships. Employees should seek to form part- commitments to be responsive to one another. While we recom- nerships with colleagues who share a commitment to diversity mend face-to-face interactions whenever possible, electronic and professional development. We urge mentors to seek out communication can offer some advantages. Mentees may be mentees who do not share their backgrounds or career paths or less conscious of their mentors’ rank or position and be more mentees who have less experience and might benefit from the forthright in their exchanges. mentors’ guidance. We encourage mentees to seek out senior colleagues from whom they could learn. A mentor’s background Let the Partnerships Begin! is less important than his or her willingness to provide assistance A diplomatic corps that is diverse in gender, race, sexual and an unwavering commitment to the mentee's short- and orientation, national origin, physical ability, and personal and long-term career goals. Locally employed and Civil Service col- professional background, including the Senior Foreign Service, leagues can also be fantastic mentors, lending their cultural and will help ensure that our Service truly reflects our nation’s diver- institutional knowledge. sity. It will also ensure that the State Department has the benefit • Virtual Partnerships. Given our mobility as Foreign Service of diverse perspectives and insights in foreign policymaking. members, virtual mentoring enables mentors and mentees to We encourage all officers and specialists to get involved as take advantage of today’s technological tools to conquer geogra- mentors and mentees. This is a collective effort that demands phy and time zones to maintain long-term partnerships. While commitment from all of us. Let’s work together to achieve and open and honest communication is necessary for in-person sustain diversity across the Foreign Service ranks. n

38 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Toward a Foreign Service Reflecting America

he Foreign Two innovative (52 women, 48 men). In general, however, Service is the programs—the Thomas despite the narrowing gap, most classes face of America R. Pickering Fellowship remain male majority. Overall, women around the world, represent nearly 40 percent of all active-duty and the Charles B. Rangel both literally and officers. But there is still work to be done; a metaphorically. Program—have helped 2010 study by Women in International Secu- Yet while three bring diversity to the rity documents “a pronounced and persistent women and two Foreign Service, but gender gap in the Senior Foreign Service.” African-Ameri- challenges remain. In recent years, State has done well in cans have served as Secretary of State in the recruiting officers from a wide variety of Tpast 20 years, the U.S. diplomatic corps is BY LIA MILLER backgrounds through the effective use of not so diverse. Historically, and for the bulk internship programs. However, when you of its existence, the U.S. Foreign Service was look at the mid-level and senior ranks, comprised of upper-middle class white males. This trend held true the numbers are nowhere near what they should be. Eighty-two until the mid-to-late 1970s, when the State Department developed percent of current FSOs are European-Americans and they hold 86 programs and launched various initiatives designed to ensure that percent of senior staff positions at State. U.S. embassies and consulates around the world look like America: These percentages are not representative of a country that is diverse and multicultural. The goal remains an ambitious one, and 17 percent Hispanic, 14 percent African-American and 5 percent the results so far have been mixed. Asian-American. Minority groups in the State Department continue The State Department has had great success in recent decades to be severely underrepresented: For example, African-Americans attracting growing percentages of female officers. The trends make up just 5.4 percent of Foreign Service officers and hold just for both Foreign Service officer and specialist A-100 orientation 5.6 percent of senior staff positions; Hispanics make up 5.1 percent classes reflect increasing numbers of females in each class. In of Foreign Service officers and 4.5 percent of senior staff; and Asian- 2014, one A-100 class (the 178th) had more women than men Americans constitute only 6.8 percent of FSOs and hold a mere 3.8 percent of senior staff positions. These numbers are incontrovert- Lia Miller, an FSO since 2003, is a Pickering Graduate ible evidence that State has much more work to do to encourage Fellowship alumna and the communications chair of the minority advancement and representation at the highest levels. Pickering and Rangel Fellows Association. She currently works in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. In Standing Together Washington, she has also served in the Operations Center, the Public The State Department does support the efforts of affinity groups Affairs Bureau, the Office of Middle East Transitions and in the Office to foster minority advancement and success. I liken these organiza- of Maghreb Affairs. She has served overseas in Tunisia, Nicaragua and tions to the clubs found on any college campus that cater to various Oman. groups. For African-Americans, there is the Thursday Luncheon

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 39 Howard University created the Charles B. Rangel International For more information on the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, please visit: www.woodrow.org/fellowships/pickering. Affairs Program to honor the New York congressman for his exam- For more information on the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs ple of global leadership and for his longstanding support of efforts Program, please visit: www.rangelprogram.org. For those interested in Foreign Service careers in the State Department or those who simply to show the world the diversity that is the strength of America. want to understand more about diversity and recruitment initiatives, Program alumni who make it through the entry-level years do please visit the U.S. Department of State site: www.careers.state.gov, for a wealth of information on the programs highlighted above and well in the Foreign Service. However, the transition from fellow sta- much more. tus to “officer” status can be challenging, which is why the Picker- ing and Rangel Fellows Association was established in 2010. PRFA creates a professional network and support system for program alumni as they begin navigating the State Department as FSOs. Group—the oldest affinity group at State—and the Carl T. Rowan PRFA offers career counseling and mentoring, and hosts a speakers Chapter of Blacks in Government. Other affinity groups include series featuring department principals, subject matter experts and the Hispanic Employees Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies, the thought leaders. Asian-American Foreign Affairs Association, GLIFAA and the In addition, the association puts together brown-bag ses- Pickering and Rangel Fellowship Association, to name but a few. sions on a variety of topics including career advancement, EERs, The groups that advocate for women in the Foreign Service include bidding, managing up and leadership. Unfortunately, there is a Executive Women @ State and Balancing Act, which focuses on the growing trend of Pickering and Rangel fellows leaving the Foreign State Department’s work-life balance policies and priorities. Service after serving for only one or two years. This is something The primary purpose of all affinity groups is to represent, advo- PRFA and the Bureau of Human Resources are examining, aim- cate for and support their constituent members. One drawback of ing to determine the cause and what, if anything, can be done to this model, however, is that each group operates on a purely vol- ameliorate it. unteer basis and, due to the transient nature of the Foreign Service, often struggles to remain vibrant and active within the confines of Building on Our Progress the department’s mandates. Thankfully, the various organizations Appearing in a 2014 PBS documentary titled “The Foreign Ser- have conducted enough joint advocacy to pressure State to give vice: In Search of Diversity,” featured on the show To the Contrary, more sustainable, consistent support to their work. former Director General Linda Thomas-Greenfield said this: “It is important for the world to see the face of America and it is impor- Pickering and Rangel Fellowships tant that they understand we are a diverse society and that diversity State has made progress on recruiting minorities through two is our strength.” The Foreign Service has made real progress toward innovative programs: the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fel- that goal, but much more needs to be done to achieve it. lowship Program and the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs In terms of a way forward, the State Department needs to invest Program. The flagship Pickering Fellowship, established in 1992 real thought and time into expanding retention efforts. Though and administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship overall attrition rates are low, if you look closely at “who” is leaving, Foundation, and the Rangel Program, established in 2002 and it is largely women and minorities. Why? What is the department administered by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center not doing to retain these individuals? Or, conversely, what are at Howard University, are both entirely funded by grants from the competing employers doing to attract them? Department of State. A starting point for determining the most targeted and Both programs are designed to attract outstanding individuals responsive retention program would be to examine closely the from all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds interested in pursu- exit interview information to determine if any trends emerge. The ing a Foreign Service career. The Pickering Fellowship is named in department should also focus on recruiting future FSOs at even honor of the six-time ambassador, one of the most distinguished younger ages and develop a mechanism to increase awareness of American diplomats of all time, whose career culminated with an the international affairs arena—specifically Foreign Service careers appointment as under secretary of State for political affairs. Last as an option—for groups that historically have not gotten this expo- year, promotion boards recommended three former Pickering sure or the knowledge that this career path exists for them. State Fellows for advancement into the Senior Foreign Service, the first should consider utilizing nontraditional outreach that emphasizes Pickerings to cross the SFS threshold. direct engagement. n

40 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Making Inclusion Real Affinity Groups in Action

Introduction To adequately represent the United States abroad, it is essential that the foreign affairs agencies have a workforce that reflects the rich composition of its citizenry. This is a stated official priority, spelled out in the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and emphasized in the 2015 Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. There are more than a dozen recognized employee affinity groups at the State Department, as well as additional groups specifically for members of the other foreign affairs agencies. These groups act to promote and strengthen diversity and inclusion in the foreign affairs workforce. They network and cooperate with each other, and with the American Foreign Service Association, which is the exclusive bar- gaining agent for the entire Foreign Service. Management interacts regularly with the affinity groups to ensure fairness and equity for individuals in the work environment both domestically and abroad, and to eradicate harassment, intolerance and discrimination wherever it may be found. The four affinity groups featured in the following pages highlight the variety and scope of diversity issues and activity in the foreign affairs agencies. We look forward to showcasing other groups and their unique programs in the coming months. —The Editors

Arab-Americans in Foreign Affairs Agencies

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 41 Placement Coordinator Lana Hiland to see resumes from the Promoting Disability Selective Placement Program talent bank. Qualified Schedule A candidates do not have to apply through regular competi- Diversity at the State tive procedures and can be hired without a job announcement. Thus with Schedule A hiring, offices can accelerate the process Department and bring people on board faster. DAG has developed a speaker series with a range of topics BY AMANDA J. RICHARD aimed at educating the entire State Department on disability diversity. On June 19, the group will host multiple speakers to he Disability Action Group has been gaining momentum in educate on transitioning to an overseas assignment with a spe- Trecent months. With the election of a new board in Decem- cial needs child, a circumstance which has proved to come with ber 2014, DAG has undertaken a nonstop exercise to educate, a number of challenges. assist and advocate for State employees with disabilities. The group is also proudly celebrating the 25th anniversary While State provides many services to accommodate people of the Americans with Disabilities Act here at State in July. with disabilities, most employees are either unaware that they Embassies around the world will be celebrating on July 4, but exist, do not realize the process of securing assistance, or are the actual anniversary is July 26. Activities will run throughout too afraid to self-identify the year, including speakers their disability and make the and exhibits that acknowledge request. As a result, DAG pri- On June 19, the group will host how far disability rights have marily serves as a link between come. diversity employee constitu- multiple speakers to educate DAG’s mission is clear: encies and the department’s on transitioning to an overseas promoting disability diversity senior management, Office of assignment with a special needs at the Department of State. Civil Rights staff and Human With that goal in mind, the Resources staff. child, a circumstance which has group is proud to assist in Currently DAG has almost proved to come with a number of paving the way for disability 100 members from various education and raising aware- State Department bureaus. challenges. ness. This is a testament to the For more information diversity that already exists at about DAG or to find out how the department. As interest in DAG continues to grow, the issues to become a member, visit the group’s SharePoint site at http:// become more apparent. There is clearly a need for employees collaborate.state.sbu/sites/DAG/ or send an email to DAG- with both long- and short-term disabilities to understand their [email protected]. If you would like more information about rights and receive assistance. While assistance is a primary con- Schedule A hiring, please contact Lana Hiland at HilandLW@ cern, DAG has also been participating in discussions with vari- state.gov. Interested Schedule A applicants should email selec- ous parties regarding issues of reasonable accommodation and [email protected]. general compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act Section 508, which requires the federal government to ensure that the Amanda J. Richard is a visual information specialist in electronic and information technology that it develops, procures, the Office of Archiving and Access Systems Management maintains or uses is accessible to persons with disabilities. in the State Department’s Bureau of Administration. DAG also encourages awareness of Schedule A hiring, which She serves as the 2015 communications and outreach offers win-win advantages to State hiring officers and employ- board member for the Disability Action Group at State. ees alike. Its existence, however, is largely unknown. Many Richard was diagnosed at age 7 with progressive sensorineural hear- people do not realize that a disability gives a person noncom- ing loss. In 2014, at 31 years old, she received a cochlear implant. She petitive status for Civil Service positions. For example, when hopes to inspire others by proving that having a disability should not hiring a Schedule A, an office with an FTE can go to Selective hinder quality of life—professionally or personally.

42 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL exchanges and networks. Interestingly, at this event we typically Blacks In discover just how isolated many people at all levels feel as they silently deal with obstacles that others do not seem to recognize Government: or encounter. We are often asked why BIG needs to exist. Looking at recent Working to Make events, we are reminded that some decisions are still based on what one perceives when he or she observes the ethnicity, skin Diversity Operational color or gender of another. There are many talented people who have chosen to make a career through public service and serv- BY MARCUS C. SINGLETON ing their country, yet they are not able to give their maximum effort because they are confined by the narrowness of others. he USAID Chapter of Blacks In Government continues to Our organization seeks to help people go beyond their own Twork on an issue that precludes America from benefitting assumptions and realize what is being missed by walking a mile from its own history: discrimination based on race, ethnicity, in the shoes of someone different from them. gender, socioeconomic status, age, physical abilities, religious Visible diversity is making progress at some levels, but the beliefs, political beliefs and invisible diversity often other ideologies. goes untouched. Many of BIG is a national organi- Many of the younger generation, who the younger generation, zation founded in 1975 to have been socialized in what America who have been socialized in press for equal opportunity likes to see as a “post-racial society,” get what America likes to see as for and eliminate practices a “post-racial society,” get of racism against blacks; their first wake-up call to limitations their first wake-up call to promote professionalism once they enter the work world. limitations once they enter among blacks in local, the work world. Mentor- national and federal gov- ing programs have become ernment; provide a communication forum for blacks in various much more important as people have debates with themselves agencies; and provide a nonpartisan platform on major issues about to how to react to various situations. Local, state and that affect organization members. national governmental agencies are losing out as talented While many agencies give verbal support to diversity, people choose to seek private-sector employment. statistics show that blacks are not being hired or promoted in We are working to help free young people from the con- government agencies at levels that reflect America’s demo- straints older black Americans endured in public service graphics. Neither are blacks given sufficient clout to have an and encourage them to reach for what ought to be when one impact on policy decisions. For too many agencies, the push chooses to serve our country. for diversity has stopped at merely having people from different BIG is doing its part to help America achieve its own great- backgrounds present. ness. If we want to be that beacon for the world, we must help Working in agencies that pride themselves on implement- create an environment in which everyone’s individual light can ing U.S. government policy in the overseas arena, it has been shine to brighten the darkness. important for BIG to advocate moving beyond simple tolerance In support of the U.S. Constitution, BIG works to operation- to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of thought alize equal opportunity and make it a reality in the life of every that all people bring to the table. Diversity involves more than public service employee. meets the eye: it embraces experience, thoughts, actions and philosophies. Marcus Singleton serves as the branch chief of overseas We support members attending the BIG National Training security programs in the Office of Security, Interna- Institute, where professionals come together annually to share tional Security Programs Division at USAID. He is the experiences and use their collective strength to confront work- president of the USAID chapter of BIG. place and community issues and increase their professional

