AFSA DISSENT AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS INSIDE!

$4.50 / JULY-AUGUST 2012 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING The Foreign Service Institute and FS Training

OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS July-August 2012 Volume 89, No. 7-8

F OCUS ON FSI/FS Training PURSUING THE ELUSIVE TRAINING FLOAT / 14 Adequate funding is a key piece of the professionalization puzzle, but not the only one. By Shawn Zeller

FOSTERING A PROFESSIONAL FOREIGN SERVICE / 21 State and USAID should concentrate on protecting recent staffing gains, not programs, to cope with budget cutbacks. By Ronald E. Neumann Illustration by Torrence Delawie, from the watercolor triptych THE ARMY’S APPROACH TO LEADER DEVELOPMENT / 27 “Memory Places,” one of A look at how the Army’s professional education system develops Ms. Delawie’s entries in AFSA’s leadership skills offers possible lessons for the Foreign Service. 2012 Art Merit Award Competition. By Jeffrey LaMoe and Ted Strickler

AT FSI’S HELM: AN INTERVIEW WITH RUTH A. WHITESIDE / 32 The director of the Foreign Service Institute reflects on the training center’s expanding role. PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 7 By Shawn Zeller Foreign Service Pets: Not a Peripheral Issue By Susan R. Johnson F EATURES REFLECTIONS / 78 My Portable Consciences CELEBRATING INTELLECTUAL COURAGE: By Annie Pforzheimer AFSA’S CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARDS / 39 Please consider nominating a deserving colleague — or even yourself — for an AFSA dissent award. By John W. Limbert LETTERS / 8 THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVES IN FOREIGN POLICY / 42 CYBERNOTES / 10 Successful foreign policymaking needs overarching principles, MARKETPLACE / 13 a vision and a mission statement declaring its purpose. By Jon Elliott BOOKS / 62 IN MEMORY / 65 FS HERITAGE INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 76 JOEL R. POINSETT: FIRST U.S. ENVOY IN LATIN AMERICA / 46 Though mainly known today for giving his name to a Christmas flower, Joel Poinsett achieved much more. By Luciano Mangiafico

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S

Editor AFSA NEWS STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor AFSA PANEL ASSESSES PROSPECTS FOR THE ARAB SPRING / 49 SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor AFSA DISSENT AND PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED / 49 SHAWN DORMAN AFSA News Editor NEWS BRIEFS / 50 DONNA AYERST Ad & Circulation Manager VP STATE: INTERNET PORN — DOES STATE KNOW ED MILTENBERGER IT WHEN IT SEES IT? / 51 Art Director CARYN SUKO SMITH VP FCS: COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS / 52 Editorial Intern EVA M.A. MOSS VP RETIREES: SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT / 52 Advertising Intern CLAUDIA GERKEN AFSA AWARD WINNERS’ PROFILES / 53 EDITORIAL BOARD ERIT WARD INNERS JAMES P. S EEVERS 2012 AFSA M A W / 56 Chairman JUDITH BAROODY KENNAN AWARD / 58 WILLIAM D. BENT GORDON S. BROWN CLASSIFIEDS / 59 STEPHEN W. B UCK KATE WIEHAGEN LEONARD RICHARD MCKEE JED MELINE GREGORY L. NAARDEN LYNN ROCHE RACHEL SCHNELLER

THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members — $13 included in an- nual dues; others — $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of adver- tisements herein does not imply the endorse- ment of the services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org; www.fsjournal.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2012. Printed in the U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to — AFSA Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street N.W. Washington DC 20037-2990 Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste.

6 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Foreign Service Pets: Not a Peripheral Issue BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON

Following its recent merger came across eloquently and a PetSafe program far from ready for with Continental Airlines, Uni- poignantly in the thousands of global rollout would have pushed many ted Airlines replaced its interna- e-mail letters AFSA members Foreign Service families to the break- tionally oriented, pet-friendly sent to United’s chief executive ing point. United’s waiver and the op- policies with Continental’s U.S.- officer. tion to use other U.S. carriers have specific PetSafe transport pro- Here are a few excerpts: helped somewhat, but we still have a gram. The announcement set “Because our lives are often long way to go. off alarm bells throughout the military uprooted, we rely even more heavily AFSA surveys suggest that close to and Foreign Service pet owner commu- than usual on that which is familiar and 40 percent of Foreign Service members nities because PetSafe imposes unreal- constant to us. The comfort of a pet is have pets. Recognizing their impor- istic requirements, unclear procedures, so important to the mental health and tance to this significant community, we high costs and increased risks for pets well-being of my family members and must continue engaging with airlines, as traveling as “cargo” rather than “excess many Foreign Service families.” “Our well as host countries, to improve their baggage.” pets are part of our families and help laws and regulations concerning the After military protests, United provide the stability and grounding transport of pets. quickly announced a waiver program many of us need.” “So many of us value As a first step, United could revert that exempted DOD personnel on the companionship to help us cope with to its former pet-friendly policies, at transfer orders from certain provisions. a major life change.” “Being thousands least for members of the foreign affairs Following a vigorous advocacy cam- of miles away from my wife while she agencies and the military. In addition, paign led by AFSA, and supported by was alone in a dangerous place, one of our embassies and missions, along State Department engagement with the few comforts I had was knowing with diplomatic colleagues from other United and the U.S. General Services that she had our dog to help protect and countries, can approach host govern- Administration, United extended this comfort her.” “Having pets can some- ments, and local airlines if necessary, waiver to Foreign Service personnel times be the only link to ’normalcy’ in a to develop streamlined procedures traveling on transfer orders. stress-filled environment.” that distinguish clearly between pets This may seem an unimportant issue Even under long-accepted policies, traveling as part of a household and to some, but for Foreign Service pet air travel with pets is complicated, often animals imported or exported for owners, it‘s huge. The companionship anxiety-inducing and expensive. Post- commercial purposes. pets provide is long recognized across 9/11 security measures and proliferat- Pet owners are responsible for their many cultures and throughout human ing health documentation require animal companions, but employers, history. It is as valued to the nomadic ments, which differ from country to governments and airlines all have an in- diplomat (and family) who must pull up country, make traveling with a loved pet terest in recognizing the important role roots and move on every two or three a challenge. In many countries the per- that animal companions play in sup- years as to anyone, and perhaps even tinent laws and regulations are anti- porting well-being and morale, and the more so. The important role pets play quated and subject to arbitrary inter- benefits of common-sense, streamlined in providing emotional support, joy and pretation. laws and regulations for travel with even safety to singles and families alike The high costs and complications of diplomatic and military pets. ■

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 7 LETTERS

Standing Up for the fessional training. received by the Army War College. Foreign Service FSI offers an advanced training op- Clayton Chun, chair of the Depart- In the May Journal AFSA Presi- portunity that is located, for the most ment of Distance Education, told me dent Susan Johnson uses her Presi- part, in the ether. Six State Depart- in an e-mail that “Our State Depart- dent’s Views column to make an ment employees annually participate ment students are some of the bright- eloquent pitch that “It’s time for FSOs in the Master of Strategic Studies dis- est and best thinkers at the U.S. Army to stand up for the Foreign Service … tance education program offered by War College. They provide a very to explain who they are and what they the U.S. Army War College. It takes unique and diverse view of the world do.” Her column goes on to note that two years to complete but, with the ex- and national security challenges. I doing so will require leadership from ception of two two-week sessions held only wish that we could have more the State Department itself to make a at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., participants State Department students to share better “case for professional education conduct all their work online. As a our educational program and forge and training, improved assignment graduate of the class of 2012, I highly lasting relationships with our military, policies and clearer criteria for career recommend this program to my State civilian and international students.” advancement.” Department colleagues. FSO Jonas Wechsler, who gradu- The obvious mutuality of that ex- The State Department began en- ated in the class of 2010, echoes this pression of needs makes needful ac- rolling students in this program in sentiment: “The Army War College is tion on the part of all concerned 2003. Some 54 students have started more than welcoming of FSOs and equally obvious. Is AFSA’s president since then; 40 have graduated. (This State Department perspectives. What issuing some kind of call for action? attrition is in line with the dropout rate FSOs may lack in terms of familiarity Bruce Laingen for military members of the student with some of the Army’s planning pro- Ambassador, retired body.) cedures and terminology, they more Bethesda, Md. Students in the distance education than make up for in writing skills and program follow the curriculum of the experience in the international arena.” Distance Learning Army War College’s one-year residen- The program is rigorous. Nine at the Army War College tial course, which is also available to courses over two years (not counting I saw the announcement that your State Department employees. The the two residential courses) works out July-August issue is going to focus on program trains senior leaders to think to about 10 weeks per course, and one Foreign Service training and educa- and plan strategically in order to starts right after the next. FSI advises tion, and believe my experience at the achieve the president’s national secu- students to plan on 15-20 hours of U.S. Army War College might shed rity objectives. class work per week. That’s about some useful light on the issue of pro- State Department students are well right, in my experience.

