State Magazine + July/August 2007 + Number 514
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE MAGAZINE MOTHER EARTH JULY/AUGUST 2007 CONTENTS STATE MAGAZINE + JULY/AUGUST 2007 + NUMBER 514 Crate Ideas 20 American ingenuity helps Swazi schoolchildren. * Foreign Affairs Day 36 Frontline diplomats confront a changing world. * Security First Diplomatic Security team supports Transformational 42 Democracy in Liberia. * ON THE COVER Mother Earth and the world environment, as seen by 15-year-old Mariya Nikolova of Kazanlak, Bulgaria, one of three winners in the Department’s 2007 international Earth Day art contest. POST OF THE MONTH: Kigali Modern Rwanda Reflects a Calm and Pleasant Beauty. 28 12 Earth Day Artists 40 Science & Technology Abroad Three Earth Day artists have transformational Jefferson Fellow promotes S&T exchanges experience. with Africa. 22 A Worthwhile Weekend 46 Operation Warfighter IT specialist applies skills to hostage Department helps wounded service members videotape. during recovery. 24 Peace Through Music 48 ‘Gold Standard’ Hybrid band bridges musical traditions. OMB calls Department’s data-sharing system the best. 26 Saving Lives Embassy security team responds quickly to 50 Training ‘Ops’ Iraq bombing. Operations Center takes on added role. COLUMNS 2 FROM THE UNDER SECRETARY 54 APPOINTMENTS 3 READERS’ FEEDBACK 55 RETIREMENTS 4 FROM THE DG 56 EDUCATION & TRAINING 5 IN THE NEWS 57 OBITUARIES 52 MEDICAL REPORT 60 THE LAST WORD UNDER SECRETARY HENRIETTA FORE Advancing Our Mission Through Public-Private Partnerships Secretary Rice has described Transforma- As its first deliverable, the center has John Engler, president and CEO, National tional Diplomacy as “rooted in partnership.” begun to assemble a database of existing Association of Manufacturers; Kenneth The Secretary’s vision calls for us to Derr, retired chairman and CEO, Chevron innovate and be creative as we expand the Corporation; Yousif Ghafari, chairman of influence of diplomacy and the Department. Ghafari Associates; and Harold “Terry” Public-private partnership can be a powerful McGraw, chairman, president and CEO of and transformational tool that infuses the The McGraw-Hill Companies. The working Department with new ideas, new best prac- group will make recommendations to Secre- tices and the results-based orientation of the tary Rice to build on partnership activity private sector. already under way. Diplomacy is at the center of our nation’s Undoubtedly, some change will be efforts to secure a peaceful and prosperous needed, including building new competen- future for the United States and a robust, cies and expertise among both Foreign and mutually beneficial engagement with the Civil Service employees. It will also require international community. Partnerships with that we rethink our assumptions about the the private sector—including academic role of government and adjust to thinking of institutions, foundations, nongovernmental the private sector as a strategic partner at all organizations and the business community levels of planning, operating, funding and —can amplify and reinforce our traditional governing. diplomatic tools by drawing on the unique attributes of each sector. Value of Public-Private Partnerships Well-conceived partnerships can realize Private Sector Partnership Office State partnerships. With more than 100 substantial cost savings, extend the reach While partnerships are not new, actively partnerships captured, the database and impact of our funding and allow all promoting them as a mainstream tool to illustrates the wide array of partnerships in partners to bring their strengths to the table accomplish the Secretary’s strategic priorities which the Department is already engaged. to work in concert across sector stovepipes. is. In the summer of 2006, Secretary Rice This is a first for the Department and will be To be successful, partnerships must established a task force to make recommen- a searchable Web site for all of us. • Advance the strategic objectives of both dations aimed at expanding the Department’s One example of a partnership is the U.S.- the government and private partners. use of public-private partnerships. Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer • Require shared risk, investment and In addition to creating a Web site to Awareness and Research, which is providing reward. better share information on State’s partner- medical expertise and support to reduce • Include interests that are as compelling ships and coalescing a group of stakeholders breast cancer incidence and increase early to the private sector as policy and from within the Department, the primary detection in the Middle East. programmatic interests are to us. recommendation of the task force was to Another partnership, the Overseas • Leverage resources to jointly produce create a center of excellence to identify and Schools Advisory Council, is composed of outcomes with greater impact than implement measures to promote partner- 25 representatives of American business could be achieved individually. ship activity. firms, who provide advice on overseas Transformational Diplomacy is more I am very pleased to announce that, as a educational issues and conduct a program of than a policy statement. It describes our result, just such an office is being launched educational assistance for these schools. engagement around the world, in capital in the Bureau of Resource Management. cities and emerging centers of industry, and This new office will provide powerful tools Private Sector Perspective influences working with traditional partners and information to Department personnel The center also supports the work of the and new ones and through real who are actually our partnership practi- Transformational Diplomacy Advisory communities and virtual ones. Public- tioners and will be a focal point to share Committee’s working group on private private partnerships offer opportunities to successful experiences, best practices and sector partnerships. Committee members leverage private sector ingenuity, efficiencies, models and to advocate for the changes include Maria Elena Lagomasino, CEO of information and resources to achieve needed to optimize this important activity. Asset Management Advisors, LLC; Governor together what we could not do alone. ■ 2 | STATE MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2007 READERS’ FEEDBACK Leadership Is About People I was particularly interested in the column on leadership by Under Secretary for Management Henrietta Fore in the May issue. As a university professor (now at the State Department as a Foster Fellow) who teaches strategy, innovation and leadership to both undergraduate and MBA students, I was glad to see that the Department is following a similar path for developing leaders as the private sector. Leadership is one of the main traits that industry is now looking for in new hires. The 10 items discussed by Under Secretary Fore can be considered the “Ten Commandments” for good leadership. I would like to add one more from former Secretary Colin Powell that could be consid- ered the golden rule for good leadership: “Leadership is all about people. It is not about organizations. It is not about plans. It is not about strategies. It is all about people—motivating people to get the job done. You have to be people-centered.” Larry Chasteen Management Professor/Foster Fellow Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism Great Publications Paul Claussen I have just enjoyed reading your article Just a short note to express my apprecia- (May issue) about the team that puts tion for the fine obituary of Paul Claussen, together the Bureau of International Infor- which appeared in the June issue. I met mation Programs’ publications. Paul this past autumn, when we worked on I commend these journals to everyone. commemorating the bicentennial of U.S.- The Outline Series is excellent. The poster Russian relations. shows are attractive and useful in schools, During our short association I noticed at conferences and at our embassies in many of the fine attributes mentioned in Wellington and Apia and our Auckland the obituary. Consequently, I wanted to consulate to inform audiences about thank the author for providing a different issues. wonderful sketch of this superb historian So a big thank you from Down Under to and extraordinary person. George Clack and his team. Bill James Christine Vivian Public Diplomacy Desk Officer Public Affairs Section Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine U.S. Embassy, Wellington LET US HEAR FROM YOU E-mail Fax Letters should not exceed 250 words and [email protected] (202)(202) 663-1769663-1769 should include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. All letters Mailing Address become the property of State Magazine.. Phone 2401 E Street, NW Letters will be edited for length, accuracy (202)(202) 663-1700663-1700 HR/ER/SMG, SA-1, Room H-236 and clarity. Only signed letters will Washington, DC 20522-0108 be considered. JULY/AUGUST 2007 | STATE MAGAZINE | 3 D.G. GEORGE STAPLES Challenges and Accomplishments After 26 challenging and exciting years that hinder our ability to carry out robust support and assistance provided to me and in the Foreign Service and 35 total years of diplomatic work both at home and abroad. the personnel assigned to the HR Bureau. federal employment, I will be retiring from The essence of Transformational Many good ideas and suggestions have the Department. As I look back on my past Diplomacy will have to be enhanced been sent to us via the DG Direct channel, 14 months in HR, I’m pleased about what outreach to foreign audiences for them to and