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 43 appointees—that there is a problem. HR has agreed to start in- Executive Women depth exit interviews to learn why women are leaving State at all levels, and we are working with the Foreign Service Institute to @ State: Breaking tackle unconscious bias that could be holding women back. We also want to encourage more women to apply for leader- Barriers ship positions to serve as role models, catalysts and mentors for the next generation. This year’s Women’s History Month event BY SUSAN STEVENSON featured American University Associate Professor of Govern- ment Jennifer Lawless, whose exhaustive research showed that xecutive Women @ State was launched in 2007 by a small women didn’t run for political office (where they were just as Egroup of former U.S. Information Agency officers trying likely to win as men) for the simple reason that no one encour- to replicate the agency’s Women’s Action Organization at the aged them to do so. When they received encouragement, they much larger and more complex State Department. Seeing the were more likely than men to dismiss it; and they felt that they value of a strong women’s professional network and support for had to be twice as good as men to be taken seriously. That could women’s advancement, they wanted to pursue those goals at be why more women are not putting themselves forward for State. deputy chief of mission or chief of mission roles here at the At the time, the State Department. department had Currently EW@S’s challenge is to EW@S’s mission is its second female to promote, support Secretary of State and demonstrate to State Department leaders— and mentor women several women in many of whom are female political for senior leadership leadership positions. appointees—that there is a problem. positions in the depart- A 2009 presentation by ment. Specifically, we the Bureau of Public are committed to: Affairs Office of the Historian reminded us that: • Advocating an increase in the number of career women in • The first woman employee was a typist hired in the 1890s. senior positions • The first female FSO was hired in the 1920s but had to • Overcoming barriers for advancement and retention of resign when she married. women • It wasn’t until the 1970s that the “marriage rule” was abol- • Expanding engagement with senior non-career leaders and ished, allowing married women to serve as FSOs. potential community • We now have more female ambassadors, assistant secre- • Mentoring the next generation of women leaders. taries, deputy assistant secretaries, directors and Senior EW@S now has 1,500 members and a sister organization at Foreign and Executive Service members than ever before. USAID. We’ve become active with women in the intelligence Women comprise 40 percent of the State Department work- services, who have conducted research to see what is prevent- force, up from 27 percent in 1994. ing women from reaching senior levels there. We have affiliate Many would say the gender wars have been won. But the groups at the mid-level (Associates) and entry-level/junior proportion of women in the Foreign Service has not changed levels (EJs) to mentor the next generation. From our humble for the past decade, hovering at 30 percent, and the shift to beginnings as a handful of officers in 2007, it is clear that EW@S more administrative jobs in the Civil Service has moved many is fulfilling a need in the community. women out of clerical positions—but not necessarily into senior ranks. Partnering with the Office of Civil Rights, EW@S Susan Stevenson is the EW@S second vice president. has endeavored to host programs, seminars, focus groups and She is a public diplomacy-coned Senior Foreign Service discussions with senior leaders to explore the barriers that still officer working for the under secretary for public exist for women. diplomacy and public affairs. Juggling a private-sector Currently EW@S’s challenge is to demonstrate to State spouse and three children, she has spent most of her Department leaders—many of whom are female political career in East Asia.

44 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Arab-Americans in Foreign Affairs Agencies

Deputy Secretary of Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom (center) opened AAIFAA’s first social event on Feb. 26. To her right, in the foreground, are AAIFAA Interim Chair Khulood Kandil, AAIFAA Interim Vice Chair Dr. Charles Kiamie III and AAIFAA Founder Jamal Al-Mussawi.

and the other foreign affairs agencies. At State, AAIFAA is working with bureaus to COURTESY OF AAIFAA attract a diverse selection of bidders by demon- strating how particular sets of skills can adapt to assignments in a Celebrating Arab- variety of regions, fields and specialties. For example, the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Iran and Middle East watchers—reporting Americans in officers based in Western European capitals—are among many such examples. Foreign Affairs Focusing on both professional development and social networking, AAIFAA is also partnering with senior Arab-American BY JAMAL AL-MUSSAWI and other leaders at the State Department and beyond to mentor staff seeking career advice. Distinguished ambassadors like n May 2014, the State Department welcomed one of its newest Philip Habib, Susan Ziadeh and Ted Kattouf demonstrate Arab- Iemployee affinity groups,Arab-Americans in Foreign Affairs American contributions to American diplomacy in areas of critical Agencies. Led by an interagency executive board comprised of national interest. Following in their footsteps, AAIFAA seeks to Civil and Foreign Service professionals, AAIFAA has drawn more harness the talent of the next generation of American diplomats. than 100 members from throughout the foreign affairs community Since its inception, AAIFAA has experienced rapid growth, in its first year alone. thanks to its conviction that fostering and enhancing workplace AAIFAA’s goal is twofold: to expand workplace diversity and diversity is not only a common goal across the department, but a serve as a resource for senior leaders interested in enhancing the necessity to make the foreign affairs community more representa- department’s relationship with Arab-Americans. Deputy Secre- tive of the diverse nation we represent, both at home and abroad. taries Antony Blinken and Heather Higginbottom and Director AAIFAA stands ready to continue paving the path toward greater General Arnold Chacón have personally welcomed the creation of diversity with its EAG partners, senior departmental leadership the group. and anyone who supports that goal. Open to all foreign affairs professionals regardless of their As a direct result of these efforts, the foreign affairs com- hiring status or background, AAIFAA promotes and applies the munity has created more innovative and effective policymaking cultural, linguistic, personal and professional assets that Arab- and advocacy strategies. AAIFAA’s work is essential to realize the Americans and those with an affinity toward the Arab world share. diversity-enhancement goals of the department, the federal gov- As with other ethnic- and minority-based employee groups, it ernment and our increasingly multicultural nation. n is also a forum for sharing ideas and experiences among Arab- Americans throughout the interagency community. Jamal Al-Mussawi was born in Basrah, Iraq, and grew To carry out its mission, AAIFAA participates in employee up in Egypt and California. He joined the Foreign recruitment drives, organizes brown-bag discussions with Civil Service as a political-coned officer in 2005, follow- and Foreign Service personnel, and meets with other employee ing three years as a contractor in the Foreign Service affinity groups (EAGs). Through interactive meetings, A-100 Institute’s political training division. He has served in gatherings and discussions with the Office of Civil Rights, AAIFAA Bishkek, Bridgetown and Bratislava, and is now studying Arabic at also assists diplomats-in-residence, human resources profession- FSI in preparation for his assignment as the political/economic sec- als and Foreign Service retirees to inform prospective Civil Service tion chief in Muscat in July. He is the founder of Arab-Americans in and Foreign Service employees about the work of the department Foreign Affairs Agencies.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 45 FEATURE

The United States and Latin America: Individuals vs. Institutions

Understanding the “two paths” in Latin America can lead to effective, long-term policies toward our neighbors.

BY THOMAS E. MCNAMARA

espite modern communications, The second relies on democratic institutionalism; i.e., civil insti- increased migration, trade and tutions. The Western Hemisphere will be affected by which path industrial integration, and technologi- dominates Latin America’s future. cal advances, the United States and To be sure, this theory does not explain all of Latin American Latin America still do not understand politics or regional relations because history is more complicated. each other as well as we should. This But the struggle outlined here has been fundamental for 200 years, hemisphere is our neighborhood, and and must be understood. unlike citizens who move from one neighborhood to another, a nation’s Caudillismo in Latin America neighborhood is permanently fixed. With that in mind, I want to Personalismo (the cult of personality), and its variant, caudi- Dhighlight an important impetus for change in our neighborhood, llismo (control by a dictatorial leader), are deeply rooted in Latin which can reduce the misunderstanding if we recognize and American, Spanish and Portuguese history. They have dominated encourage it. Latin American politics since the conquistadors (Cortez, Pissarro, There are two paths in Latin American politics which most etc.) and were the entrenched political culture during the inde- Americans do not know. To maintain political order, one path pendence struggles of Bolívar, San Martín, O’Higgins and others. relies on personalism (personalismo); i.e., individual leaders. Of course, the phenomenon is not unique to Latin America— think of Stalin, Hitler and lesser examples of tyrants like Mobutu, Thomas E. McNamara, a retired career Senior Foreign Qaddafi and Sukarno, “the divine right of kings” and imperial Service officer, served as assistant secretary of State for rulers. But in modern industrial democracies, personalismo is a political-military affairs, ambassador to Colombia and plague on society. ambassador-at-large for counterterrorism, among many This approach elevates a caudillo (leader) to supreme leader- other assignments. He also worked on the National ship, often with demigod status. Policies, programs and ideologies Security Council staff under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George are named for him (e.g., Peronismo, Fidelismo, Sandinismo). In H.W. Bush. An earlier version of this essay was delivered as a lecture at such a culture the leader turns institutions into personal tools of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. power. Any that resist are subverted, exiled or destroyed; a few are

46 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL kept as control mechanisms. Wherever they are on of social conventions. They support Under caudillo rule, corruption relatively stable, predictable, fair is endemic, beginning with the legal the political spectrum, and peaceful processes. Laws and system. The rule of law cannot exist caudillos practice institutions take precedence over without strong, independent politi- leaders. Leaders are subject to political, judicial and social institutions populism and repression. cal processes they cannot control because the law is never self-imple- (elections, courts, individual liberty) menting. It requires agents to make, or only partially control (legislation, interpret and execute it. In successful regulations, appointments to office). modern societies, separate civil institutions perform the three Civil institutions are influenced in return, but they have indepen- functions. Dictators, however, usurp all three. dent interests, perspectives and objectives. Caudillos come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. They are tacti- When developed, democratic institutionalism is stable and cally smart, if superficial, thinkers, who borrow ideologies that progressive because it creates “countervailing power” by dis- reflect the temper of their times. Early in the 20th century, they tributing power widely. It takes time to develop institutions, and adopted national-socialist, right-of-center ideologies (e.g., Peron, even more time to develop a tradition of relying on them—but Trujillo, Somoza, Batista). With fascism discredited, later caudillos eventually a tradition alters attitudes and values, and becomes embraced Marxism (e.g., Castro, Ortega, Chavez, Morales; Pino- the dominant culture. It is time for this “hemisphere of liberty,” as chet is the exception). Germán Arciniegas called it, to reexamine what constitutes the Wherever they are on the political spectrum, caudillos practice true foundations of democracy. Free and fair elections are neces- populism and repression. Most are initially elected, but as their sary; but they are indicators, not proof, of democracy. After all, a popularity weakens, they use brute force. Peaceful transitions are nation can organize fair elections while being fleetingly demo- possible, but unusual. cratic, or undemocratic. A century ago, Argentina was considered the rising power of Multiple, independent institutions are democracy’s anchors. the hemisphere. But personalismo has so stifled Argentine politics They are accountable to, and respond to, the needs of different that institutions cannot stabilize and modernize the nation. sectors of society, but are collectively accountable to the nation. Peronism has been a populist political force in Argentina for 70 Primary among these are a strong, independent judiciary, an years; yet Peron has been dead for more than 40 years. Successive uncorrupted legislature and free-market economic institutions. Peronist leaders freely redefine the term to suit their needs, and Without democratic institutionalism, democracy is an illusion or a the party dutifully follows. short-lived phenomenon. “Bolivarianismo,” espoused in Venezuela by Hugo Chávez and Latin America has these institutions, but their influence is Nicolás Maduro, is named for a caudillo who has been dead for limited because many democratic leaders practice personalism nearly 200 years. (Imagine a U.S. president governing on a political and not institutionalism. In Argentina, not all presidents have platform of “George Washingtonism.”) Chávez wrapped himself been caudillos; but the democratic ones have never effectively in reflected glory for political ends, a recipe for instability and cor- countered the caudillo tradition. Likewise, Venezuela’s Rómulo ruption. Caudillismo persists in Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Betancourt was a democrat, but his personalismo lacked focus Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua. on the institutions needed to build democracy. Institutionalism is stronger in some countries, and by identifying recent successes The Alternative: Democratic Institutionalism and supporting them, we can strengthen maturing democracy. The second path, democratic institutionalism, is less firmly Here are some hopeful and not-so-hopeful examples. rooted in Latin American history, although democratic ideals go back to the independence period. Only after World War II did it The Institutional Approach: gain traction, albeit still the weaker tradition, with an uncertain Colombia and Chile in the Lead future. But recently, support for democratic institutions has shown Colombia experienced the caudillismo of the colonial and significant growth and electoral success in several countries. independence periods, and the 19th century saw partisan warfare In modern democracies, independent institutions (aka “civil over centralism vs. federalism. Cultural change arrived by the society”) are the foundation of political and economic order, and 1890s through a conservative oligarchy that ruled for 40 years.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 47 During the 20th century, instead It is no exaggeration to say ized democracy with a free-market of turning to a caudillo, Colombia economic base. has elected leaders who value that political pluralism and institutional primacy over per- institutional development A Transition Still In sonal power. Indeed, for a century, Progress: Mexico Colombia has had only one dicta- in Mexico grew from Mexico is a society moving tor, Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, who was economic modernization. toward democratic institutional- given power in 1953 by the political ism. For 70 years, Mexico was parties, which then took it away in governed by what Mario Vargas 1957—a unique occurrence in Latin America. Llosa called “the perfect dictatorship”—uninterrupted single- In the 1980s, the country was confused and demoralized by party rule. The Institutional Revolutionary Party’s goals equaled years of murderous guerrilla and mafia violence that caused some the nation’s goals; the PRI funded opposition parties; corrup- Colombians to support “peace at any price.” President Virgilio tion weakened institutions; an educated elite was coopted; and Barco built a national capability that confronted both threats, popular discontent was suppressed. Mexico had an uninterrupted convincing the nation that it could defeat them. Then, he stepped string of “six-year caudillos,” as each president served one term down after one term. His three successors likewise each served and transferred power peacefully. Meanwhile, the United States one constitutionally limited term. The presidency of Colombia is and other democratic nations dealt with the PRI’s dictatorship as held in greater esteem than any of its incumbents. And all recent if it were not one. incumbents, save Alvaro Uribe, have understood this. In 1993 and 1994, Presidents Carlos Salinas and Ernesto Colombia benefits from another strong anchor, as well. From Zedillo led Mexico into the North American Free Trade Agree- 1933 until 1999, the country enjoyed uninterrupted economic ment. NAFTA was a turning point, as its benefits unexpectedly growth. Despite its civil conflicts, it has averaged more than 4-per- transcended economics, imparting new energy and confidence cent annual growth since the 1950s. This singular economic feat is to Mexico’s growing middle class and private sector. Equally mainly due to the country’s respected and well-run government important, after decades of political stagnation, Zedillo addressed and private economic institutions, which have made Colombia serious social problems and conducted free and fair elections. Latin America’s third-largest economy. Mexico’s traditional, anti-gringo, “victimization” ideology By the 1980s, brutal assassinations and bribery by narcotraf- gave way to flexible realism. The new Mexico understands that fickers weakened Colombia’s judicial institutions and the rule of its future depends on a new path. It is no exaggeration to say that law. Constitutional reforms in 1991 created a prosecutorial system political pluralism and institutional development in Mexico grew and strengthened institutions, but did not bend them to executive from economic modernization. Still, Mexico has a long way to go. will. Today the narco-mafias are splintered, the narco-guerrillas The old, ingrained PRI culture resists modernization, and devel- are suing for peace, and a solid institutional base exists for long- opment varies from region to region and sector to sector. term political, economic and social growth and stability. President Enrique Peña Nieto must reassert sovereignty over Chile’s early history was also steeped in caudillismo. It spent the narco-mafias because these criminals operate with impunity. the 19th century enlarging its territory at the expense of its neigh- Reestablishing government control along the U.S. border and bors, capping the century with a civil war among its own oligarchs through northern and central Mexico will be difficult, long and and military. Democratic institutions with a centralized national bloody. Efforts by the last three presidents to confront the mafias government developed during the last century, despite twice have been greatly complicated by remnants of the decrepit, old being interrupted by long military dictatorships. The second, culture. Augusto Pinochet’s 1973 coup, crushed democracy, but built a Like Colombians, Mexicans can take back their country—but strong, “Chicago School” economy, which survived Pinochet’s the outcome will remain in question for years. overthrow in 1990. The economic institutions built in the preceding 70 years were Brazil: A Hesitant Transition kept by the democratic leaders who followed Pinochet. As in South America’s largest country spent most of the past century Colombia, the economic base has supported Chile during its last, ruled by civilian or military caudillos, who depended on one tumultuous 35 years, allowing it to become a strong institutional- national institution: the army. Brazil stagnated under a weak con-