8 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 One’s day does not expand to ac- long tenure in the regional office of commodate schoolwork, of course. the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, CHANGE OF ADDRESS Students have to find time to read and where we dealt regularly with the write while fulfilling the regular obli- competing interests of Greeks and gations of work and family. Depart- Turks; Arabs and Israelis, and Indians Moving? ment of State participants, however, and Pakistanis. I commend Jefferson’s can take heart. Many of the other stu- words to all members of the Foreign dents are Army Reserve or Army Na- Service. Take AFSA tional Guard who juggle their Edward A. Padelford commitment to the military with their FSO, retired With You! day jobs (one of my seminar-mates is a Bethesda, Md. senior manager for Lexmark; another is the chief financial officer of a large New President, university) and their home lives. Former Grantee The AWC distance learning pro- Germany’s new president, Joachim Change your address online, gram has benefited me in several Gauck, is a former International Visi- ways. First, it was excellent mental tor program grantee, once again visit us at http://www.afsa.org/ training; my cognitive faculties haven’t demonstrating the great value of this address_change.aspx received such a workout since college. State Department program in select- Second, I acquired new tools that will ing individuals with future leadership Or benefit me as a strategic planner and potential in their respective countries. Send change of address to: leader for the department. And, per- In 1992, I accompanied Herr AFSA Membership haps most gratifying of all, I took on a Gauck on a 30-day tour of the U.S. as Department challenge and succeeded. his escort interpreter. Tremendously Robert Hilton impressed by my traveling companion, 2101 E Street NW FSO I told him as he left New York to re- Washington, DC 20037 Washington, D.C. turn to Berlin that I was sure I was looking at a future president of Ger- Heeding Jefferson’s Words many. I enjoyed the article by Greg Naar- When I reminded him of this in den about our first Secretary of State congratulating him on his overwhelm- in the April edition of AFSA News, ing election by a special assembly on “This Month in Diplomatic History: March 18, he replied that he indeed Thomas Jefferson.” Mr. Naarden remembered my prophecy. But, he rightly describes Jefferson’s affinity for added, “Try as I might at the time to the French. Indeed, the Secretary believe it, I simply could not. Rather, was very perplexed when France I found it highly amusing.” started attacking our ships in 1798. Dean Claussen In a letter to Elbridge Gerry, dated Senior FSO (USIA), retired Jan. 26, 1799, Jefferson wrote: “The Bellevue, Wash. ■ first object of my heart is my own country. In that is embraced my fam- ily, my fortune and my own existence. I have neither one fiber of attachment CORRECTION out of it, nor a single motive of prefer- In the obituary for Kevin Morgan, ence of any one nation to another, but on p. 61 of the May issue of the Jour- in proportion as they are more or less nal, Mr. Morgan’s wife, Tatiana, a Civil friendly to us.” Service employee of the Department of State who lives with the couple’s two That sentiment might well be ti- daughters in Virginia, was not listed tled, “The American Interest.” Along among the survivors. We sincerely re- with a portrait of Jefferson, I had the gret this error. quote hanging in my office during my

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 9 CYBERNOTES

Honoring Public orth Korea always returns nel and budgets. She effectively advo- Diplomacy’s Best Nevil for good, and the Chinese cated for public diplomacy resources Successful public diplomacy re- government always swallows and field-directed input, and tutored a quires leadership, imagination, re- the humiliation and the anger. generation of PD managers in building sourcefulness and determination under the foundations for long-term resource Who would dare do this to challenging conditions. Each year the planning. American fishermen? Public Diplomacy Alumni Association For more information about the (formerly the USIA Alumni Associa- — “The Far Off Time,” awards and the work of the Public tion) recognizes the achievements of a pseudonymous user of Diplomacy Alumni Association, visit those PD practitioners, whether over- www.Weibo.com, a Chinese the organization’s Web site (www. seas or in Washington, D.C., who ex- microblogging site, reacting publicdiplomacy.org). emplify these qualities. to North Korea’s seizure of — Steven Alan Honley, Editor This year’s three winners were feted 28 Chinese fishermen; at PDAA’s 15th annual awards dinner, translated and quoted in the Are Federal Workers’ held on May 6 in Washington, D.C. May 24 Washington Post Personal Data Safe? They are: (www.washingtonpost.com) The Federal Retirement Invest- Heather Grace Eaton, public af- ment Board (www.tsp.gov) an- fairs officer at Consulate General Naha ance in the face of daunting political nounced on May 25 that personal since 2010, received an award for in- and communications challenges. She information belonging to more than novative leadership and creativity in cultivated new, effective platforms for 120,000 federal employees and other advancing U.S. strategic objectives in U.S. engagement with Zimbabwean account holders enrolled in the Thrift Okinawa. Operating with limited re- youth, women, opposition groups and Savings Plan was accessed last year in a sources in a historically difficult public hostile media; established bilateral “sophisticated cyberattack.” (As most affairs environment, Ms. Eaton built a partnerships; achieved exchange alum- FSJ readers know, the TSP is a 401(k)- collaborative network of American and ni support for public diplomacy efforts; style retirement plan available to active Japanese civilian and military public and harnessed the power of social and retired federal employees and uni- diplomacy professionals, educators, li- media to outstanding effect. formed services personnel. About 4.5 brarians and volunteers, which she Jean Manes, director of resources million individuals currently have ac- used to expand outreach and refocus in the Office of Policy, Planning and counts with it.) programming on core, security-related Resources in the Bureau for Public The names, addresses and Social themes. Diplomacy and Public Affairs since Security numbers of 43,587 individu- Sharon Hudson-Dean, counselor 1993, was cited for outstanding initia- als were in the affected files, along with for public affairs at Embassy Harare tive, insight and determination in lead- financial account numbers and routing since 2010, was honored for excep- ing a thorough strategic review of State numbers in some cases. Another tional courage, creativity and persever- Department public diplomacy person- group of 79,614 TSP participants had

10 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 C YBERNOTES

50 Years Ago... This is the great period of the Foreign Service, much greater than any period that has gone before. And it will be so through this decade, and perhaps even more in the years to come, if we are able to maintain ourselves with success. But it places the heaviest burdens upon all of you. Instead of becom- ing merely experts in diplomatic history, or in current clippings from the New York Times, now you have to involve yourselves in every element of foreign life — labor, the class struggle, cultural affairs and all the rest — attempting to predict in what direction the forces will move. — Excerpted from “The Great Period of the Foreign Service,” a luncheon address given by President John F. Kennedy at the American Foreign Service Association on May 31, 1962; FSJ, July 1962. their SSNs and various other informa- Office study (GAO-12-137, “Informa- tion taken, but without names or other tion Security: Weaknesses Continue identifying features. Amid New Federal Efforts to Imple- The incident actually occurred last ment Requirements”) which revealed July when a computer belonging to that the number of attacks on federal Serco, a third-party service provider agencies’ computer systems reported that supports TSP operations, was to a central incident center soared breached, but did not come to light from 5,503 in Fiscal Year 2006 to until April. As soon as the Federal Bu- 41,776 in Fiscal Year 2010 (www. reau of Investigation notified the com- gao.gov/assets/590/585570.pdf). pany and the agency, they shut down — Steven Alan Honley, Editor the compromised computer and beefed up security procedures. (There Voices Silenced, Tweets Heard has been no explanation of what trig- The spread of the Arab Spring not gered the FBI inquiry, how it discov- only reflects the power of cyberac- ered the breach or why the initial tivism — the use of social media plat- notification took so long.) forms for sociopolitical objectives — TSP Executive Director Greg Long but continues to be driven by it. has assured plan participants that all af- Earlier this year Courtney Radsch, fected individuals have received letters senior program manager for the Global telling them how to contact a call cen- Freedom of Expression Campaign ter established to offer credit monitor- (www.freedomhouse.org) and an ing and other services. American University doctoral candi- Though there is no evidence that date in international relations investi- the data have been misused, Washing- gated this topic for Rice University’s ton Post blogger Edwin Yoder reports Baker Institute for Public Policy in a May 26 article that information se- (www.bakerinstitute.org). Her re- curity is an ongoing concern for federal port, “Unveiling the Revolutionaries: agencies. He cites a disquieting Octo- Cyberactivism and Women’s Role in ber 2011 Government Accountability the Arab Uprisings,” examines the im-