48 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL stitution, regional conflicts, crony The second path, and planning. Venezuela should capitalism and lack of institutional look to neighbors like Colombia modernization. President Getulio democratic institutionalism, and Mexico, which struggle with Vargas’ domination of politics for is less firmly rooted in Latin their own demons, but are far a quarter-century, followed by a better off. military dictatorship, is an excel- American history, although lent example of the curse of the democratic ideals go back to The Maximum Caudillo: caudillos. Cuba The transition to democracy the independence period. Fidel Castro is the exemplar and institution-building in Brazil of a caudillo whose brutal- began in the 1990s under two ity, power and charisma are presidents, Itamar Franco and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who unmatched by other practitioners of the art. He began with a led democratic modernization by restructuring economic institu- muddle-minded, leftist ideology before swallowing Marxism- tions. In eight years, Cardoso put Brazil on the road to economic Leninism whole, eliminating rivals, merging his disparate and political modernization, then turned over the presidency to movement with the Cuban Communist Party and allying with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his opponent in both previous elections. the Soviet Union. He is the only caudillo to have made that last Despite a radically different background, Lula continued Car- mistake. His subversion in the Western Hemisphere and milita- doso’s institutionalization efforts, and after eight years, handed off rism in Africa assisted the United States in a relatively successful to Dilma Rousseff, the current incumbent. Under her presidency, isolation of Havana during the Cold War. Afterward, most Latin Brazil’s transition is showing serious strains from economic set- and European nations ignored the embargo and normalized backs, corruption and protests. relations with a Cuba weakened and incapable of subversion or What used to be ironically called “the country of the future,” militarism. because the future never arrived there, may remain stuck in the Cold War containment was a global commitment to counter past unless it perseveres on its new path. Of all the region’s coun- expansionist policies of the Soviet Union wherever possible, tries on the institutional path, Brazil has the largest hurdles in its including Cuba. Containment of Cuba was also consistent with way, and the farthest to go. American diplomacy supporting the Monroe Doctrine. The Soviet challenge to that doctrine and the danger of Castro to the hemi- Caudillo Culture: Venezuela’s Curse sphere were demonstrated early, when the 1962 Cuban Missile Caudillo politics in Venezuela have kept an otherwise wealthy Crisis caused the most dangerous clash of the Cold War, reinforc- country far poorer than it should be. Arguably, Venezuela’s first ing the value of the policy. free, democratic election was in the 1950s. Since then, Venezuelan Containment and the embargo made strategic sense during leaders practiced personalismo, rather than creating independent, the Cold War, but not since. It is futile to argue that Cuba must be democratic institutions. isolated, when Russia is a shadow of the USSR, and neither threat- Today, the economy is in free fall. Oil revenues have plum- ens the neighborhood. When political reality changes, policy must meted; inflation is running at more than 100 percent a year; black adjust or become irrelevant. Our policy became irrelevant. Ironi- market currency trades at seven to eight times the official rate; and cally, it isolated us by preventing us from influencing the coming default on national debt is a near-term likelihood. Venezuela is the changes in Cuba. lowest-ranked nation in the Western Hemisphere on Transpar- Heretofore, we have been hobbled by a peculiar problem. ency International’s corruption list, and suffers from electrical The United States has had no foreign policies with two coun- blackouts and horrendous street crime. All this in a country sitting tries—Israel and Cuba. It has had domestic policies. Relations atop the largest reserves of oil in the world. Yet, Chávez’s hapless with these nations have been determined overwhelmingly in the successor, Nicolás Maduro, wants more power to save Venezuela White House and Congress for domestic political reasons, which from external enemies—not internal failures. sometimes coincide with our national security interests. In the The tragedy of Venezuela is that it has been addicted to oil for past two decades, even when we understood the forces at play in generations. This causes national deliriums of nonexistent wealth Cuba and attempted to influence them, we were unable to apply and power, and leads to disdain for healthy institutions, discipline coherent policies to achieve our goals. Our national interests

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 49 require engaging in Cuba to Caudillo politics in Africa, Asia or the Middle East. It foster change and move Cuba would get more attention, ironi- toward a better future. Venezuela have kept an cally, were it more crisis-ridden. Fortunately, President otherwise wealthy country There are important lessons for Barack Obama has ordered a us in this. With the right policies comprehensive overhaul of our far poorer than it should be. and the right leaders, the poten- failed Cuban policy in an effort tial to develop strong democratic to change Cuba. How? Neither institutions in Latin America is Obama, nor Raul Castro, nor anyone can know. But the actuarial greater than in most of the rest of the world. Introspection and tables for the Castro brothers tell us change is imminent. Raul self-evaluation do not come easily to our southern neighbors, hopes for a China-like outcome, but fears a Russia-like outcome. however. They must accept that they and their culture are, and Change is his enemy; the more rapid and fundamental, the more have been, the primary force determining their destiny—not the dangerous for him. A wise policy will engage with the weakened “Colossus of the North.” Conversely, we must learn that our way regime. We dealt successfully with Stalin, Mao and others. Surely is not always their way. And to play a constructive role, we need we can do so with the Castro brothers. Diplomacy, which led the to develop a stronger commitment to, and deeper understanding United States to success in the Cold War and to assist Chinese of, our neighborhood. leaders in moving their country out of the miasma of Maoism, Caudillos will not disappear soon, alas. So, wherever possible, can be an important tool for us in Cuba. But we must give our- we should engage with them diplomatically, but openly support selves the possibility of employing it. an institutional path to democracy, even if that advocacy dam- Even so, one big negative is the caudillo factor. Only one entity ages our relations. In addition, millions of people throughout in Cuba is a strong, unitary, disciplined, ubiquitous, well-armed the hemisphere who are excluded from political, social and national institution: the Cuban Army. It has a hand in every aspect economic opportunity by abject poverty and lack of education of Cuban society. The Cuban Communist Party is another unitary, need to be brought into the mainstream for long-term stability ubiquitous national institution, but not disciplined or well-armed. and prosperity. It also has the burden of having created a failed “Fidelismo” Hemispheric free trade and economic cooperation should be ideology, a failed economy and a corrupt society. In its current a cornerstone strategic goal of the United States. To succeed, we sclerotic condition, the party is unlikely to muster the energy or need to give the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade imagination to lead fundamental change. Therefore, the most agreements. Not surprisingly, nations on the institutional path likely outcome is an army-led continuation of caudillismo. Only a have, also, been hemispheric leaders in trade and economic wise policy, executed in cooperation with our neighbors and the cooperation inside the neighborhood and beyond. Colombia, Europeans, can make a better outcome possible. Mexico, Chile and Peru are leaders in the Pacific Alliance along with Costa Rica, another nation practicing institutionalism. The Time for a New Approach Trans-Pacific Partnership counts Chile, Peru and Mexico among Since the Cold War ended, the United States has failed to reas- its 12 members. sess its global position, much less develop a thoughtful national There are reasons for optimism. Four of the five most populous security strategy. Many of our international difficulties are nations with 75 percent of the region’s population and six of the explained by this failure to set priorities and apply our resources top 10 economies have started, or are advanced, on the path of strategically. Instead, we lurch from crisis to crisis guided, at best, democratic institutionalism. It is not an accident that economic by tactical objectives. Our hemispheric policies suffer from this reforms were the driving force behind democratic change in underlying failure, as well. Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Brazil. Effective economic institu- How we deal with our neighbors further complicates hemi- tions have shown a capacity for beneficial spillover effects on spheric relations. Our attention to each region is partial, episodic political and social developments in Latin America. and crisis-centered. We are the only nation that treats its neigh- Yet progress is not easy or quickly achieved. Institutionalized borhood as just another global region. In part, we do this because democracy in Latin America has been, heretofore, the path less it is rarely in crisis. Latin America is better governed, more stable traveled; but should our neighbors decide to take it, it will make all and democratic, and less crisis-ridden and poor than most of the difference. n

50 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION

AFSA Hosts Town Hall Meetings with CALENDAR 2015-2017 Governing Board Candidates June 2 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Luncheon: Incoming The AFSA Election Committee Candidates running for opened to questions from the USAID Class sponsored a series of town AFSA president are: Ambas- audience. hall meetings on the 2015- sador Barbara Stephenson, For coverage of the 2015 June 3 12-2 p.m. 2017 elections. These were leading the Strong Diplomacy AFSA Governing Board elec- AFSA Governing held on March 25 at USAID, slate; current AFSA State Vice tion and videos of all town hall Board Meeting March 30 at the Foreign Ser- President Matthew Asada, meetings go to www.afsa.org/ vice Institute, April 7 at State leading the Future Forward elections. June 4 8 a.m. and April 8 at AFSA headquar- AFSA slate; and current The voting deadline is June AFSA Election Voting Deadline ters. Governing Board member 4 at 8 a.m. EST. Votes will be Each meeting opened with Tex Harris, who is running tallied on June 4 and the new June 4 comments from moderator independently. AFSA Governing Board will AFSA Election Ballot Tally Robert Farrand, chair of the Candidates for other take office on July 15. n June 7-12 Election Committee. Presi- Governing Board positions in —Brittany DeLong, AFSA Road Scholar Program dential candidates then made attendance then made state- Assistant Editor Chautauqua, N.Y. two-minute statements. ments before the floor was June 9 4-6 p.m. AFSA Awards Ceremony

June 10 12:45-1:45 p.m. Luncheon: 182nd A-100 Class and 7th CA-LN Class

June 11 AFSA Book Notes: American Ambassadors June 26 AFSA Closes at 11 a.m. for

AFSA/BRITTANY DELONG AFSA/BRITTANY Annual Staff Picnic AFSA presidential candidates speak at the Loy Henderson Auditorium at the State Department on April 7. From left: Election Committee Chair Robert Farrand, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, AFSA State Vice President July 1 Matthew Asada and AFSA Governing Board member Tex Harris. 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting

July 3 AFSA Welcomes QDDR Release Independence Day: AFSA Offices Closed

On April 28, the State intended to make operations report when he appointed July 15 New AFSA Governing Board Department released the more efficient, accountable former Virginia congress- Takes Office 2015 Quadrennial Diplomacy and effective in addressing man Tom Perriello as special and Development Review today’s global challenges. representative for the QDDR August 5 titled “Enduring Leadership The first QDDR was in February 2014. AFSA Governing Board Meeting in a Dynamic World.” issued in 2010, under then- The special representa- A four-year blueprint Secretary of State Hillary tive’s task was not simple. In August 26 for State and U.S. Agency Clinton. Secretary of State his remarks announcing the 9th Annual Adair Lecture for International Develop- John Kerry launched the QDDR’s release, Sec.Kerry at American University ment activities, the report is process for the second Continued on page 63

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 51 STATE VP VOICE | BY MATTHEW ASADA AFSA NEWS

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

Congressional Advocacy

As members of the executive was expressly donated. concerns raised by the Training Center in Ft. Pickett, branch, we are sometimes However, most important post-9/11 increase in the size Virginia. AFSA has advocated quick to criticize legislative to any of our efforts, are of the Foreign Service, the for the construction of this branch “interference” in the you—the AFSA members— elimination of the mid-level hard-skills training facility president’s foreign policy and your families. You are deficits, and retention and to ensure that our men and prerogative and all too often residents, taxpayers and diversity issues. women receive the train- forget Congress’ constitu- voters in all 50 states and the ing necessary to safely and tionally defined legislative District of Columbia. As such, Reauthorization: AFSA effectively engage overseas. oversight and “advice and you have influence on an submitted a separate white consent” roles. This month, individual constituent level. paper to our House and Sen- Confirmation: This year I want to describe some of This may be in the form of ate authorizing committees and last year, AFSA worked AFSA’s congressional advo- direct advocacy when back for consideration as they closely with the Senate cacy on behalf of members of on home leave or while taking draft a Department of State Foreign Relations Committee the Foreign Service and their annual leave here in Wash- authorization bill. It has been to ensure full Senate con- families. ington. Or it could be simply more than a dozen years firmation of Foreign Service talking about what life is like since Congress passed, and officers’ initial appointment The People: AFSA is for- as a member of the Foreign the president signed into law, and tenure, and promotion of tunate to have a strong advo- Service with a member of a a State Department authori- members into and within the cacy department with two congressional or staff delega- zation. Senior Foreign Service. full-time and two part-time tion visiting your post. AFSA wanted to ensure AFSA professional staff who that our committees were Fellows: One of my favor- are focused on building rela- Priorities: Last fall the aware of key employee ite assignments was as an tionships with federal, state AFSA Governing Board priorities such as permanent American Political Science and city officials and outside approved a strategic plan authorization of Overseas Association congressional organizations. This Governing (see www.bit.ly/1EJ9aWO) Comparability Pay for the fellow on the Hill with then- Board has prioritized AFSA’s focused on improving ben- entire Foreign Service (not Representative, now-Senator expenditure of resources efits and quality of work/ just the Senior Foreign Gary Peters (D-Mich.). I to increase the number of life, career and professional Service) and Foreign Service- have drawn on those lessons professional staff and provide development, and secu- relevant provisions of the learned to help lead AFSA’s the advocacy tools necessary rity. We captured the key Service Members’ Civil Relief congressional engagement to conduct successful mem- congressional priorities in Act. As I write this, AFSA is on your behalf, and I highly ber advocacy campaigns. a one-pager (see www.bit. engaged in a daily exchange recommend colleagues AFSA also has an inde- ly/1KApRVa) for use at meet- with our authorizers as they consider an APSA or Pearson pendently financed political ings with congressional staff, finalize text. congressional fellowship. action committee (PAC) such as our 2014 and 2015 However, wherever you founded and chaired by Advocacy Days. Appropriations: For the are, AFSA looks forward to Ambassador (Ret.) Tom Boy- first time in several years, mobilizing you and our more att, which supports House Section 326: New this AFSA also submitted writ- than 16,000 members to and Senate candidates in year was AFSA’s two-page ten testimony to the House help make the case for main- national elections from both Section 326 report on the and Senate appropriations taining what Secretary John sides of the aisle. “State of the Foreign Service committees, as part of the Kerry has referred to as “the Last cycle, the PAC dis- Workforce” (see p. 60). For department’s annual appro- world’s premier diplomatic tributed $40,000 to Republi- the first time in 15 years, the priations process, making the and development corps.” n cans and Democrats running department transmitted to case for Overseas Compa- Next month: Farewell as for the House and Senate, the House and Senate AFSA’s rability Pay, as well as for State Vice President none of which came from congressionally mandated the $99.1 million request for your union dues, all of which submission, which reflects the Foreign Affairs Security

52 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FCS VP VOICE | BY STEVE MORRISON AFSA NEWS

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

Foreign Service Diversity and the Civil Rights Act of 1964

In light of this month’s FSJ To that end, I would like other cultures and com- small percentage of our com- focus on diversity, I am to share with fellow AFSA munities globally. These mercial diplomatic corps. pleased to turn my column members my message to Sec. businesses are essential to I offer to work tirelessly to over to Commercial Service Pritzker: American growth. contribute to increasing the Officer Tamarind Murrietta, The anniversary of the representation of all and who wrote the following On the dawn of the Civil Rights Act reminds me inciting hope in the many introduction and letter to 50th anniversary of the of the unparalleled contribu- others who have benefitted Secretary of Commerce Civil Rights Act of 1964, I tion of my ancestors, which from the Civil Rights Act and Penny Pritzker. paused to reflect on this steered the existence of the worked so hard to achieve —Steve Morrison life-changing legislation. The America we see today. My the qualifications neces- anniversary was especially ancestors—the backbone sary to join the U.S. Foreign Last July, I accepted a posi- noteworthy for me since it of this great country—led Service. This hard work is the tion as a Foreign Commercial coincided with my swearing- us to the signing of an act continuation of the labor of Service officer and was offi- in as a U.S. diplomat. The that paved the road to my so many. cially sworn in by Commerce stories of leaps and bounds, swearing-in. Their great Madame Secretary, thank Secretary Penny Pritzker. pain and suffering recited by undertakings allowed me to you for taking the time to That month, the country cel- my ancestors have made me not only fulfill my dreams, swear in my colleagues and ebrated the 50th anniversary appreciate the significance of but also those of my grand- me as the newest group of of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. this moment. mother, my ancestors and commercial diplomats. And I was pleased with the While my grandmother our entire country. thank you for taking part in coincidence and began was valedictorian of her For me and those I love, something that has caused reflecting on the need to graduating class and brought the occasion of my swearing my grandmother to wear a address diversity in the dip- oratorical fireworks to her in was doubly celebratory, proud smile and my ancestors lomatic corps. This led me to recitation of writings such landing as it did on this his- to give a nod of approval. n send an email to Sec. Pritzker as “Invictus,” she remained toric anniversary. —Tamarind Murrietta thanking her for swearing us primarily a housekeeper and As current recruits submit in and highlighting the signifi- office secretary for most of applications for this exciting Tamarind Murrietta is a cance of this occasion. her life. As fortunate as my career, I continue to stand by Foreign Commercial Service Just recently, I read a grandmother’s life has been, our organization’s efforts to FSO currently serving in Nai- column by Gary Silverman and as fortunate as we are to increase the diversity of all robi on her first assignment. in the Financial Times in have her in ours, she paid the who represent it. Racial and She joined the Foreign Service which he reflected on race in price for arriving before this gender minorities make up a in 2014. America. He concluded that momentous act was passed. black lives are not valued the As her granddaughter, I same as white lives in the exemplify all that can now be FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL United States. Mr. Silverman attained due in some way to SALUTES JIM DEHART said this is a “particular kind an act that gives all of us the In April, the Foreign Service of made-in-America pain.” opportunity to be the archi- Journal Editorial Board bid Programs advocating tects of our own lives. farewell to its chair, Jim and addressing diversity and Being sworn in as a com- DeHart, who is departing equal rights are still needed mercial diplomat, I have for his next assignment, as today. In addition, decades of the remarkable authority to NEWS BRIEF deputy chief of mission in movement toward equality, represent our great country Oslo. AFSA thanks Jim for including the passage of that in commercial and busi- his service and wishes him

vital legislation, should not go ness affairs, as well as assist BLOME AFSA/DEBRA well in Oslo. n under-recognized or under- small businesses to grow by valued. exporting their products to

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 53 RETIREE VP VOICE | BY LARRY COHEN AFSA NEWS

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

The Case for Mentoring men • tor professional development Service and locally employed to their professional develop- v. advise or train and mentoring of staff”) and (LE) staff, overwhelmed ment. (someone, especially a implicit, (e.g., “actively devel- culturally by the demands of For bureaus and posts younger colleague) ops the skills of subordinates their American bosses, may WAEers are an extraordinary n. a trusted counselor or guide or colleagues”). suffer disproportionately. resource, able to hit the Permit me to go out on This brings me to reem- ground running. But they The Department of State’s a limb. While mentoring is ployed annuitants, or WAEers could be much more. Since Core Precepts provide clearly core to the principles (When Actually Employed). they are already retired, guidelines by which selection of career development, it is I have written previously WAEers are not beholden to boards determine the pro- not something the Depart- about the WAE program. the evaluation and promo- motability of Foreign Service ment of State, its managers Specifically, I identified the tion process and should not employees. They are, in the or its leadership as a whole difficulties retirees report in fear—as is unfortunately words of the department, a has done very well to date. navigating the program, the true for many active-duty “collection of competencies” The stress of overseas shortcomings of the newly employees—career-harmful determined to be essential to service in U.S. diplomatic created central registry retribution. They ought to a successful Foreign Service missions can be overwhelm- and resource inefficiencies feel free to speak their minds, career. Throughout, the ing. Feedback or guidance throughout the system. offer guidance and advice, precepts emphasize the role from supervisors or basic job One thing, I believe, and, yes, mentor colleagues, of mentoring and assisting knowledge may be lacking. remains unquestioned. including LE staff. Who better others to achieve mission Without proper remedy, WAEers themselves pos- to understand the challenges goals. Regarding mentor- tensions among staff can sess skills and experience than those who have been ing, the precepts are both demoralize an entire mission. pertinent to their active-duty there before? explicit, (e.g., “ensures the Personnel new to the Foreign colleagues and, specifically, Bureaus and posts can better tap the WAE talent in their midst. Mentoring, AFSA LAUNCHES PALMER AWARD FOR THE and even training, can be ADVANCEMENT OF DEMOCRACY included as a component of an individual’s assignment. Moreover, when the need is evident, WAEers themselves should take up the mantle to assist and guide.

NEWS BRIEF In my own case, when on WAE assignment, I try to deliver basic tradecraft classes for LE staff on such topics as writing, note-taking, AFSA/BRITTANY DELONG AFSA/BRITTANY briefing and public speaking. On April 21, members of the AFSA late husband, Ambassador Mark Palmer, Their response is overwhelm- Awards Committee met with Dr. Sushma a Foreign Service officer who cham- ingly positive. They especially Palmer to mark the launch of the awards pioned democracy and human rights appreciate that someone, judging process. This year was the first throughout his career. From left: Perri voluntarily, is helping them time the panel considered nominees Green, Todd Andrews, Sharon Wayne, enhance their own profes- for the new Mark Palmer Award for the Janice Bay, Dr. Sushma Palmer, Ambas- sionalism. Advancement of Democracy. Dr. Palmer sador Steve E. Steiner, Dan Martinez, Let’s dare ourselves to established the award in honor of her Ruth Hall and Peter Swiers. n mentor. n

54 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

Second Annual Advocacy Day: AFSA Brings the Foreign Service to the Hill

(D-Calif.), who recently of then-Senator Carl Levin returned from the Summit (D-Mich.). of the Americas in Panama, The final speaker, Edith is a staunch supporter of Bartley, vice president of diplomacy and development government affairs at the and currently serves on Thurgood Marshall College the House Appropriations Fund, shared her own Foreign Committee on State, Foreign Service story of courage. Ms. Operations and Related Bartley’s father and brother Programs. She spoke pas- were killed in the 1998 attack sionately on the importance on Embassy Nairobi. of the Foreign Service and FSO Julian Bartley Sr. had the need to better educate been consul general in Nai- her peers on the benefits robi at the time of the attack of a strong and well-funded

AFSA/BRITTANY DELONG AFSA/BRITTANY and Julian Jr., Ms. Bartley’s From left: AFSA Director of Advocacy Javier Cuebas, AFSA USAID Vice Service. 20-year-old brother, had President Sharon Wayne, guests of honor Susan Bartley and Edith Bartley, Ambassador Gerald M. been working at the embassy AFSA President Robert J. Silverman and AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston. Feierstein, currently the prin- for the summer. cipal deputy assistant secre- Ms. Bartley, who was away The American Foreign currently serve as authoriz- tary in State’s Bureau of Near at school when the attack Service Association spent ers (Senate Foreign Relations East Affairs, talked about happened, has since worked a day—and an evening—on Committee) and appropria- the Hill on April 15, meeting tors (House Appropriations members of Congress and Subcommittee on State, For- their staffs to discuss the eign Operations and Related importance of the Foreign Programs). Service to national security, Meetings also included economic development and staffers from the offices of job creation. presidential hopeful Sena- On AFSA’s second annual tor Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and

Advocacy Day, AFSA Gov- Senate Appropriations State DELONG AFSA/BRITTANY AFSA hosted a reception on Capitol Hill in honor of Advocacy Day. erning Board members and and Foreign Operations professional staff visited Subcommittee Chair Lindsey 12 congressional offices to Graham (R-S.C.). his personal experiences tirelessly to advocate for talk about AFSA’s priority That evening, AFSA overseas. Amb. Feierstein victims of international ter- issues of career and profes- hosted its annual congres- joined the Foreign Service rorism and to get justice and sional development, over- sional reception at the U.S. in 1975 and has served in compensation for Foreign seas security and Overseas Capitol Visitor Center. AFSA Islamabad (twice), Tunis, Service families and other Comparability Pay, as well as President Robert J. Silverman Riyadh, Peshawar, Muscat, embassy employees killed in opportunities for collabora- welcomed congressional Jerusalem, Beirut and as terrorist attacks while work- tion with the Hill. guests who came to listen to ambassador to Yemen from ing abroad. n Congressional interlocu- stories of the Foreign Service 2010 to 2013. In addition, he —Debra Blome, tors were primarily staff of told by three speakers. discussed his experience as Associate Editor members of Congress who Rep. Barbara Lee a Pearson Fellow in the office

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AFSA ON THE HILL AFSA Scores Victories, Garners Support

AFSA has been busy on the “American diplomats and development professionals are the Hill this spring. best examples of talented people who are on the front line for Tenures and America.” —Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Promotions Capitalizing on lessons learned last year, AFSA started working early with In fact, over the last two ues the Foreign Service, the and recognized the impor- both majority and minor- years, AFSA has met with sacrifices made by you and tance of the Foreign Service: ity members of the Senate members of Congress and your families and the extraor- “These men and women are Foreign Relations Committee, staff from both sides of the dinary contributions that you the best and the brightest,” the State Department and aisle to discuss priorities are making to the well-being Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.) USAID to urge confirmations such as Overseas Compara- of our country. said. “They’re working in of the Foreign Service tenure bility Pay, security funding This progress was evident very tough situations. They and promotion list. and professional develop- during the April 22 testimony deserve our highest support, Our efforts paid off. Just ment. by Deputy Secretary of and they’re doing a fantastic before leaving town for recess On April 15, we met with State for Management and job right now.” in March, the full Senate the staff of the SFRC’s rank- Resources Heather Higgin- This strong statement of confirmed the commission, ing member, Senator Ben bottom before the SFRC on support for OCP—the stron- tenure and promotion of Cardin (D-Md.), to discuss the department’s reauthori- gest made in the past several 374 members of the Foreign these issues and convey our zation. years—gets us closer to pro- Service. support for him in his new In her opening statement, viding long overdue justice to We look forward to con- role. We have also simultane- the Deputy Secretary made rank-and-file Foreign Service tinuing to work with Chair- ously worked to partner with it clear that the adminis- employees and their families. man Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) the foreign affairs agencies to tration’s “top priority is to While we do not expect and minority members on advocate for OCP and other secure [the third tranche a reauthorization, most other important initiatives issues. of] OCP....” (To read her full experts forecast either a con- such as the State Depart- This year, the department statement, please visit www. tinuing resolution or another ment Authorization bill. submitted AFSA’s addendum bit.ly/DMRSFRCtestimony.) “CRomnibus.” AFSA’s work to the department’s Section During the Q&A session, with the authorizers will be State Department 326 report on the “State of Senator Cardin publicly key to preventing cuts to the Reauthorization the Foreign Service Work- stated his support of full international affairs budget Congress has not passed an force” (see p. 60). We also OCP and made it clear that (aka the “150 Account”) authorization bill for State briefed Senate and House he is ready to work with her during the appropriations since 2002, and given that committee staff on Foreign and State to make it part of process. different parties control the Service-relevant provisions the 2016 State Department executive and legislative of the Service Members Civil Authorization Act, adding, International Affairs bodies, odds are against an Relief Act. “American diplomats and Budget authorization this year, as Thanks to these efforts development professionals The House passed its budget well. However, the authoriza- and to members like you are the best examples of tal- resolution (H.Con.Res. 27) on tion language will feed into who have taken the time to ented people who are on the March 25, despite opposition the appropriations bills. That call, write and/or email your front line for America.” by AFSA and the Federal- is why AFSA has been actively elected officials, Congress Several other SFRC mem- Postal Coalition to certain engaging the authorizers. better understands and val- bers joined the public praise components. The measure