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 11 C YBERNOTES

Summarizing the hearing in his SITE OF THE MONTH: www.animatedatlas.com/movie.html May 22 Federal Diary column, Wash- This month, as the United States celebrates the 236th anniversary of its inde- ington Post writer Joe Davidson says pendence, it seems only appropriate to highlight a Web site that both shows and tells Uncle Sam has made real progress on the history of our country. Animated Atlas produces interactive videos presenting es- hiring fluent foreign-language speak- sential events in America’s history utilizing maps and geographic features. The site ers. Foreign Service Director General features “Growth of a Nation,” a free 10-minute movie that depicts our country’s ex- Linda Thomas-Greenfield testified pansion since 1789. that while just 61 percent of State’s lan- guage-designated positions were filled The film has three segments: Completion of Territory (1789-1853), Civil War with fully qualified personnel in 2009, (1853-1865) and Post-Civil War (1865-1959). The animation effects include color three years later that figure now stands coding of states, fireworks signaling battles, moving lines for bodies of water, and at 74 percent. Still, a quarter of LDPs hovering pictures of presidents, generals and other relevant figures. Audio com- are either held by less fluent speakers mentary explains each historical event in detail. or are vacant, a shortfall that is partic- Clicking on a state brings up basic geographical and historical facts. Viewers can ularly acute for Near Eastern, South also select a year at the bottom of the screen to pull up a timeline for the following Asian and East Asian languages. categories: States, Territories, President, Society, Native American, World, Science The Defense Department faces and Culture. similar difficulties, Davidson reports. In addition to the free online version, Animated Atlas also sells an enhanced CD- More than 80 percent of DOD lan- ROM edition that traces the growth of cities, changes to rural areas and the history guage slots had incumbents in Fiscal of Native Americans. Year 2011, but just 28 percent of those — Eva M.A. Moss, Editorial Intern employees were rated proficient. Sen. Akaka used the occasion to urge federal agencies to do more to co- pact of social media on Arab gender Twitter hashtags were an integral part ordinate and share best practices in re- roles. of any protest, and became effective cruiting, retaining and training per- Echoing a theme Melanne Verveer tools for influencing mainstream sonnel. He also called for a coordi- explored in the May FSJ (“Women and media coverage and organizing action.” nated national effort among all levels the Arab Spring”) — “women have Radsch predicts that Arab women of government, industry and academia seized their new freedoms to organize of all ages will not stop protesting until to tackle the problem so we “can im- outside of the government” — Radsch their voices are heard — something prove our nation’s language capacity documents how young women in that social media made feasible. and effectively confront the challenges Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen — Eva M.A. Moss, Editorial Intern to our nation’s security and economic and other Arab states are using social prosperity.” media like Twitter, Facebook and Closing the Language Deficit — Steven Alan Honley, Editor YouTube to carve out central roles for The Senate Homeland Security and themselves in both the private and Governmental Affairs Committee’s Beat the Press public spheres. Subcommittee on Government Man- On May 2 the Committee to Pro- Through real-time Twitter posts agement, the Federal Work Force and tect Journalists (www.cpj.org) re- from demonstrations, heated Face- the District of Columbia (www.hsgac. leased its list of the “10 Most Censored book status updates and much more, senate.gov) held a sobering May 21 Countries” in commemoration of these young women have successfully hearing on “A National Security Crisis: World Press Freedom Day. Eritrea, taken their activism from cyberspace Foreign Language Capabilities in the North Korea and Syria topped the list, to the streets. Identifying the three Federal Government.” It is the eighth followed by Iran, Equatorial Guinea, keys to the movement as citizen jour- session its chairman, Senator Daniel Uzbekistan, Burma, Saudi Arabia, nalism, mobilization and organization, Akaka, D-Hawaii, has convened on the Cuba and Belarus. Radsch declares, “Facebook pages and subject. The report assesses three categories

12 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 C YBERNOTES for each country: Leadership, How premiere of a new movie. The hand- WWW.AFSA.ORG Censorship Works and Lowlights. It some invitation, carefully labeled non- pinpoints those in charge of state cen- transferable, instructed the bearer to sorship, their methods and the corrup- present it at the southwest entrance of tion that accompanies their tactics. the residence on the appointed night. For instance, North Korea’s Korean Alas, Washington Post columnist Al AFSA Insurance Plans Central News Agency controls all Kamen revealed in his May 9 “In the hirshorn.com/afsa media-related activity. Burma declines Loop” column that the invitation, visa applications for major interna- which went to hundreds of recipients tional reporters, while Saudi Arabia re- all over Washington, D.C., was a hoax AFSA Scholarship quires registration for “electronic to promote Sacha Baron Cohen’s new www.afsa.org/Scholarships/ journalism” practitioners. movie, “The Dictator” (www.repub PlannedGiving.aspx Iran, Cuba and Belarus all imprison licofwadiya.com). In it, the come- reporters, and the Syrian government dian portrays a despot who used to rule is linked to the murder of at least six over the fictional African nation of AKA Hotel residences journalists. Many of these govern- Wadiya before being ousted and stay-aka.com ments also employ filters to block all forced to start a new life in America. external Web sites and software to im- Despite clever marketing, the film Churchill Corporate Services, Inc. pede access to search engines in an at- received generally poor reviews and tempt to black out media coverage. tanked at the box office. But if nothing www.ChurchillCorp.com Commenting on the report, Equa- else, the prank is a salutary reminder torial Guinean government spokesman that after nearly a quarter-century as Clements Worldwide Jeronimo Ecoro asserts that it shows “a president, the 88-year-old Mugabe re- clements.com biased opinion of the situation in the mains firmly entrenched in power and country.” In fact, the report painstak- intends to run for re-election this fall. ingly documents the full extent of the In the meantime, the Guardian McGrath Real Estate Services threat from censorship. (www.guardian.co.uk) reports that McGrathRealEstate.com As CPJ Executive Director Joel the United Nations’ World Tourism Simon comments, “Because the Inter- Organization (www.unwto.org) has Tetratech net and trade have made information just appointed Mugabe a “Global global, domestic censorship affects Leader for Tourism.” He and a politi- Tetratech.com people everywhere.” The presence of cal ally, Zambian President Michael Syria, Iran and North Korea on the list Sata, signed an agreement to that ef- Vinson Hall is particularly worrisome given the im- fect with UNWTO Secretary General www.vinsonhall.org plications of their tight restrictions on Taleb Rifai at their shared border at information for geopolitical and nu- Victoria Falls on May 29. The two will clear stability. also co-host the next UNWTO Gen- WJD — Eva M.A. Moss, Editorial Intern eral Assembly in August 2013. wjdpm.com Critics were quick to note the irony Speaking of Dictators … of the appointment: Mugabe remains In early May the Journal received a subject to comprehensive European curious invitation in the mail. Pur- and American sanctions that include portedly sent on behalf of Zimbab- travel bans, making it rather difficult wean President Robert Mugabe by the for him to promote tourism effectively. Ministry of Education, Sport, Art and Sometimes truth really is stranger When contacting an advertiser, kindly Culture, it invited us to the presidential than fiction. mention the Foreign Service Journal. residence in Harare for the May 12 — Steven Alan Honley, Editor ■

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 13 F OCUS ON FSI/FS TRAINING

PURSUING THE ELUSIVE TRAINING FLOAT Torrence Delawie Torrence

ADEQUATE FUNDING IS A KEY PIECE OF THE PROFESSIONALIZATION PUZZLE, BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE.