56 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

adheres to the Fiscal Year committees will set the FY16 2016 post-sequester Budget 302(b) allocations for each DACOR Hosts Vietnam Hands Control Act discretionary of the 12 subcommittee spending cap. appropriations bills, including According to the U.S. the State-Foreign Operations Global Leadership Coalition, Appropriations Bill. the resolution, while bringing the budget into balance in AFSA Needs Your FY2024, would also reduce Support the overall international What we must do now is affairs budget by 16 percent provide SFRC members with and its base funding by 7 tangible support, particularly percent. (To see the FPC Chairman Corker, who has letter, please visit www.bit.ly/ been an ally of the Foreign FPCletter.) Service even before taking Meanwhile, the Senate the reins of the committee.

passed its budget resolution AFSA has launched HACKER MICHAEL OF COURTESY (S.Con.Res. 11) on March several additional advocacy Rufus Phillips (left), Michael Hacker (center) and Anton “Tony” Cistaro 27, but not without a con- initiatives aimed at educat- (right) were among those who attended DACOR’s Vietnam post siderable joint effort by ing members and staff about reunion. Phillips served in Vietnam from 1954 to 1968 in a number of capacities: as a U.S. Army officer, CIA case officer, USAID official and the Department of State’s our issues and reminding consultant to the Department of State (he wrote “Counterinsurgency Bureau of Legislative Affairs them that you, your families in Vietnam: Lessons for Today” for the April 2015 FSJ). USAID FSOs and the USGLC—of which and your communities are Hacker and Cistaro met in the summer of 1967, when Cistaro recruited Hacker to serve with CORDS (Civil Operations and Rural Development AFSA is a member—to defeat paying close attention to this Support) in Vietnam. The reunion at DACOR was the first time the men a problematic amendment by process. had seen each other in 45 years. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). We ask you to stay tuned Paul’s proposal, which for our calls to action and sought to increase defense our regular AFSAnet updates On April 9, DACOR hosted a Vietnam post reunion at Bacon spending by $190 billion by on the budget, authorization House. The reunion was open to all who had served in Viet- cutting foreign assistance and appropriations process. nam at any time. by 50 percent in addition AFSA reminds active-duty The crowd of more than 60 diplomatic veterans was a to reducing several other Foreign Service employees mix of those who had been in Vietnam during the war years domestic agency budgets, that it is illegal to lobby and those who served after relations were restored. One surprised even Washington Congress using official time attendee had served there as early as 1952. insiders. Senators voting or government resources Following a welcome from DACOR member Bruce Kinsey, in favor of the defeated including your .gov email Scott Kofmehl, the State Department’s Vietnam desk officer, amendment included Mitch account. Please make sure gave a brief update on current relations between the United McConnell (R-Ky.), Mike Enzi to read up on the Hatch Act States and Vietnam. Much younger than most of the attend- (R-Wyo.) and David Vitter (rules governing political ees, he expressed awe to be in the company of so many (R-La.). activity by federal employ- Vietnam hands, and recognized the historic role many of Now that both chambers ees) and the regulations in them played at the time. have approved their respec- the Anti-Lobbying Act before DACOR Executive Director Susan Cimburek called the tive budget resolutions, they acting. n event a great success. “The strong bonds that united the are engaged in conference —Javier Cuebas, attendees were evident and there was a great sense of committee negotiations Director of Advocacy camaraderie,” she said. to reconcile the two ver- “We often think of Vietnam as such a defining point for sions. Once an agreement, those who served there militarily,” Cimburek added. “The also known as a conference reunion shows that those who served there diplomatically report, is approved, each had equally profound experiences.” chamber’s appropriations —Debra Blome, Associate Editor

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founded after 2000, reflect- Working with Affinity Groups to Foster ing an increase in the diver- Diversity Across Foreign Affairs Agencies sity of the Foreign Service’s workforce and the continued need to address institutional barriers. How does an employer cul- Department officials in order agencies,” says AFSA Presi- AFSA has taken on the tivate a diverse work force? to advance long-term career dent Robert J. Silverman. “We challenge of promoting It’s not an easy task. And if opportunities for African- appreciate the opportunity to diversity within the Service the employer is the federal Americans in foreign affairs interact with them, as we did by incorporating an explicit government and the work- in both the Civil and Foreign in our recent affinity group diversity objective in its stra- force is spread across all the Services. roundtable. It is one of the tegic plan. It has also been six foreign affairs agencies, Since TLG’s early days, best mechanisms we have working closely with agency the task is that much more affinity groups have flour- to hear about issues that leadership and Congress complex. ished and are now as varied impact our members.” on several diversity-specific A key factor in address- as the personnel they serve. The meeting was also an provisions in the current ing the diversity challenge For example, the Presidential opportunity to discuss the Department of State reau- for the Foreign Service lies in Management Fellows Pro- State Department’s Manage- thorization process. partnerships with employee gram, which entails a rigor- ment Directive 715 Equal Affinity groups and AFSA affinity groups. These groups ous selection process, caters Employment Opportunity agree: diversity is good are formed by individuals to individuals with advanced Program Status Report, for business and good for with a common interest or degrees seeking to join the which provides statistical morale. When individuals goal and are usually built Civil Service. data on the department’s from different backgrounds, around characteristics pro- GLIFAA was initially diversity and inclusion perspectives and experi- tected by equal employment formed to challenge a efforts, including identifica- ences come together, they opportunity regulations, security clearance process tion of workforce develop- are able to collaborate in new such as race, gender and that discriminated against ment barriers. AFSA has ways to come up with innova- sexual orientation. They are, lesbian, gay, bisexual and identified several concerns, tive solutions to challenges however, open to all employ- transgender employees. Two both in process and sub- faced by the Foreign Service ees and not limited to those newer groups, Veterans at stance, regarding the MD-715. and our country in the 21st of a certain gender, ethnic or State and the Arab Ameri- Not surprisingly, almost century. n racial background. cans in Foreign Affairs Agen- half of the affinity groups —Lindsey Botts, Employee affinity pro- cies, were founded in 2014 AFSA spoke with were Labor Management grams originally emerged and 2015, respectively. Executive Assistant during a time when it was At a roundtable on rare to see members of diversity in January (see marginalized groups in senior “AFSA Convenes Roundtable positions. For example, one Discussion on Diversity” of the oldest groups was in the March AFSA News), founded in 1973 by two man- AFSA brainstormed ways to agement-level U.S. Informa- work collectively with affinity tion Agency Foreign Service groups and human resources officers who saw the need to offices at State and USAID address a lack of diversity in to improve recruitment the Foreign Service. strategies and retention That group would come and inclusion. “AFSA has a to be known as the Thurs- strong—and growing—rela- day Luncheon Group. TLG’s tionship with the various goal is to focus on outreach affinity groups at State and AFSA/DEBRA BLOME AFSA/DEBRA and engagement with State in the other foreign affairs AFSA hosts a roundtable for affinity group representatives on January 15..

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Road Scholars Visit Washington, D.C.

In mid-April, 41 Road Scholars visited Washington, D.C., to learn about the work of the Foreign Service. Hailing from all parts of the United States, Road Scholar participants are typically retired professionals who are active in their communities. This trip’s theme was “The Geopolitics of Nation States COURTESY OF IOLANDA FERRARO, EMBASSY OF ITALY OF EMBASSY FERRARO, IOLANDA OF COURTESY and Sovereignty.” Participants AFSA Road Scholars visit the Embassy of Italy to the United States. spent five days attending lectures delivered by active the future of the Transat- in the broader Road Scholar Century; and the Middle East, and retired members of the lantic Trade and Investment catalog, which reaches nearly Southeast Asia and Global Foreign Service at the Savoy Partnership negotiations. In a million recipients. The Road Terrorism. Suites Hotel. These lectures addition, they visited DACOR Scholar program is a vital part AFSA encourages retired covered a variety of issues in Bacon House and the Foreign of AFSA’s outreach efforts, Foreign Service members international relations, includ- Service Institute, where they with more than 11,000 people who would like to share their ing the role and structure were briefed on consular and having participated over the knowledge and experience to of the Foreign Service; the language issues. last 20 years. volunteer as speakers for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; AFSA has been in part- There will be additional Road Scholar program. Volun- Cuba; the rise of China; the nership with Road Scholar, programs in May, June, teers or those with ques- future of Afghanistan; and the a nonprofit travel company September, October and tions should contact AFSA’s battle for Crimea. that facilitates educational November in Washington, Communications and Press They also visited the Italian trips around the world, since D.C., and Chautauqua, New Specialist Allan Saunders at Embassy in Washington, D.C., 1996. Participants choose York. Trip themes include the [email protected]. n where they heard a lecture AFSA programs from among United States, China and Asia; —Shannon Mizzi, on U.S.-Italian relations and a number of other offerings U.S. Foreign Policy for the 21st Editorial Intern

THE VOICE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE: A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION COMING IN JULY The U.S. Foreign Service and the American Foreign Service Association were born together in 1924. In this first-ever book about the association’s more than 90-year history, author Harry Kopp chronicles the evolution of the Foreign Service and the events that shaped AFSA into what it is today—the professional association and

NEWS BRIEF labor union of the United States Foreign Service. Published by AFSA’s imprint, Foreign Service Books, The Voice of the Foreign Ser- vice takes readers through the early history of diplomacy, from Benjamin Franklin to the Rogers Act of 1924 and the Foreign Service Acts of 1946 and 1980, following the evolution of the Foreign Service and the association through the 20th century and into the 21st. The book will be available in July through AFSA and all major book retailers. n

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ISSUE BRIEF AFSA Submits Its View on State Department Workforce Development to Congress

Every four years the Department of State submits a Section assignments in the Foreign Service. AFSA recommends that the 326 report to Congress on the status of its Foreign Service department continue its efforts to analyze and, for the first time, workforce. The department is obligated, per statute, to include publish the promotion projections for all cones and specialties. the views of the exclusive representative of the Foreign Service, A cursory review indicates that employees will spend more time AFSA, “on any and all aspects of the report and the informa- in grade, be faced with declining promotion rates and have more tion contained in such report.” Below, reprinted in full, is AFSA’s limited upward mobility. While the department is meeting cur- addendum to the Section 326 report, which discusses career rent position and assignment needs at the mid-levels, the five- path analysis, elimination of the mid-level deficit, peer-consti- year challenge is accommodating the DRI/D3.0 cohorts at the tuted Selection Boards, assignment process reform, retention senior levels (01 and beyond). AFSA recommends the depart- and diversity. ment review the positions and number of individuals serving in Schedule B positions, which have increased significantly in Report to Congress on Status of Workforce the last six years, to determine whether these positions are all Planning for Foreign Service Personnel needed and, if so, convert them to the career Foreign Service as Addendum: View of Exclusive Representative part of a long-term structural fix. The State Department submits the following addendum to its 2013 report, which represents the view of the exclusive Review Mid-Level Deficit Programs: The elimination of the representative of the Foreign Service, the American Foreign mid-level position deficit provides AFSA and the department Service Association, on workforce planning as called for in an opportunity to review the status and structure of programs 22 U.S. Code § 4173 (c). This report comments on informa- created to address said deficits. In 2012, the Government tion contained in the original report as well as the Five-Year Accountability Office described several department efforts Workforce and Leadership Succession Plan (Fiscal Years 2014- to meet the temporary mid-level position deficit, including 2018) published in June 2014. an enhanced pilot program for Civil Service overseas excur- sion tours (the Overseas Development Program) and relaxed Career Path Analysis: AFSA appreciates Congress’ previous requirements for conversion from the Civil to the Foreign support for the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative and Diplo- Service (GAO-12-721). AFSA recommends that the rationale macy 3.0 hiring initiatives, which have enabled the agency to and effectiveness for these two programs be reviewed in light nearly eliminate the well-documented mid-level deficits that of the elimination of their raison d’être, i.e., the mid-level posi- were created as a result of the downsizing in the 1990s. The tion deficit. AFSA is concerned by the impact of conversions of first DRI officer cohort is now approaching the FS-1 level, and positions and people on existing members of the Service and the initial D3.0 officer cohort is on the cusp of FS-2 eligibil- has submitted an information request to the department in ity. AFSA has focused its attention on the “Pig in the Python” this regard (see October 2014 FSJ). problem and on ensuring that the department is able to provide a “regular, predictable flow of talent through the ranks Performance Management and Selection Boards: AFSA into the Senior Foreign Service” as mandated in Section 601 is encouraged by the department’s efforts to improve per- of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended. Two-thirds of formance management policy and procedures, which are respondents to a recent AFSA member survey indicated that currently being reviewed by the two parties. AFSA and the they were concerned by the personal impact of the depart- department understand that the increased size of the Foreign ment’s failure to fully recognize and address the “Pig in the Service will impact the performance-related workload, with Python” problem. a recommendation to review staffing included in the March One of AFSA’s seven Quadrennial Diplomacy and Develop- 2010 OIG report (ISP-I-10-47). AFSA wants to ensure that ment Review thought papers addressed career paths and employees continue to receive a full and comprehensive professional development. The department has begun to review of their potential for increased levels of responsibility. address the impact of the DRI/D3.0 cohorts on promotions and AFSA has filed implementation disputes against the depart-

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ment, currently with the Foreign Service Grievance Board, year’s survey, 40 percent of respondents indicated that they regarding the department’s refusal to award all of the merito- were considering leaving due to professional concerns. rious service increases recommended by the 2013 and 2014 Selection Boards. AFSA’s recent member survey indicated Diversity: AFSA continued its efforts to support a diverse, strong support for the continued role of peer-constituted innovative and professional workforce (see September 2014 selection boards in the recommendations for meritorious AFSA News). It advocated for changes within the depart- service increases. ment on the oversight and reporting of diversity, suggesting changes to the MD-715 report and the Diversity and Inclu- Assignments Process Reform: The current open assignment sion Strategic Plan. It also proposed reforms to the assign- process was established 40 years ago in response to a direc- ment restrictions and preclusions programs that appear to tive issued by the Secretary of State calling for a more open, disparately impact Asian-Americans and other ethnicities centrally directed assignment process. Today, the strains of a (see November 2014 FSJ Issue Brief). Specifically, AFSA has larger workforce are showing, and it’s time to revisit that call proposed an appeals mechanism for employees informed that assisted by improved technology and a better understanding they are prohibited from working in or on a country, improved of game and matching theory. reporting and oversight of how this tool is used, and improved Last year’s AFSA survey confirmed that assignment system communications with affected employees.n reform was the membership’s highest career and professional development priority. AFSA has accordingly proposed that in 2016 the department take a serious look at the assignments process to see how the system can be made more efficient, AFSA Congratulates transparent and user-friendly. Such a review will require additional resources—people and money—to consider key Graduates of Retiree workforce development issues, such as the current assignment Job Search Program policy’s impact on the workforce’s language proficiency. In the past, Congress has criticized the department’s man- On March 27, agement of employees’ language abilities, paying particular AFSA hosted attention to the percentage of language-designated positions the graduation encumbered by qualified language speakers GAO-09-955).( In reception for the 2013, AFSA and the department also agreed to changes to the most recent Job Language Incentive Pay program as called for in the depart- Search Program ment’s 2011 Strategic Language plan. While the plan also rightly class at the cites the lack of a properly sized training float as one explana- Foreign Service tion for the language deficit, another explanation can be found Institute. in the selection process for language-designated positions. AFSA was pleased to Retention: AFSA is concerned by the recent increase in non- honor the 45 retirement voluntary separations (see November 2014 AFSA Foreign Service SIGFÚSSON AFSA/ÁSGEIR News). The department often cites two numbers support- employees who AFSA Scholarship Director Lori Dec speaks with JSP graduates. ing its “all is well” claim: overall low, flat attrition rates and were retiring a record number of applicants to the Foreign Service. AFSA from diplomatic believes that more rigorous data analysis of those leaving service, and looks forward to welcoming them as retiree the Foreign Service, in addition to instituting a standardized members of the association and continuing to work on in-person exit interview of all outgoing employees, will help their behalf to protect their Foreign Service legacy and inform our collective efforts to retain our best and bright- help them navigate their retirement. n est. Similarly, looking more closely at those individuals who —Matthew Sumrak, Retiree Counselor are not applying for the Foreign Service, but should be, can and Legislative Assistant improve our efforts to recruit the best and brightest. In last

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AFSA President Reaches Out to Students

As the voice of the Foreign ter of Nigerian immigrants to As the voice of the Foreign Service, AFSA Service, AFSA seeks to raise the United States and wants seeks to raise the profile of the Foreign the profile of the Foreign Ser- to join the Foreign Service to vice and educate the public focus on medical problems in Service and educate the public on the on the Foreign Service’s role Africa. He followed up by put- Foreign Service’s role in advancing the in advancing the nation’s ting several students in touch nations’ interests. interests. Helping students with State recruiters. at all levels understand the As part of AFSA’s ongoing Diplomacy and Development they know what a spy is. But work of the diplomatic corps Speakers Bureau program Review. Perriello met with they have no idea what you is essential to that task. (see p. 64), Silverman also the AFSA Governing Board people do and why it’s valu- This spring, AFSA Presi- addressed several hundred in February, and emphasized able,” he said. “I think there dent Robert J. Silverman took high school students from the importance of telling the are a lot of great conversa- to the road to speak to young across the country at the Foreign Service’s story. “My tions to have.” n people about the Foreign National Youth Leadership nieces and nephews know —Debra Blome, Service and the rewards of Forum in Washington, D.C. what a soldier is. They think Associate Editor a career in public service. He met with students at Yale University on March 27, at Princeton University on April 8

and at the ENVISION OF COURTESY University National Youth Leadership Forum participants listen to Robert J. Silverman speak on Foreign Service life. of Tennessee COURTESY OF MARY BETH BROWDER, THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE OF UNIVERSITY THE BROWDER, BETH MARY OF COURTESY at Knoxville AFSA President Robert J. Silverman speaks with university students in on April 21. He also visited Silverman enjoys the Tennessee. Duke University on Dec. 4. exchanges with students and He explained how the For- finds their interest in public eign Service promotes U.S. service inspiring. This kind national interests and builds of outreach is essential to goodwill among our allies and AFSA’s mission of building a potential partners, as well as constituency in support of our adversaries. the Foreign Service on Capi- There was strong interest tol Hill and among the public among students in learning at large. about the Foreign Service as This view was reiterated a career and in understand- recently by Special Repre- ing the Foreign Service exam. sentative Tom Perriello, a At Yale, for example, he met former Virginia congressman a young woman pursuing a appointed by Secretary of

postdoctoral program in pub- State John Kerry to shep- STAFF SERVICES CAREER INSTITUTE JACKSON OF COURTESY lic health. She is the daugh- herd the second Quadrennial Robert J. Silverman hosts a roundtable discussion with Yale students.

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AFSA Welcomes QDDR • Continued from page 51

likened the process of writing it to “putting together one jigsaw puzzle from a box that contains pieces from about six or seven puzzles…you really have to kind of figure out what fits where and what you eliminate and what you don’t have time for and what doesn’t belong there.” AFSA engaged early with ment; and improved quality the QDDR team to focus on of work/life for employees. member priorities. In early While more specific lan- 2014, after a six-month guage on career path analy- drafting process involv- sis, expeditionary diplomacy ing extensive research and and review of the special consultations with mem- envoy and representative bers, AFSA provided seven offices did not make it into thought papers to the QDDR the final document, AFSA team that highlighted AFSA hopes that State and USAID priorities including career will continue to focus on and professional develop- these items as they address ment, security and tech- the post-9/11 growth in the nology. Over the next 18 Foreign Service, post-Beng- months, AFSA leaders met hazi security arrangements regularly with Perriello and and the increase in the num- his staff on these issues. ber of political appointees. In the end, the 2015 As the exclusive rep- QDDR incorporated many resentative of the Foreign AFSA suggestions, includ- Service, AFSA looks forward ing provisions for increased to collaborating with both investment in fostering a agencies on the implemen- skilled and diverse work- tation of all QDDR recom- force; better management mendations. n and mitigation of physical —Maria C. Livingston, risk; enhanced economic Associate Editor leadership in the depart-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 63 AFSA NEWS

AFSA Speakers Bureau Grows

In February, AFSA urged sional associations. We are members to join our Speak- also asking AFSA members ers Bureau, which matches to proactively seek out them with universities, orga- groups and venues, rather nizations and groups around than waiting for the public to the country who are seeking ask for speakers. speakers for events. However, we need your Events can range from help to address a mismatch college classes and World in geographic representa- Affairs Councils to Kiwanis tion. More than 70 percent of Clubs and book groups. AFSA Speakers Bureau volunteers helps these entities connect (220 members) are based in with an experienced member the Washington, D.C., area. of the Foreign Service who Only 10 members are in Cali- can speak to a variety of fornia, seven in Florida, and ENVISION OF COURTESY AFSA Speaker FSO Robin Diallo addresses high school students at the National geographic and functional the remaining are scattered Youth Leadership Forum on National Security on March 26 in Washington, D.C. topics, as well as life in the around the country. Eighteen Hosted by Envision, the forum gave students the chance to learn firsthand about life as a Foreign Service officer from AFSA speakers. Foreign Service. states have no Speakers The response to our call Bureau members. for new members has been We urge you to join the the subject line. prize for the event. amazing. AFSA’s Speakers Speakers Bureau, especially if We’ll send speakers We look forward to con- Bureau nearly doubled in size you live outside the Washing- an electronic information tinuing and growing support to more than 300 members. ton, D.C., area. Visit www.afsa. packet with basic informa- from AFSA members for the We’ve received new org/speakers to sign up. And tion on AFSA and the Foreign Speakers Bureau, a privilege requests for speakers to if you want to recommend a Service. In addition, we’ll mail of AFSA membership that present to high school venue that could use an AFSA you a free copy of Inside a builds our Foreign Service students, university clubs, speaker, send an email to U.S. Embassy, which you can legacy. n alumni groups, civic and [email protected] with “Speak- use for personal reference or —Todd Thurwachter, religious groups and profes- ers Bureau Opportunity” in offer to your host or as a door Retiree Counselor

Foreign Service Journal Welcomes New Staff

AFSA is pleased to welcome City, Mexico City, the Bureau she was editor of the Harvard Maria C. Livingston to the of Economic and Business Journal of Hispanic Policy. communications team as Affairs, and was detailed to For the past year and a the new associate editor/ the U.S. Executive Director’s half, Maria has been a valued writer for The Foreign Service Office at the World Bank. member of the FSJ Editorial Journal, responsible for AFSA A New Mexico native, Board. She is married to a News. Maria has a bachelor’s Foreign Service officer whom Maria brings eight years degree from the University she met in her A-100 class, of Foreign Service experi- of Denver and a master’s and they live in Rockville, ence with her to the job. As a degree in public policy from Maryland. public diplomacy-coned FSO, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy We are delighted to have Maria C. Livingston she served in Guatemala School of Government, where Maria on board. n

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AFSA Welcomes Summer Interns

We are pleased to welcome Northeastern University in our group of summer interns. Boston. Advocacy: Aldo Perez is a The Foreign Service Jour- student at The George Wash- nal: Shannon Mizzi returns ington University Law School for a second semester with in Washington, D.C. He is us. Originally from Boston, from Miami, Florida. she has a degree in history Awards: Casey Knerr is a from the Royal Holloway sophomore at Georgetown University of London. University, majoring in sci- Advertising: Isabelle Ninh is ence, technology and inter- a rising senior at the Uni- national affairs. Casey is from versity of California, Santa Berlin, Maryland. Barbara, where she studies Communications: Amy political science. Her home- Jones is a second-year stu- town is McLean, Virginia. dent at the University of We thank departing interns St. Andrews in Scotland. A Asma Shethwala, Tom Garo- native of London, she is pur- falo, William Read, Stephan suing degrees in history and Skora, Tina Yan, Kavanaugh international relations. Waddell and Brianna Pope Executive Office: Maryland for their great work this past native Nicole ‘Nikki’ Roche is spring and wish them the a political science major at best. n NEWS BRIEF AFSA/DEBRA BLOME AFSA/DEBRA WILLIAM R. RIVKIN AWARD DONOR LUNCHEON Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin met with previous recipients of the William R. Rivkin Award during an April 27 luncheon hosted by AFSA. The award has been conferred to a mid-level officer for constructive dissent every year since 1968. From left: Assistant Secretary Charles Rivkin, his wife Susan Tolson and AFSA President Robert J. Silverman. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 65 EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT

Frank Bruni Takes On College Admissions Insanity

It’s not easy to keep one’s footing through the college admissions frenzy. In his new book, journalist Frank Bruni offers perspective and balance that can help ease the process.

BY FRANCESCA KELLY

f you’re a high school student with research, the book seeks to dispel in the midst of taking SATs, the myth that admission to an “elite” completing Advanced Place- college should be the only goal of our ment or International Bacca- children (and their parents). Instead, laureate classes and generally the author demonstrates that success in stressing about college admis- adulthood has to do with more impor- Isions, Frank Bruni has a message for tant factors than the college a student you: Relax. Don’t think there’s only one attends. college that’s right for you. He also offers this thought to keep in mind for the end Students and Families in a Race of the process: Welcome rejection. Bruni admits right off the bat that Bruni, a New York Times journalist, his book is aimed at those households has written on topics ranging from Ital- in which a premium has been placed ian food to George W. Bush. His latest on higher education—sometimes for tome, Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll that—or perhaps because of it—he does generations. But let’s not forget that Be: An Antidote to the College Admis- a fine job arguing for a sea change in the large numbers of Americans simply go sions Mania, seems a strange book for way America regards college admission. to whichever public or state university a childless author to pen, but despite Filled with anecdotes and backed up admits them. According to Bruni, that’s actually a plan worth considering. Francesca Kelly might herself be considered part of college admissions frenzy, coaching kids His intended audience—students on their college application essays. You can find her at www.essayadvantage.net. A writer and and their families in a race to get into frequent contributor to the Journal, she’s also married to Ambassador Ian Kelly and has seen the “right” college—will likely include four children through the college process. many Foreign Service families, although

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Bruni primarily wants to discourage the The author primarily wants to discourage the thinking among students thinking among students that there is that there is only one perfect college for only one perfect college for them. them—the one in the Ivy League or at Ivy League level, or the one that their parents went to 30 years ago, or the one that U.S. News & World Report ranks in the top 10. FS students who are overseas, thank- preschool because she didn’t think to fully, dodge some of the stateside admis- prep him before the admissions event. The Benefits of Being Turned sions mania. It is into this overheated atmosphere Down In the United States, the situation that Bruni introduces an idea that is not In fact, says Bruni, not only is it virtu- has become so frenzied that, in some new, but is still commonly disregarded: ally impossible to get into the top-tier families, the pressure to go to a certain What if someone told you that you schools, but those institutions don’t Ivy League or other prestigious school could go to one of many dozens, even necessarily offer anything that can’t be has been present before the child in hundreds of U.S. colleges, get a great found at other, less selective and often question is even born. Bruni interviews education and end up after graduation less expensive schools. He opens his a distraught parent whose 3-year-old did following the same career path as Yale narrative with several anecdotes about not get admitted to a high-end New York and Harvard grads? students who had their hearts set on Ivy

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Both formal and informal studies inspiring quotes from happy people who attended less prestigious col- demonstrate that, for the most part, the leges, make up the heart of the book. name of one’s undergraduate institution They are accompanied by the results of is rarely a defining factor in later both formal and informal studies that demonstrate that, for the most part, the success. name of one’s undergraduate institution is rarely a defining factor in later success. Character and work ethic are more important. League colleges but were turned away. including mentoring, internship and Some of these studies are not new What happened when they went to research opportunities. They were on and have been cited in earlier books. So so-called lesser schools? Not quite what the dean’s list. They had time for social why does the college admission feeding they expected. activities and sports. They made friends frenzy persist? As big fish in smaller ponds (and who came from diverse backgrounds. that “small pond” can also mean a big In short, they flourished. Not only that, Feeding the Frenzy state school’s honors program as much but they came to look upon their initial First, there are simply more kids as a tiny liberal arts college), they often rejection as a blessing in disguise. applying to college. Between 2001 and got extra attention from professors, These stories, along with often 2011, the percentage of 18- to 24-year-

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olds enrolled in college rose by 32 percent. Bruni doesn’t dwell too much on this statistic, but it is significant. His primary focus is on two relatively modern changes to the college admissions process: the Common Applica- tion and the U.S. News & World Report college rankings. Each in its own way has contributed to the college admissions race. The Common App, as it’s called, has streamlined the admissions process so that instead of filling out individual paper applications for each college, a student can now hit the “submit” button online, sending one application to many schools. Not surprisingly, this has led students to file more applications than ever before. More applicants mean more rejec- tions, because most colleges cannot admit more than a certain number of students: There just isn’t room, despite an increase in on-campus construction in recent years. (That improvement in facilities is often due more to competition with other colleges than a desire to add more beds. College administrators count on 17-year-olds being drawn in by state-of-the-art fitness centers and vegan cafeterias.) Then there are the rankings. When U.S. News & World Report started its college rankings in the early 1990s, it struck gold. The list rapidly became not only a moneymaker for U.S. News, but an easy way for students (and their parents) to select colleges. It also fueled a system which colleges try to “game.” For example, the college can increase “selectivity” by encouraging more students to apply and then rejecting a higher proportion of them. Several colleges have been penalized for inflating their numbers—and those are just the ones who’ve been caught.