BY SHAWN ZELLER

n the summer of 2010, the Center for a New American Security examined more than two dozen reports, articles and blue-ribbon commission studies, all aimed at overhauling the Foreign Service for the new millen- nium. CNAS found that all the studies, dating back to the late 1990s, were consistent in one regard about what the State DepartmentI needs to do to fulfill its mission in the new century: train its staff better. The center, which has close ties to the Obama administration, noted that State has been trying to do just that for a

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long time. But as it documented in Diplomacy 3.0 and the number of FSOs there. Rebuilding Diplomacy: A Survey of As its name suggests, Diplomacy Past Calls for State Department Trans- Development Leadership 3.0 — also known as “The 3 Ds” — formation (www.cnas.org), “chronic has three elements: diplomacy, de- staffing shortfalls driven by budget Initiative have attempted velopment and defense. Developed cuts and increased responsibilities se- as part of a creative marketing pitch verely constrain the department’s abil- to institutionalize aimed at Congress, the initiative cen- ity to release employees from daily tered on the proposition that the duties so that they can undertake a training reserve. Foreign Service faces increasingly needed education and training.” complex challenges in the post-9/11 The CNAS study made it clear world. Besides serving in war zones, that expanded State Department training should go be- today’s diplomats have to engage their foreign peers on yond simply preparing employees for their next assign- subjects ranging from terrorism and international crime to ment to offering courses to prepare Foreign Service nuclear nonproliferation, the environment and many oth- officers for a career in government. “The State Depart- ers requiring specialized knowledge, program manage- ment should make an institutional commitment to train- ment abilities and familiarity with the interagency ing its diplomats to excel at conducting 21st-century community. diplomacy,” the Center said. To do that effectively, they also need to master diffi- As soon as he became Secretary of State in 2001, Colin cult languages like Chinese and Arabic. Taken together, Powell made rectifying the situation a top priority. all of these demands require a massive expansion of pro- Through the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative, intended to grams at the Foreign Service Institute, the department’s rebuild a Foreign Service gutted by a decade of flat or de- training center, as well as sufficient hiring to create and clining budgets, State quickly hired more than a thousand maintain a training float. Foreign Service personnel, exceeding the rate of attrition. For a while, the approach seemed to be working. The goal was to create a surplus “float,” or reserve, of of- Thanks to massive infusions of resources, State expanded ficers that would allow full staffing of posts overseas even the ranks of Foreign Service employees by about 17 per- as a sizable contingent of officers underwent long-term cent in less than two years to more than 13,000. As of education and training in Washington. 2011, USAID had hired 809 new officers, boosting its Unfortunately, the demand for Foreign Service per- Foreign Service work force by two-thirds. FSI received sonnel, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, grew so vo- sizable budget increases, as well. Its budget doubled be- raciously that allowing them to stay in Washington to tween 2008 and 2011, rising from $121 million to $240 pursue long-term professional training was a luxury most million. posts couldn’t afford. But the progress stopped once Democrats lost the House of Representatives in November 2010 and held a Diplomacy 3.0, We Hardly Knew Ye narrower majority in the Senate. A huge class of Repub- In 2009, the Obama administration decided to tackle lican freshmen, many of them inspired by the fiscally aus- this longstanding challenge head on. Secretary of State tere Tea Party movement, joined forces with other fiscal Hillary Rodham Clinton launched an initiative dubbed conservatives and foreign policy isolationists on Capitol Diplomacy 3.0, with an ambitious goal of expanding the Hill to downsize federal agencies. FSI’s budget went flat, ranks of Foreign Service personnel at the State Depart- and funds for Foreign Service recruitment and hiring also ment by 25 percent, both to meet new needs and to allow took a hit. more officers to take training. The year before, USAID In early 2011 Senator Tom Coburn, R-Okla., perhaps launched the Development Leadership Initiative, a re- the Senate’s foremost budget-cutter, delivered a blunt lated program, with the even bolder goal of doubling the message to State Department officials at a Homeland Se- curity and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. Shawn Zeller, a regular contributor to the Journal, is a free- Diplomacy 3.0, he said, was dead. lance writer in Washington, D.C. “We are all on an absolutely unsustainable course in

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terms of being able to pay the bills,” State and USAID an ad hoc process focused on prep- Coburn explained. “It is a new day ping staff for each new assignment. and it’s really important that our are now focused on Instead, the Foreign Service must leaders, such as you all, understand make professional education an in- that we are going to be under very staving off large budget tegral, ongoing part of each em- constricted resources for the next ployee’s career development. 20 years in this country.” cuts rather than seeking To add insult to injury, Coburn “The Last Place to Cut” cited a January 2011 Government new resources for training. Despite Sen. Coburn’s skepti- Accountability Office report that cism about the quality of State De- criticized some aspects of State De- partment training, Foreign Service partment training as cause not to go forward. “It’s one Institute Director Ruth Whiteside believes the record thing to ramp up,” he said. “It’s the other thing to ramp up supports calls for additional resources, not fewer. “Train- without proper training ... and also the proper controls on ing is the last place you cut, rather than the first,” she says. the training.” (See page 32 for an in-depth interview with her.) In fact, the GAO report — Additional Steps Are FSI’s offerings include 600 classroom courses and Needed to Improve Strategic Planning and Evaluation of more than 200 classes that employees can take online. Training for State Personnel (www.gao.gov/assets/320/ Training starts with orientation and extends through ad- 315137.pdf) — presents a much more nuanced view of vanced classes on tradecraft, with subjects ranging from the Foreign Service Institute’s performance in training managing an embassy to doing political and economic Foreign Service personnel. reporting and using information technology. New of- The GAO found that the State Department had “taken ferings focus on promoting human rights and democ- many steps to incorporate the interrelated elements of an racy, cultivating supervisory and leadership skills for effective training program” including developing an “an- entry-level staff, and understanding the roles of different nual training plan, and implementing a range of training agencies in national security. evaluation mechanisms and a learning management sys- Because the Foreign Service’s duties have expanded in tem that can be used to track training delivery.” wartorn and increasingly dangerous parts of the world, But GAO also argued that State didn’t do enough to Whiteside has pushed for more course offerings in stabil- ensure that training was improving the performance of its ity operations, area studies and negotiating techniques. employees in the field. Specifically, GAO said that State And recognizing that State employees must often work lacked a “systematic, comprehensive training needs as- with other agencies, she has tapped the expertise of the sessment process incorporating all bureaus and overseas General Services Administration and the Defense Acqui- posts” and that “State’s performance measures for training sitions University to bring in or purchase training on gov- generally do not fully address training goals, and are gen- ernmentwide issues like human resources, acquisitions erally output- rather than outcome-oriented.” and federal budgeting. While the November elections may usher in a new For future leaders, she’s championed the National Se- Congress with more interest in improving American curity Executive Leadership Seminar, a 10-day class in diplomacy, continued gridlock seems a more likely out- which State Department employees and peers from other come. Already, the scope of Diplomacy 3.0 has been cur- agencies study U.S. national security strategy, critical chal- tailed, particularly with regard to Foreign Service training. lenges to American interests and the leadership skills State and USAID have been forced to concentrate on needed for success in the interagency policy implemen- staving off large reductions in their budgets rather than tation process. seeking new resources. Foreign Service employees can also pursue long-term Critical as funding is, it is also important for State and professional education opportunities beyond FSI, USAID to broaden their thinking about the distinction whether at the defense war colleges, private universities between professional education and training. A crucial such as Princeton and Tufts, or think-tanks like the step would be to shift the current emphasis on training as Hoover Institution and the Center for Strategic and In-

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ternational Studies. FSOs who have done so, like Walter About 160 officers are currently taking long-term train- Douglas, who has taken a yearlong fellowship to research ing. Another 182 are pursuing Foreign Service detail op- public diplomacy efforts in Muslim countries at the Cen- portunities outside State, and 40 more are taking after- ter for Strategic and International Studies, say State would hours seminars or other instruction. be wise to make greater use of such opportunities. “It’s an incredible value if people can do it,” Douglas says. “You Testimonials from the Field get to step out of the system and read the literature and Language training, of course, remains FSI’s bread and do the research on how to improve our work.” butter, with classes in 70 languages that last anywhere Fellowship opportunities are listed on the State De- from a few weeks to two years for the more difficult lan- partment’s intranet site; competition for a limited num- guages. Retired Ambassador Ken Brown, president of the ber of slots is fierce. Employees who are selected must Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, says agree to stay with the department for a period three times FSI’s language school is “if not the best in the world, close the length of the fellowship, or else refund the training to that.” expenses to the department. Brown notes that competition for the teaching awards Beyond slots at the war colleges, think-tanks and pri- ADST gives to FSI instructors is fierce. “The quality of vate universities, employees can pursue exchanges with the teaching is very high, and the teachers are very moti- foreign governments, such as Australia and Japan, and vated to teach well and to look for ways to teach beyond sabbaticals, such as that offered by the Una Chapman the normal curriculum materials,” he says. “If they have Cox Foundation, that come with few restrictions on how a student with a particular problem, they will go out of they are used. their way to help that student learn.”

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Most respondents to a survey Professional education the time to get the training. The the American Foreign Service As- way the transfer cycle is set up, the sociation sent to its active-duty must go beyond training receiving post is too often desper- State Department members this ate to fill a position and training is spring echoed Brown’s senti- FS employees for their next sacrificed.” ments. Stuart Denyer, who en- But FSI Director Ruth White- tered the Foreign Service in 2009, assignment to preparing them side sees evidence that the atti- recently completed a 30-week tudes of supervisors about training course in French to prepare for for a career in government. are changing. “We have seen a se- his assignment as a public affairs rious change in bureaus’ willing- officer in Djibouti. He says his in- ness to let people go to training,” structors were stellar. Class sizes were typically just three she says, noting that the shift is reflected in the numbers. or four, and teachers went the extra mile to ensure the Over the last seven years, the number of enrollments at students learned the material. FSI is up by a third. FSI’s annual customer survey indi- “They make every effort to see that we succeed,” he cates that many new enrollees are coming there because says. “Testing can be intimidating and feel like a hostile their supervisors recommended it. environment, but everyone has our best interests in mind. AFSA officials say they’ve noticed the difference, as They’ve added additional conversation tables throughout well. Daniel Hirsch, AFSA’s State Department vice pres- the day, so we have opportunities to be continually speak- ident, says that the department has been more rigorous ing. The teachers are creative, and they use new tech- about insisting that employees get their training, even nology to improve the course.” when posts want them to arrive earlier. Denyer found the language training tailored to the needs Hirsch praises Whiteside as one of the most knowl- of the officer in the field. “It’s less on how to be a tourist edgeable people at the department in determining what and order food and more on immigration and the death a Foreign Service employee should know to advance his penalty and who’s going to win the next election,” he says. or her career, and says she’s surrounded herself with good Many other recent entrants responding to the AFSA people. “She has a good staff, quite a creative staff, and survey also expressed positive views of FSI. Tim Lamb, a they are clearly thinking about the right things.” new security engineering officer, says the course he took The department is also doing more to integrate train- on overseeing federal contracts put him in a good posi- ing into professional development, as AFSA has long ar- tion to step up when he is sent abroad. “It seemed really gued it should. For instance, it conducted comprehensive professional,” he says. “They weren’t just looking to check job analyses in 2007 and 2009 that FSI has used to shape a box. The instructor was a retired Air Force colonel who training offerings. However, AFSA has not been wholly did 25 years managing contracts. He had a wealth of ex- satisfied in this area, arguing that in some career tracks, perience and all kinds of good examples.” such as Office Management Specialists, training require- Lisa Swenarski de Herrera, a cultural affairs officer in ments have actually been curtailed. Quito, now on her fourth overseas assignment in 10 years, Again, Hirsch says, this is likely a problem stemming says that the classroom training has been excellent over- from a lack of resources. Some plans are being scaled all, apart from some variation in the quality of her teach- back because “the department doesn’t feel it can meet ers. She also praises the department for now requiring some of the training goals.” officers to take management and leadership training. The courses in those areas are strong, in her experience. Interpreting the GAO Report “They contain a good balance of theory and practical ex- Some on Capitol Hill recognize this. Sen. Daniel ercises and real-life anecdotes.” Akaka, the Hawaii Democrat who commissioned the 2011 Like most personnel at State, her biggest concern is Government Accountability Office study Coburn cites, that she hasn’t received enough education. “The issue is says that its key finding — that State Department training not whether the department offers quality training or not needs better quality controls — indicates a need for more — it does. The issue is that officers are not being granted funding, not less.

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Akaka has blasted his colleagues for recent budget de- tracking the outcome of the instruction — not just the cisions, calling them shortsighted because they could ac- number of classes held and course hours completed. tually increase costs to the government in the future. In particular, the GAO found, FSI doesn’t reach out “The work of the State Department helps build more sta- enough to bureaus and overseas posts to get a sense of ble societies, which minimizes the potential for conflict, what kind of training they want their employees to have. lowering the human and financial costs of military en- The watchdog agency also said State needs to do more to gagement,” he says. “Meeting these critical challenges re- formulate professional development plans for each of its quires investment in training and professional education.” employees, so they will know precisely what they need to But on Capitol Hill, the GAO study looms over State’s do to advance their careers. efforts to win that funding. And, at least lately, Coburn’s Whiteside says that FSI is responding to those recom- take on it — that State needs to prove the value of its mendations, and notes that it already applies feedback training before it gets more money — is winning. from its students on how training helps them do their jobs. The GAO report actually said that State was doing a lot of things right in training its staff. But it also said the Creative Thinking department wasn’t doing enough to evaluate whether its Having the funding to hire enough extra officers to allow efforts were making a difference in the field by helping for more time in training is crucial. But even if the float officers do their jobs better. It also couldn’t show that it does not materialize, or it takes longer to build than ex- was putting its training dollars into the right classes and pected, there are creative steps the department can take. programs, GAO argued, and needed to do a better job of For instance, Whiteside wants to accelerate ongoing

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efforts to increase interagency About 160 FSOs are quiring more of it, the report said training, especially with the — if the resources are available to Agency for International Develop- currently taking long-term carry out the training. ment, and to make FSI’s online In AAD’s view, given the large courses more user-friendly. training, while others number of officers with less than Foreign Service employees a decade of experience, it’s crucial who responded to AFSA’s survey are pursuing details outside that training be given priority had numerous suggestions to ad- over other staffing requirements. dress training shortfalls. Stuart State or taking after-hours Even with resource constraints, Denyer, for example, says that his the Academy believes the depart- own experience at State — he was seminars or other courses. ment could strengthen the Office a civil servant for a decade before of Career Development and As- joining the Foreign Service — signments in its Bureau of Hu- shows that the department could make better use of Civil man Resources by bringing on new staff to better coor- Service personnel by giving them short-term assignments dinate assignment patterns with long-term strategic overseas when it has staffing gaps, perhaps resurrecting plans. the old idea of a Foreign Service Reserve. “The personnel system needs to take a stronger hand Lisa Swenarski suggests offering more foreign lan- to ensure proper training,” says Ambassador Ronald E. guage training at post, creating an immersion experience Neumann, the academy’s president. “Right now, it’s self- that will help officers learn more efficiently. And she says monitored by the officer.” the department would do well to add transfer seasons to Given the dearth of mid-career officers, a legacy of the existing summer and winter peaks. Staggered trans- the hiring drought in the 1990s, the Academy also sug- fers, she believes, would allow more time for training. gests creating a temporary corps of roving counselors, AFSA has long argued that State leaders need to wrest drawn from recently retired officers who can remain more control over training from posts, whose interests abroad for periods of several weeks or months, to pro- are focused on their immediate needs rather than on the vide counseling, advice and career guidance to new offi- professional development of career officers. That hasn’t cers. yet happened, but AFSA was successful in inserting lan- Neumann says that State has been blessed by the fact guage into the promotion precepts rewarding supervisors that senior officers willingly mentor their juniors. But who think in terms of developing their subordinates’ now, given the gap in the ranks of mid-career officers, skills. even that approach is at risk. “We’ve essentially had an The surge of online course offerings, observes AFSA apprenticeship system,” he says. “But when two-thirds of State VP Daniel Hirsch, is not the solution, unless offi- your officers have less than 10 years of experience, it can’t cers are given more incentive to take the classes. Given work that way anymore.” the strain on officers overseas, “time is a valuable com- Such challenges are real. Fortunately, FSI still has a modity,” he says. sizable budget to work with as it seeks to expand language “People are unlikely to take online courses without training and course offerings in leadership development, compensation, such as overtime pay,” he comments. project management and public diplomacy. “That is not because they are lazy, or greedy, or unwilling Likewise, the Foreign Service is still about 17 percent to better themselves. It is because employees overseas bigger than before Diplomacy 3.0 launched in 2008. At have far less free time than those in Washington, and they the same time, overseas staffing demands may finally be have at least as much to do with that time — to take care ebbing as the United States reduces its commitments in of basic needs — as folks back home.” Iraq and Afghanistan. So, perhaps the long-awaited The American Academy of Diplomacy, in its 2010 re- training float will finally materialize. port, offered other ideas to improve Foreign Service But Whiteside cautions it’s still too early for the For- training. The department could make a clear statement eign Service to get its hopes up. “That’s not yet the world about the value of training, for example, by simply re- we live in,” she points out. ■