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When U.S. News & World Report started University of Denver. She intended to become a concert pianist, but ended up its college rankings in the early 1990s, it taking an international affairs course struck gold, and fueled a system which that changed her life and provided her colleges try to “game.” with a fine mentor in Professor Josef Korbel. (In an interesting coincidence, Korbel was Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s father.) The book gets a bit controversial The metrics used by U.S. News in other words, if a student from another in its examination of the character of determining a college’s worth are also country can pay full tuition, he’s a very today’s elite students. Bruni interviews largely subjective, and Bruni is quick competitive applicant. plenty of past and present Ivy League and forceful in dismissing them. professors and administrators who An additional factor is an increase in A Controversial View describe their students with phrases the number of foreign students applying In addition to explaining the mecha- like “self-satisfied,” “too linear in their to U.S. universities. The overwhelming nisms behind college admissions frenzy, thinking” and “a little fragile.” They point majority of American college admissions Bruni interviews several luminaries, out that students who have checked all offices are not need-blind when consid- including former Secretary of State the right boxes to get into a prestigious ering foreign student applications. In Condoleezza Rice, an alumna of the school tend to believe that by following

74 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL a formula, life will turn out the way they intend. Although Bruni might incite criti- cism in his characterizations (and to be fair, he genuinely likes the students he has taught at Princeton), there is more than a grain of truth in his theory that the U.S. college admissions culture has created a generation of students who see getting in as the ultimate prize and the measure of their self-worth, rather than simply the opening of a door to new experiences and growth. He makes a good point about struggle and rejection creating a stronger person. One of the people he cites is William Deresiewicz, whose 2014 book, Excel- lent Sheep, takes a dim view of the Ivy League. Although Deresiewicz’s book, op-eds and talks on campuses have pro- voked both irritation and admiration, Bruni agrees with some of his asser- tions. “An elite school composed almost From the FSJ Education Supplement December 2013 entirely of young men and women who A Parent’s Guide to Psychoeducational Evaluations have aced the SATs or ACTs,” writes BY CHAD C. NELSON Bruni, “isn’t likely to be the most exciting, eclectic stew of people and perspec- s parents, we strive to help our point the way toward solutions. children as much as possible. For Foreign Service families, tives.” A Despite our best efforts, however, we in particular, psychoeducational Bruni is not the first to write a book may see our children struggling in evaluation may help identify academic like this, of course. Washington Post areas. intervention and accommodations columnist Jay Mathews penned the These struggles may occur early that may be necessary for children ground-breaking Harvard Schmarvard in a child’s development, manifested entering or continuing on in American as difficulty understanding directions, and international schools around the 12 years ago, and Bruni’s book is, at least learning to read or managing social world, as well as transitioning from in its early chapters, simply an updated interactions. For others, the challenge one school to the other. For FS children version of Mathews’ book. And the late may arise as a child progresses in age, who are beginning to make the transi- Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives whether it involves reading compre- tion to college, evaluation may help has had a great deal of influence not hension, completing tests in the allot- identify accommodations that may be only as a book, but also as a website and ted time period, attending to tasks or necessary in college. Evaluation can organizing tasks and materials. also help students prepare for higher even a traveling presentation. Despite assistance, these struggles education by identifying the ways in All three experts urge calm in the may persist, leaving parents, children which they learn most efficiently. midst of application frenzy, and all and teachers feeling frustrated or help- Chad C. Nelson is a licensed argue in favor of the often-overlooked less. Under those circumstances, psy- psychologist in private practice in schools that provide an education as choeducational evaluation may open the Lutherville, Md., area. To see the the door to a greater understanding of complete article, go to www.afsa.org/ good as, or perhaps better than that the child for everyone involved and help education. offered by more selective institutions. While similar in intent to its predecessors,

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The book gets a bit controversial in its major that will lead to financial rewards? That said, it’s important to note Bruni’s examination of the character of today’s insistence that college should be the one elite students. place where interests can be expanded on; where personal growth should be the goal as much as finding a well-paying career. Where You Go does not offer admissions sess a more narrow focus, tending toward It also gives the reader some pause advice, as Mathews’ book does; nor does more practical majors that will lead to that the students profiled, who for various it profile alternative colleges in depth, as lucrative jobs. reasons attend non-prestigious under- Pope’s book does. But it does offer up- Yet the adults whom Bruni holds up graduate institutions, quite often end to-date statistics and inspiring profiles, as examples tend to be successful in their up earning advanced degrees from Ivy written in Bruni’s evocative prose. work and in their earnings. Yes, they do League schools. While his point is that it speak about passion, and the not-always- doesn’t much matter where you go as an Some Questions easy route they took; but their success is undergraduate, Bruni, perhaps unwit- That’s not to say there aren’t flaws. nonetheless at least partially defined by tingly, still portrays Harvard and its ilk as What are we to make, for example, of the their relative wealth. a worthy goal for graduate school. author’s notion of success? He casts a In today’s recession economy, who The implication is that a graduate critical eye on today’s students who pos- can blame any student for choosing a Continued on page 86

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SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE Go to our webpage at www.afsa.org/education

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ACT Testing Dates Fall 2015

(register online at www.act.org)

Sept. 12—register by Aug. 7

Oct. 24—register by Sept. 18

Dec. 12—register by Nov. 6

Only some of the ACT test dates offer an optional writing test. Whether you take this test depends on the requirements of the colleges you are interested in. If you are a good writer, it’s advisable to take the ACT that offers the writing test.

Please note that the ACT is not offered on all dates in all countries.

Plan well ahead of time!

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Continued from page 76

Foreign Service kids have experienced U.S. government course, for example, are generally outweighed by the appeal of a culture shock, frequent moves and global nomad who has made his or her cross-cultural adaptation. way in different foreign cities. Unlike most of their stateside counterparts, Foreign Service kids have experienced culture shock, frequent moves and degree from an Ivy League institution or especially if applying from overseas. Say cross-cultural adaptation. its equivalent (i.e., Stanford, MIT, etc.) still all you want about highly-touted D.C.- Despite these advantages, however, FS matters in some circles. That cachet may area high schools like Walt Whitman and families would do well to listen to Bruni’s well be valid if the level of coursework Thomas Jefferson, but you can’t ignore advice and not let college acceptance and the intelligence of one’s peers live up the fact that the competition among their become a measure of self-worth. One to the school’s reputation. Still, some may students—and parents—is fierce. hopes that Foreign Service children are find this a mixed message. That competition is toned down in way past playing that game. most international high schools, because Still, it’s so very easy to get sucked into FS Kids, in Particular many of the school’s students aren’t the fray, and for that reason and others, How does all this affect Foreign applying to U.S. universities at all. And Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be Service kids? Well, they often have an the disadvantages of not having a pleth- provides a reassuring and crucial remedy edge in the college admissions process, ora of AP or IB courses, or a standard for college admissions fever. n

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From the FSJ Education Supplement December 2011 College Applications Checklist for 11th-Graders BY FRANCESCA KELLY

hen it comes to college admissions, junior year Wof high school is crunch time. This is when you’re expected to take the most challenging courses, get the best grades and start racking up those SAT or ACT scores. Junior year is the last full academic year that factors into acceptance decisions from colleges. It also provides an opportunity to bring up a mediocre grade point average and polish your resumé. In addition, you can finish—yes, finish—a whole swath of the applications process in 11th grade so that you do not get hit with a ton of pressure the next fall. This no-nonsense, month-by-month guide from December through August of your junior year will help you get a head start on the college application process and sail through your senior year. Francesca Kelly, a Foreign Service spouse, is a college applications essay tutor and writes frequently on educational issues. The college applications checklist for 11th-graders in the December 2011 issue of the FSJ is available online at www.afsa.org/educationarticles.

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From the FSJ Education Supplement December 2014 The ABCs of Education Allowances BY PAMELA WARD

mployees of government agen- Ecies assigned overseas are granted allowances to help defray the cost of an education for their children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The allowances for a specific post are determined by the fees charged by a school identified as providing a basic U.S.-type education. Parents may use this allowance to send their children to a different school of their choice as long as the cost does not exceed that of the “base” school. If the alternative school is more expensive than the “base” school, the difference would be an out-of- pocket expense for the parents. There are several offices in the Department of State prepared to help you understand how the educational allowances work, and what choices you have for your children. These include the Office of Over- seas Schools (www.state.gov/m/a/ os), the Office of Allowances (www. state.gov/m/a/als) and the Family Liaison Office (www.state.gov/m/ dghr/flo/c1958.htm). We hope that you will get in touch with us if you have any questions about your situation. Although these offices are part of the Depart- ment of State, the same allowances apply to most civilian federal employees under chief-of-mission authority overseas. For information or assistance contact FLOAsk- [email protected] or call (202) 647-1076. Pamela Ward is a former regional education officer in the State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools. Her article, originally published in the June 2007 FSJ, has been updated to reflect developments since then.

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From the FSJ Education Supplement December 2014 American College Rankings: How They Work and What They Mean BY FRANCESCA HUEMER KELLY

ust as your high school student begins his senior Jyear, guess what pops up on the newsstand? That’s right; it’s the U.S. News & World Report annual special issue of America’s top colleges. Started 30 years ago, this list of ranked colleges has become a huge phenomenon among high school seniors, their parents, alumni, and the colleges and universities themselves. Although newer lists now exist, published by Washington Monthly and others, the U.S. News rankings are still the most popular. But how helpful are they? Let’s take them apart to see how they work. Then we’ll look at some alternative lists of U.S. colleges that may be more useful in finding the right school. Francesca Kelly, a Foreign Service spouse, is a writer and college essay tutor. She writes frequently on education issues and is a former editor of AFSA News. For the complete article, go to www.afsa.org/education.

96 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Gap Happy: One FS Student’s Experience Gap years are becoming more popular in the United States as a transition to college. Here’s one Foreign Service student’s experience.

BY MARYBETH HUNTER

very year, senior in deferring their attendance to high school college and completing intern- students world- ships, traveling or volunteering wide prepare abroad. The results are impres- for graduation sive. In fact, a recent article in and beyond. For U.S. News & World Report credits Esome that might mean prepar- gap-year students (affectionately ing for college or finding a job. known as “gappers”) with better For others it means taking a performance and a better sense close look at nontraditional of purpose in their studies than options. One option that is gain- their non-gapper peers. ing popularity (to the tune of a Worldwide prevalence and 20-percent increase since 2006, encouraging facts aside, families

according to Forbes.com) is tak- COSKUNER BROOKE OF COURTESY in the foreign affairs coming a gap year. On a typical day at one campsite, gap-year students help munity might still be wonder- with construction work in a village. Often taken between ing—how might taking a gap graduating from high school and seeking an enriching experience by tak- year help a Foreign Service starting college, gap years are largely ing a semester or year-long break from student succeed? To help answer that used to help students define a plan for academics has gained popularity in the question, the Family Liaison Office’s personal success. While gap years have United States during the last 10 years. education and youth team interviewed long been a common practice for stu- Several universities have developed Foreign Service gap-year student Brooke dents in Europe and Australia, available service-based programs for accepted, Coskuner, daughter of State Department information indicates that the notion of incoming first-year students interested FSO Melissa Coskuner, asking her some thought-provoking questions regard- Marybeth Hunter is an education and youth specialist in the State Department’s Family ing her recent gap-year experience in Liaison Office. Kenya.

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A recent article in U.S. News & World FLO: Many readers might wonder what a day in the life of a gap-year Report credits gap-year students with student could entail. Can you describe a better performance and a better sense typical day? of purpose in their studies than their BC: A typical day during the week at one campsite would start at 9 a.m. when “non-gapper” peers. we would eat a delicious Kenyan break- fast of porridge or eggs and bacon. After helping to do the dishes, we would Family Liason Office: Students walk to a nearby village where we opt for gap years for a variety of rea- would begin our work project. Our sons. What prompted your decision? objective was to finish buildings that Brooke Coskuner: I wasn’t sure would house medical dispensaries what I wanted to study after high and a boys’ school. We would mix school, so I wanted to travel and take cement and plaster the walls of the some time to discover myself and my buildings. interests. Also, I wanted to do some- While we were working, the local thing to help others in the world and children from the village would something that was rewarding. come and hang out with us. Those kids were so joyful and made us FLO: In your opinion, what laugh. should potential gap-year candidates We would have lunch around 1 do to prepare themselves for this type p.m. and go back to work for three of adventure? more hours. After that, we would go BC: They should definitely have back to our camp and get cleaned COURTESY OF BROOKE COSKUNER BROOKE OF COURTESY a good idea about what they want Gap-year students help finish buildings to house up. We would spend the rest of the to do during their gap year and stay medical dispensaries and a boys’ school in Kenya. day playing pool or just hanging out motivated to do just that. Without a with the other camp participants plan, some people end up not doing any- be doing in detail. I ended up choosing and the staff. thing during their gap year because of a Camps International because it had great On the weekend, we would go to the loss of motivation and no real objectives. reviews, their activities interested me and beach and relax. It was really a wonderful it sounded like fun. and liberating experience. FLO: With the idea of taking a gap year At another campsite, we monitored gaining in popularity, there are a number FLO: The price of the program would wildlife in Tsavo West, a game park near of organizations offering programs. How certainly be a deciding factor for many the coast in Kenya. We followed a family did you go about choosing yours? families. What was the overall cost for of elephants in this area and also helped BC: I searched for programs via your gap year? with construction of a school in a village the Internet, which was overwhelming BC: It always depends on where you there. because there were so many programs choose to go and what is included in In my group, there were many Austra- offered in so many locations. Eventu- the cost. I chose to go to Kenya for two lians and British kids, and it was great to ally, I decided to start with my desired months and, with flights included, it cost get to know them. I learned about their location and the duration of the program, about $4,000. It was a bit pricey com- culture, as well as the Kenyan coastal and then researched programs based on pared to some of the other programs, culture. I am still in touch with many of those criteria. There were many types but there were four different campsites them, and two of them came to visit me of programs and activities offered, so I with different activities, and food and in- in Berlin, where I lived with my family read up on what kinds of things I would country transportation were included. after going to Kenya.