20 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 F OCUS ON FSI/FS TRAINING

FOSTERING A PROFESSIONAL FOREIGN SERVICE

STATE AND USAID SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON PROTECTING RECENT STAFFING GAINS, NOT PROGRAMS, TO COPE WITH BUDGET CUTBACKS.

BY RONALD E. NEUMANN

chieving adequate ture, the first study in decades that related State and staffing and fostering professional development within the USAID’s missions to needed staffing for both services. Foreign Service are long struggles made worse by the fed- That study, referred to in the following as the FAB, pro- eral deficit. The American Academy of Diplomacy has ceeded on certain basic assumptions: the principle of uni- been deeply engaged in these endeavors and will soon re- versality (i.e., a U.S. diplomatic presence in all countries); turn to the battle with a new study. expanded engagement with nongovernmental actors; and A year ago, my colleague Robert M. Beecroft reported the need to manage a broad base of U.S. interests over- in these pages on the ongoing advocacy of AAD for con- seas, to name but a few. It made specific recommenda- tinuing professional development at the Department of tions for additional staff totaling 1,099 positions to carry State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, out core diplomatic work in the areas of multilateral and the resources required for this to happen (“Taking diplomacy, international law, economics, science and Diplomatic Professional Education Seriously,” July-August technology, public-private partnerships and interagency 2011 FSJ; www.afsa.org/fsj). coordination. As he noted, AAD has long been an energetic partner As for training, the report delineated a lamentable gap of AFSA and other allies in these efforts. Back in 2008, between the number of language-qualified Foreign Serv- in collaboration with the Stimson Center and with fund- ice officers and the staffing required to meet FS needs, ing provided by the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, the among other problems. To address the shortfall, it rec- Academy produced A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Fu- ommended the creation of an additional 1,287 training slots, as well as allocation of the resources necessary to Ronald E. Neumann, a retired Senior Foreign Service offi- support additional training. cer, served as ambassador to Algeria, Bahrain and Afghani- FAB made extensive recommendations for increases stan, among many other assignments. President of the in public diplomacy, going beyond staffing (487 American American Academy of Diplomacy since 2007, Ambassador personnel and 369 Locally Employed Staff) to urge ex- Neumann is the author of The Other War: Winning and pansion of exchanges, cultural centers and other pro- Losing in Afghanistan (Potomac Press, 2009). grams to support public diplomacy overseas. As for

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USAID, the report recommend- The American Academy the U.S. Through Professional Ed- ed increasing staff by 1,250 posi- ucation and Training. Launched tions above 2008 levels by Fiscal of Diplomacy continues to in February 2011, it focused Year 2014, the cost of which heavily on the fact that two- would be partially offset by the push for the resources thirds of current Foreign Service conversion of 700 personal service personnel have entered since contractors and other short-term required to advance 9/11, and about half have joined American staff to permanent in the past five years. Foreign Service positions. professional development In the area of reconstruction The Value of and stabilization, the report rec- within the Foreign Service. Professional Education ommended providing a substan- Under these conditions, our tial surge capacity of 562 per- old models of mentoring cannot sonnel in various capacities. Before, during and since stretch far enough to provide the necessary training and the drafting of the report there has been a continuing education. State works hard to select the best possible of- discussion of whether the U.S. needs such capacities, ficers and offer them a broad menu of voluntary and whether the requirements of Iraq and Afghanistan were some required training for specific functions, as well as aberrations that can be put behind us, and whether State leadership and language training. However, it has done can or should revert to its “traditional” role — a view little to establish professional education. The difference heavily influenced by resistance to the Afghan and Iraqi between education and training was summed up by a deployments. military colleague as “We train for certainty. We educate The idea that we can revert to older modes of diplo- for uncertainty.” macy, however, overlooks the continuing record of other Professional education in this sense means having the interventions, of which Haiti, Kosovo and Bosnia are opportunity to focus on larger issues beyond immediate only the latest examples. Another key element of that tasks, and thus to prepare for senior-level responsibili- debate is whether the Civilian Response Corps should ties. (This is the function of the war colleges to which a include dedicated language and area experts, in addition few State officers are assigned each year.) But with ever to the functional experts currently engaged. increasing numbers of officers taking on more senior po- Ambassador William Farrand’s interesting new book, sitions, and doing so with a shorter apprenticeship due Reconstruction and Peace Building in the Balkans: The to rapid promotions, the need for serious professional ed- Brcko Experience (Rowman & Littlefield, 2011) is a case ucation is growing. The same is true of efforts to expand study of the skills the Foreign Service fails to impart to Foreign Service staff’s knowledge through required sys- officers before launching them to assume extensive re- tematic training throughout their careers. sponsibilities in a stabilization situation. There will be The 2011 report put forward a number of specific rec- more such situations, and a response corps, no matter ommendations to address the rapidly changing interna- how constituted, cannot be the sole answer. In most tional environment and equip the Foreign Service to cases there will be embassies and officers already on the meet new professional demands. State has already ground that have to take charge. adopted a few of those, but most of our proposals have hit Officers on the ground may not be fully trained to the wall of budgetary austerity — a challenge likely to handle the issues of justice, policing and reconciliation worsen before it improves. common to stabilization and reconstruction operations. Despite such pressures, the Foreign Service Institute But while every situation will have its peculiarities, they has continued to expand training opportunities, especially should know, at a minimum, that some of them have in the Language and Leadership Schools, and courses to arisen before and lessons have been learned. There is no prepare civilian personnel deploying to Afghanistan and reason to repeat painful mistakes. Iraq. It has also responded heroically to a flood of new Last year we built on the FAB concept with a follow- professional demands by creating new, short courses and up study, Forging a 21st-Century Diplomatic Service for beefing up its commitment to distance learning. But

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State remains hampered by the ab- Our old models of mentoring tions our study highlighted as in ur- sence of a training reserve (often gent need of strengthening: crisis re- called a float), seriously limiting the cannot stretch far enough sponse, public diplomacy and train- numbers of personnel who can be ing. detached from regular duties for to provide the necessary Moreover, while Diplomacy 3.0 longer-term instruction. set a commendable goal of a 25- The department has made gen- training and education percent increase in staffing and as- uine progress on defining the skills sociated budget levels, State’s pre- officers must achieve through the for the many new FSOs. sentations to Congress have been establishment of the Career Devel- confined to listing detailed goals on opment Program for generalists. a yearly basis. The fact that the de- However, the success of this largely self-monitored ap- partment has never articulated, much less defended, proach remains difficult to assess. Assignments continue longer-term staffing goals in the budget may well reflect to be made on the basis of the immediate needs of the strictures from the Office of Management and Budget, Service and staff preferences, without systemic reference particularly in the current fiscal climate. to long-term personnel development. Whatever the reason, our Foreign Affairs Budget for the While Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Diplo- Future is still the only document that has taken a long-term macy 3.0 initiative has achieved noticeable progress, adding approach to these issues, using specific benchmarks to jus- more than 4,000 positions to State and USAID over the past tify the requested budget increases. three years, fewer than half of these have been in the func- Even so, in some respects the FAB has been overtaken

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by events. For instance, the current State still does too little summer or early fall of 2012, it is al- congressional requirement to divide ready possible to lay out a few facts. funding requests between a base to expand staff knowledge Comparing the recommendations of budget and a category known as Over- 2008 with progress since then (as of seas Contingency Operations (basi- through career-long, late March 2012), we can draw some cally, to fund our posts in Iraq, conclusions, although there are dif- Afghanistan and Pakistan) has made it systematic education. ferences between how we formu- difficult to assess how much recent lated our recommendations and how progress is permanent and how much State keeps its personnel records. is transitory. Of the 1,099 additional positions in core diplomatic Nor do we have any sense of how temporary the OCO functions recommended by the FAB report, only about structure is. Current administration policy calls for a con- 500 have actually been added. Public diplomacy, very tinuing, if substantially reduced, military involvement in much a core component of diplomacy but one we treated Afghanistan after the transfer of the “security lead” to separately for analytical purposes, grew by about 300 of- local forces in 2014. This may change, but it appears ficers; that constitutes satisfactory progress compared to likely that our nation will still be involved in stabilization the 487 positions we advocated be added. The FAB rec- operations in Afghanistan for many years. In Iraq, State’s ommendations for expansion of the stabilization function substantial role is undisputed but its character and size have advanced, but because that function is undergoing may change. Thus, like its military equivalent, the “con- changes after the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Develop- tingency” funding of OCO may be with us for years to ment Review, conclusions now would be premature. The come. FAB report did not look at consular and management of- Furthermore, many of the expanded positions in Iraq ficers, but since 2008 these areas have increased by ap- and Afghanistan are filled by temporary, contract hires. proximately 280 and 150 officers, respectively. While further research is needed, it appears that eventual In round figures, then, the Foreign Service during the reductions in the size of these missions will not release current administration has grown by about 1,200 officers. more than a handful of Foreign Service positions for Less noticed is that during the same period Civil Service training or other assignments. growth has been larger still, so that at least half (we are Finally, the FAB study failed to address requirements still working through some issues of data interpretation) for support staff in security, information management of State’s growth under the much-discussed Diplomacy and office management. This makes it tricky to relate 3.0 program has been in the latter corps. The rationale FAB requirements to accomplishments in increasing for this distribution is one of the objects of the current staffing. study. During the same period, USAID has added nearly all Progress and Setbacks 1,250 positions FAB recommended. However, we are With this in mind, AAD is now preparing a new study, still sorting out some aspects of how USAID’s personnel Diplomacy in a Time of Scarcity, in partnership with the structure relates to its mission and how much of the in- Stimson Center and the Una Chapman Cox Foundation. crease is in development officers. Thus, we are not yet Its purpose is twofold: to determine the full gamut of ready to declare that these numbers meet the need. staffing needed for an effective Foreign Service at State In the area of training, the State Department has and USAID, even as the respective responsibilities of added nearly 700 additional positions for language in- civilians and military personnel are being recalibrated, struction — an excellent step, and more than the FAB and to assess progress since the 2011 study. New chal- report forecast before the demands of the Arab Spring lenges will continue to shape staffing requirements, but and the expanded involvement in Afghanistan, along with that is why it is more necessary than ever to have a de- some other changes, raised the requirement for officers tailed and defensible vision to guide the multiyear budget with hard language skills. process. These enhancements of the Foreign Service’s ability Although the new study will only be completed in late to field staff with language skills commensurate with their

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responsibilities are most welcome. Programs can be tween the base international af- However, the increase in language fairs budget (known as the 150 training positions in no way obvi- rebuilt relatively rapidly, Account) and the OCO budget ates the need for increased posi- complicates analysis but, as tions to deal with other require- but institutional and noted earlier, there may not be ments for long-term professional many positions to “recapture” education and training. personnel structures take for other needs. The biggest challenge ahead Taking a Fresh Approach decades to rebuild if they for State and USAID is coping In addition, the Department with the additional funding cuts of State needs an educational vi- are not properly maintained. that are certainly coming. Even sion for staff development that after making a strong case for goes beyond short-term training diplomacy’s role as part of na- and language instruction. Realizing the vision may take tional security, the Foreign Service cannot expect to be years, but that is what vision is for. exempted from the sacrifices every part of the federal gov- We will be attempting to come to grips with some dif- ernment will be called on to make. ficult issues in the new study. One is whether State and The question is what will be cut. State must launch a USAID can expect to recapture significant staff from an- major educational effort with the administration, Con- ticipated changes in the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan gress and the American people to ensure that such cuts over the next several years. The shifting of resources be- are taken primarily in programs rather than staff. Pro-

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grams can be rebuilt relatively rap- All these complexities All these complexities only un- idly, but institutional and personnel derscore the need for a well-re- structures take decades to rebuild if only underscore the need searched, carefully documented, they are not properly maintained. forward-looking study of America’s The so-called “peace dividend” for a well-researched, diplomatic needs. The post-Arab taken after the collapse of the Soviet Spring world and the breadth of Union, with the opening of 20 new carefully documented, multinational challenges are here to embassies and simultaneous reduc- stay. If the United States is to suc- tions in staff, resulted in a hollow forward-looking study of ceed in recalibrating the levers of diplomacy manifestly too weak to state power so that military action is meet its responsibilities at the be- America’s diplomatic needs. not seen as the default solution, ginning of the 21st century. As re- then it must have the tools and cently as 2008, nearly a fifth of skilled personnel to conduct an ef- positions requiring language competence were not filled fective diplomacy in support of its interests. by officers possessing the relevant skill — the equivalent If we fail, the mistakes of the past will be a prologue for of soldiers without bullets. Half a decade later, even after the future. Fortunately, this need not happen, and the greatly expanded budgets we are barely keeping pace with Academy of American Diplomacy will do its share to avert language requirements. This is symptomatic of the time such an outcome. Yet make no mistake: this struggle will required to build a capacity once lost or damaged. be long and difficult. ■

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THE ARMY’S APPROACH TO LEADER DEVELOPMENT

A LOOK AT HOW THE ARMY’S PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP SKILLS OFFERS POSSIBLE LESSONS FOR THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

BY JEFFREY LAMOE AND TED STRICKLER

ny look at the State sional training and education, the U.S. Army’s approach Department’s professional education and training pro- may be particularly instructive for the Foreign Service. grams may benefit from a corresponding review of how As an institution, the Army develops leadership skills other agencies handle this important career development and traits in its personnel through a continuing program requirement. Such comparisons may help bring into of professional military education that starts the first day sharper focus the unstated assumptions and invisible or- an individual enters the Army, and provides appropriate ganizational values on which the programs are based, as functional training and professional education through- well as the more visible techniques and methodologies out a soldier’s career. By comparison, the State Depart- they employ. With its long history of support for profes- ment’s method for developing professional diplomats, with the exception of language training, is episodic and ad Jeffrey LaMoe is chief of staff for the Command and Gen- hoc. eral Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. A retired Unlike the Army, State concentrates on developing Army colonel, he previously served as commandant of the managers, not leaders. Leadership development at State National Geospatial-Intelligence School for the National is largely a function of on-the-job training, which has a Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. He was also an associate long history of mixed results. For this to change, the State professor at the United States Military Academy and di- Department needs to alter its approach to developing rector of training at the U.S. Army Engineer School. leadership skills in its personnel as part of their overall Ted Strickler is executive director of the Simons Center professional development. for the Study of Interagency Cooperation at Fort Leaven- The State Department and the U.S. Army differ in worth. During his 34-year Foreign Service career, he many important respects, but the need for leaders to be served in Somalia, Ethiopia, Germany, Sudan, Egypt, well-educated, adaptable and innovative is common to Switzerland and Italy. He is the 2002 winner of AFSA’s both institutions. A look at how the Army meets that Christian A. Herter Award for constructive dissent by a challenge may be instructive for evaluating how to im- Senior Foreign Service officer. prove education and training at State.