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“Students should definitely have a good idea about what they want to do during their gap year and stay motivated to do just that.” —Brooke Coskuner

FLO: Staying connected to family and were no washing machines available. friends back home is important to most Our clothes got so dirty from all of the travelers. How did you communicate with construction work we were doing. them throughout your gap year? The local staff showed us how they BC: I bought a SIM card and used my washed clothes, rubbing them together phone, which also had Internet, so I used with a lot of force and a lot of soap. After “Whatsapp” to talk to them; and, occa- a couple of tries, I got the hang of this and sionally, I made phone calls. I got a pre- learned how to do it so that my clothes paid SIM card from the phone company were clean. We would hang our wet there [Kenya] that wasn’t too expensive, clothes out in the Kenyan sunshine, and and that’s how I stayed in contact with they would dry very fast. my family and friends. It was also a bit hard in the beginning adjusting to being away from my family, FLO: One would guess that day-to-day friends and the comforts of home, but life was not always easy for you. What are that faded pretty quickly as I got to know some of the challenges you faced, and how my campmates and started to engage in did you deal with them? our work and experience the fun adven- BC: I think the biggest challenge for tures. me was learning how to take care of myself and become more self-sufficient. FLO: Making sure you had everything In the camp experience, all of us had you needed must have been a concern. to manage our own laundry, cooking What did you bring with you that you preparations and cleanup. I had to hand wish you hadn’t, and what did you not wash my clothes every day because there bring that you wish you had?

Interesting Gap-Year Facts from AmericanGap.org

• Ninety percent of students who took a gap year returned to college within a year. • Gap-year students show a clear pattern of having higher GPAs than would otherwise have been predicted, and the positive effect lasts through all four years. • National statistics show that half of medical school–minded students are taking at least one gap year. The percentage is even higher (60 percent) for undergrads at high-powered research institutions such as Johns Hopkins who are heading for medical schools nationwide.

100 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Words of Wisdom from a Gap-Year Parent

didn’t worry about her postponing Iher studies. I was fully supportive of this idea and thought it would help give her some perspective on her life, as well as providing some challenges. The experience gave her the opportunity to be away from familiar and reliable surround- ings and helped to develop her vision for the next steps in her life. —Melissa Coskuner, State Department

BC: I don’t think there was anything I wished I had brought, but didn’t. I brought everything I needed from the list that was supplied. I ended up buying some local Kenyan fabric and had some long pants and shorts made for casual wear.

FLO: Now that your gap year is over, how have you been able to use the knowledge you gained? BC: Since this was the first time I lived away from my family, I learned to be self-sufficient and gained greater independence. It really helped me to learn about myself and what I was capa- ble of doing. This experience increased my self-confidence and my abilities by taking me out of my comfort zone. I learned to rely on myself, and gained an appreciation for the things I took for granted in my life.

FLO: Finally, in what ways do you think you have grown both personally and academically as a result of taking a gap year?

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 101 EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT Gap-Year Resources

Books The Gap-Year Guidebook 2014: Everything You Need to Know About Taking a Gap-Year or Year Out, Jonathan Barnes (2014) Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs, “In the camp Joseph O’Shea (2013) experience, all Now What? How a Gap Year of International Internships Prepared Me for College, Career, and Life, Monika Lutz (2013) of us had to Gap Year, American Style: Journeys Toward Learning, Serving, and Self-Discovery, manage our own Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson (2013) laundry, cooking Escape Guide to The Ultimate Gap Year: The Essential Guide To Your Year Out, Amar Hussein (2013) preparations and The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things to Do Between High School cleanup.” and College, Kristin M. White (2009) —Brooke Coskuner The Gap-Year Advantage: Helping Your Child Benefit from Time Off Before or During College, Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson (2005) Planning Your Gap Year: Hundreds of Opportunities for Employment, Study, Volunteer Work and Independent Travel, Nick Vandome (2005) Websites For General Information: BC: Personally, I have learned to be more independent. While helping the www.americangap.org less fortunate, I learned to appreciate www.gapadvice.com the things I have in my life. Academi- www.gapwork.com cally, I have chosen to study art and www.gapyear.com graphic design in Berlin, Germany. I www.outwardbound.org think this gap-year experience gave me www.responsibletravel.com the courage to choose to stay abroad and study, and also helped me to become For Specific Programs: more focused on pursuing my long-held www.campsinternational.com interest in art and design. This organization creates two-week to three-month volunteering programs for 18- to 25-year-olds. Participants live within rural communities surrounded by w stunning biodiversity areas while contributing to sustainable project initiatives in Borneo (Sabah), Cambodia, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya and Tanzania. For more information on how to determine if a gap year might work for a www.gapguru.com student in your family, please review the This website focuses on gap-year programs that emphasize community Gap-Year Resource list on this page. development, childcare and sports coaching. The Foreign Service Youth Founda- tion provides scholarship opportunities www.lattitude.org.uk for Foreign Service gap-year students The Lattitude group offers worldwide volunteer placements for gap-year going on to their first year of college. For students. The four-week to eleven-month projects cover a diverse range of interests more details on how and when to apply, including teaching, medicine and conservation work. please contact FSYF at [email protected]. Visit FLO’s website for information www.madventurer.com on a variety of education resources This website highlights opportunities for gap-year participants to help empower for Foreign Service youth, www.state. global communities through sustainable service, transformative learning and adven- gov/m/dghr/flo. Contact FLO’s Educa- turous exploration. Opportunities range from two weeks to six months in length. tion and Youth team with questions at [email protected]. n

102 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL BOOKS

Power Dynamics in Creation of the American Cen- decline of Britain before the Today’s World tury” and “American Decline.” two world wars to illustrate I will skip the argument over how domestic decay (such Is The American Century Over? when the American Century as falling industrial pro- Joseph S. Nye Jr., Global Futures Series, may have begun because the ductivity) reduced absolute Polity Press, 2015, $12.95, paperback/$8.99, several alternatives are all power, but it was the rise e-book, 152 pages. somewhat plausible and, in of others that reduced the Reviewed By Harry C. Blaney III any case, the heart of the mat- country’s relative power. ter is the often-popular idea Nye acknowledges that This little volume is perhaps the best of American global decline. the American Century may short read I know about our global Nye cites most of the change or end as a result of landscape, its future trajectory and the arguments for “American decline”—and a “relative” power decline because of implications for global geostrategic these citations alone are worth the the rise of others. He looks at the rela- power shifts. price of the book, just to set the stage. tive power changes in Europe, Japan, A former dean and now professor He then gets to the real nitty-gritty of Russia, India and Brazil. The latter has at the Harvard John F. Kennedy School the policies, resources, new actors and no chance to overtake America, but of Government, Nye is no stranger to exercise of power that lie at the heart of Nye thinks that China will be the chief Washington foreign policymaking. American influence in the world. competitor and even surpass America Among other positions, he spent time One quote sums up much of his in economic growth and size. on the State Department’s seventh floor. argument here: “The short answer to But in the next chapter, on China, he In short, he knows both the academic side (he invented the concept of “soft power”) and the hard realities of the practice of power diplomacy. What we see in this book is a concise tour de force examining As we all know, there is a furious, the international context in which power is exercised, to what and often misguided, debate about the end and how it shifts (or does not) over time. fall of America and the rise of China, Europe and a host of other nations and forces. Nye examines all of these arguments, citing and quoting authors who our question is that we are not entering also analyzes that country’s many prob- espouse one viewpoint or another. He a post-American world.” Nye believes lems and questions whether, in fact, it brings considerable factual material that in 2041 the United States will still will stop the American Century in all and analytical skills to bear to see if the have “primacy in power resources and areas of power. He looks at Beijing’s views match reality. play the central role in the global bal- strategy and American responses. He What we see in this book is a ance of power among states...” But he notes that its military power is officially concise tour de force examining the correctly notes that it is necessary to at a quarter of America’s by the measure international context in which power look at “a decrease in relative external of defense expenditures, but that there is exercised, to what end and how it power and domestic deterioration or are programs that are “off the books.” shifts (or does not) over time. While the decay.” Nye believes that the American emphasis is on the role of America, the One key point he makes is that there Century will likely continue, but it will author’s true focus is on relative and is “no virtue in either understatement not look like the past and will be more shifting power—it is a dynamic look at or overstatement of American power.” complex. The American share of the the phenomenon rather than a static, The hubris of a Bush II is not wise, and global economy will be smaller than in unidimensional or simplistic expansion neither is “withdrawal from the world the past, for example. But Nye does not of existing, but shifting, trends. or nationalistic and protectionist poli- believe in simple linear extrapolation The first two chapters look at “The cies that do harm.” He uses the rise and of growth rates; he looks at multiple

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 103 elements of power including military, work of addressing our most serious make for a fun read. She has a knack economic and soft power. global challenges. for characterizing a situation in just Nye notes, as some others have, that This book provides so many insights such a way that a Foreign Service reader “transnational issues” are “not suscep- into the global dynamics of power and understands. tible to traditional hard-power instru- its significance that I would make it “Normally it is quite unnerving wak- ments.” It is here that diplomacy must required reading for all members of the ing up on the first day of a new posting work harder and smarter; but, frankly, A-100 course, with a class discussion of because you have no idea where—or we have not yet organized our foreign the implications of these trends and our who—you are, but I had no difficulty policy process and management struc- role in this new and changing world. this morning for the simple reason that I ture, let alone our training and assign- It should also be read by all who take never went to sleep,” she writes. ments at State, to align with this reality. the new ambassadors’ class to ensure “My bed was so hard I might as well Nye states, as have President Barack that our professionals and neophytes have been lying on the floor, and all I Obama and Secretary of State John are aware of just how complex and chal- could think was ‘Oh God, what have Kerry, that the United States “cannot lenging the world they are being sent I done?’ AW should have retired: we achieve many of its international goals out to manage is. could be living cozily in Somerset now, acting alone.” This is a perspective that with a play frame in the garden and the too many in America, and especially in Harry C. Blaney is a retired FSO who served grandchildren coming for weekends; Congress, do not understand. three assignments as a member of the Secre- but instead we are on the 15th floor of The key for Nye is: “The problem of tary of State’s Policy Planning Staff and in the the Radisson Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan.” leadership in such a world is how to White House. He served overseas at the U.S. Keenan’s husband—whom she get everyone into the act and still get Mission to the European Union and NATO. He refers to only as AW—is a diplomat for action.” He is dismissive of those who is former president of the Coalition for Ameri- the European Union. The book covers equate military action with power, and can Leadership Abroad, and is now a Senior the last few posts of his career and the points to the many global challenges Fellow at the Center for International Security. months immediately following retire- where military might is of little use. ment. During this time, Keenan and AW He decries both those who overreact, Finding the Humor in host a wedding, face cancer, become resulting in the “waste [of] blood and Following Your Spouse grandparents, train domestic help, quit treasure, as in Vietnam and Iraq,” and smoking, gain weight and retire, among those who preach a form of total isola- Packing Up: Further Adventures other things. tion from the world’s troubles. of a Trailing Spouse The book is written as a collec- Nye concludes that our place in the Brigid Keenan, Bloomsbury Publishing, tion of journal entries rather than as a world could be affected by our own 2014, $17.37, hardcover, 320 pages. traditional narrative. It begins with a partisan politics, and he is critical of the Reviewed By Debra Blome nearly 30-page prologue that sets the budget cutters who reduce funding for scene and brings the reader up to date diplomacy and the military, as well as Packing Up: Further Adventures of a with the family (10 years have domestic needs such as education, R&D Trailing Spouse is a sequel to Brigid passed since the and infrastructure that make our coun- Keenan’s 2007 book, Diplomatic writing of Diplo- try great. He believes we need to grow Baggage: The Adventures of a Trail- matic Baggage). and tax to accomplish these goals. ing Spouse, which she wrote about “When I was writ- While he believes the United States life as a diplomatic family. ing it,” Keenan says should intervene in key crises, Nye That book covered giving up a of the book in her holds that Washington should stay career, having children and mov- prologue, “I noticed out of the business of “invasion and ing a family around the world. that lots of other older occupation.” He argues for the need to This one is all about what happens women seemed to be reinvigorate, reconfigure and reinvent next. publishing their mem- international institutions to carry the Keenan’s witty observations oirs and said to my

104 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The book is richest when it showcases the author doing what “Our beautiful room looks rather she does best: observing and humorously describing her life. empty and sad. To help us with unpack- ing in England, I asked the packers to write on the boxes what is inside. On the ones containing our bed linens, they have written Ambassador’s shits.” daughter Claudia, ‘If books written by sometimes flatfooted political com- Packing Up is full of bits like this, young women are called chick lit, what ments may make you wince. And some which make you chuckle and nod do you think older women’s should be journal entries are so mundane you knowingly without even realizing you’re called?’ After some thought, she sug- wonder why they were ever included. doing it. This is not a book to read if gested decreplit.” The book is richest when it show- you’re looking for great insight on the The dated journal entries and cases the author doing what she does meaning of life, but it is a book to enjoy Keenan’s self-deprecating prose move best: observing and humorously for what it is: One that’s easy to put the story along, but don’t prevent it describing her life. “The packers have down, but also easy to pick back up from getting bogged down in various been here all weekend and everything again. n tangents. Their peripatetic lifestyle— of ours has gone,” she writes near the London, Somerset, Brussels, Kazakh- end of the book. It’s a feeling any FS Debra Blome is a former associate editor of stan, Azerbaijan, trips to Israel—can member who has ever packed out The Foreign Service Journal. be tiresome to keep up with. Keenan’s knows well.

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110 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 111 REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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112 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 113 LOCAL LENS

BY BRANDON L. WEST n CHICHICASTENANGO, GUATEMALA

he steps to the church of Santo Tomás in Chichi- Please submit your favorite, recent photograph to be considered for Local castenango, located in the western highlands of Lens. Images must be high resolution (at Guatemala, are a focal point of the weekly Sunday least 300 dpi at 8 x 10”) and must not be in print elsewhere. Please submit a short market where local women sell flowers and incense. T description of the scene/event, as well as Originally built on top of a Mayan altar in 1540, the church your name, brief biodata and the type of reflects the syncretism that has occurred between Mayan and camera used, to [email protected]. Catholic worship. n

Brandon West and his family are currently serving on their first tour in Guatemala City. His wife, Christina, joined the Foreign Service in the spring of 2013 and has an onward assignment to Guadalajara. Brandon works remotely from their home for a U.S.- based software company and enjoys documenting their Foreign Service experiences at diplodad.com. This photo was taken with a Canon 6D and EF 17-40mm lens.