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The Army as a Profession By comparison, lion individuals per year in an insti- The Army consciously works to tutionalized, regular, course-based develop its future leaders through the State Department’s process. Known as Professional training, experience and a formal- Military Education, this process is ized, structured program of profes- method for developing an investment in preparing soldiers sional education, a process that takes for success at their next level of re- years. It follows this approach be- professional diplomats is sponsibility. It also confers an ap- cause it cannot hire professionals preciation for the responsibilities away from the competition. Nor is episodic and ad hoc. they will face following subsequent it possible to acquire the expert promotions. Schools and courses at knowledge and experience to lead the beginning of soldiers’ careers Americans in combat without actually spending time in generally focus on training, to prepare them for cer- the Army. Advanced degrees or senior civilian experi- tainty. As their time in service increases, their courses ence are beneficial, but do not by themselves qualify in- are weighted more toward education, to prepare them dividuals for leadership responsibilities. for uncertainty. State, too, must develop leaders from within who PME must be delivered at the right time to realize have the right mix of experience and professional edu- the greatest value. The benefits are not recoverable if cation to successfully handle leadership roles and re- courses are attended out of sequence, provided too late sponsibilities in the organization. As the Army in a soldier’s career or skipped. For example, an officer discovered, this requires a continuing program of train- needs to attend the Captains Career Course before com- ing and education across an entire career. Disjointed, manding a company, not afterward. Once shaped by the standalone, one-week courses on leadership at unpre- command experience, an officer cannot go back and dictable times in an FSO’s career barely begin to meet apply what he should have learned from the earlier ed- that requirement. ucational experience. The Army trains and educates more than half a mil- The Basic Officer Leader Course starts an officer on

Army Officer Professional Training and Education Timeline Years in Service Rank Army School Course Length Attendees 0 Second Lieutenant Basic Officer 18½ weeks All officers Leader Course 3 Captain Captains Career 24 weeks All officers Course 10-12 Major Intermediate Level 1 academic year All officers Education – Command and General Staff College 11-13 Major School of Advanced 1 academic year Board selection Military Studies 100 officers per year

15 Lieutenant Colonel School for Command 5-7 weeks Officers selected for battalion Preparation and higher command About 480 per year 20 Colonel War College and 1 academic year Board selection Fellowships About 370 per year

This example of an Army officer’s professional development timeline during a typical career shows a recurring pattern of institu- tional training/education followed by assignment to the operational force.

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the career path of professional mili- State must develop pletion of the CCC, combined with tary development. During BOLC, platoon leader experience, prepares officers first learn skills common to all leaders from within officers for greater responsibility: as Army officers. The final part of company commanders, they will each BOLC covers specific technical and who have the right mix be responsible for 100 to 120 troops. tactical skills associated with each Beginning at about the junior captain specialty or branch (Artillery, In- of experience and level, while they are still working to fantry, Engineer, etc.), such as how to master their technical branch skills, operate a tank, how to maneuver an professional education. each officer is also expected to begin, infantry platoon, or how to fly a heli- as an apprentice, to develop as a copter. combined arms officer. The essential Participants then learn the skills necessary to train task is integrating and synchronizing all the branches of and lead other soldiers. In their first assignment as pla- the Army to sustain land operations in any mission. toon leaders, they will each be responsible for develop- A key concept of land warfare is integrating the com- ing, training and leading 16 to 45 soldiers as a unit that bat power of several different weapon systems and tech- can effectively operate in a tactical combat environment nical branch skills in time and space to achieve a military with full mastery of their weapon systems. objective. In addition to being able to lead their own After about three years in an operational unit, offi- units effectively, an NCO, warrant officer or commis- cers are promoted to the rank of captain and return to sioned officer must thoroughly understand how the school for the 24-week Captains Career Course. Com- Army works and fights as a combined arms team. They

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must also be capable of serving in a The Army is higher during the first 12 years of a ca- joint assignment where they are re- reer so that there is a sufficient period quired to integrate Army capabilities as confirming its belief of time for the individual and the Army part of a larger, joint service effort. to benefit from the learning. As their careers progress, these offi- that leaders are made, These institutional training and ed- cers go on to master joint operations ucation experiences are critical to cre- while developing skills in interagency not born. ating the foundation on which more operations. complex operational experience can be understood and used as a learning op- Intermediate Level Education portunity. While a significant amount of the learning that At about the 10-year mark in an officer’s career, the goes into attaining a developmental state comes from or- Army takes him or her out of operational units for enroll- ganizational assignments, institutional learning is also nec- ment in an intensive, yearlong academic program known essary to create the best foundation on which to build and as Intermediate Level Education. ILE marks the first synthesize that experience. time the Army brings all officers from different branches Full-spectrum learning is the idea that a soldier’s ca- together in an academic setting to focus on combined reer should reflect an integrated balance of training, ed- arms integration. ucation and experience. During the Captains Career At Fort Leavenworth, the U.S. Army Command and Course the institutional focus is on training, but there are General Staff College educates and trains mid-career elements of education and experience. Similarly, at ILE, Army officers, international officers, sister service officers an officer’s focus is mainly on education, but training and and interagency leaders to operate in full-spectrum Army, experience are still involved, as well. The emphasis in all joint, interagency and multinational environments as assignments is on maintaining the appropriate balance of field-grade commanders and staff officers. Each year, in the three domains. two overlapping sessions, some 1,100 Army officers, 160 It is noteworthy that 6.5 percent of officers entering sister service officers, 120 international officers and 30 in- the Army as second lieutenants have a master’s degree. teragency representatives complete the 10-month course But for those who remain in the service for a minimum of of study. About 100 top-rated officers are then chosen for 20 years, the percentage of officers with at least one grad- a second year of graduate-level study at the School of Ad- uate degree increases to 84 percent. For many of these vanced Military Science. individuals, the advanced degree was earned with the help Only a limited number of lieutenant colonels and of the Army, either at a military school such as the Com- colonels are provided the opportunity to command bat- mand and General Staff College or the Army War Col- talions and brigades. Battalion and brigade commanders lege, or in one of the many subsidized programs at civilian are centrally chosen by a selection board convened each colleges and universities. year at the Department of the Army’s headquarters. As an indicator of the Army’s support and investment Those who are selected attend the School for Command in the development of an individual soldier’s career, this is Preparation. This program, lasting five to seven weeks, a remarkable measure of performance. What is equally prepares new Army commanders, their spouses and the impressive is the effectiveness of that commitment in new command sergeants major for the unique require- grooming soldiers for top leadership positions. In devot- ments of commanding and leading soldiers during war ing the energy and resources to maintain this extensive and peace across the full spectrum of operations. training and educational program of professional career development, the Army is confirming its belief that lead- Full-Spectrum Learning ers are made, not born. Leader development is a continuous process ― not a single event, course or assignment. The proportion of Lessons for State time spent in institutional training or education assign- The Army’s investment in training and education pro- ments during a career is typically less than 10 percent. It vides the essential foundation on which on-the-job expe- must be noted, however, that this percentage is much rience can take root and grow. Experience alone

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produces technically capable but Leader development 3. Professional development of one-dimensional soldiers. While the subordinates is as much the respon- level of resources available to the is a continuous process sibility of supervisors as it is of the Army facilitates implementation of institution itself. its vision of leader development, the — not a single event, 4. Leader development needs to institutional commitment to sup- be a top organizational priority. porting that vision is the real reason course or assignment. Resources are always an issue, but for its success. the Army has shown that an unwa- In terms of professional educa- vering, institutional commitment to tion supporting leader development, the Army really leader development as a core element of professional train- does put its money where its mouth is. ing and education is the important first step in obtaining The lessons that the State Department can learn from the necessary money and personnel for such a program. the Army’s experience with professional leader develop- For the State Department to carry out its foreign pol- ment can be summarized as follows: icy and diplomatic mandates, it needs a Foreign Service 1. Leaders are made, not born. composed of trained professional leaders, not talented am- 2. Leader development requires the proper mix of ateurs. The Army has a proven, professional leader de- training, education and experience throughout an entire velopment system that State would do well to study and career. adapt for its own needs. ■

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AT FSI’S HELM: AN INTERVIEW WITH RUTH A. WHITESIDE

THE DIRECTOR OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE REFLECTS ON THE TRAINING CENTER’S EXPANDING ROLE.

BY SHAWN ZELLER

ditor’s Note: Reporter the notion that you can take an FS-2 or FS-3 out of the Shawn Zeller interviewed Foreign Service Institute Di- system for a year in that military way. The case they were rector Ruth A. Whiteside and Deputy Director Tracey Ja- really making was the case for resources. The longer- cobson on April 24. term issue of how you would reshape the entire Service — not just training, but assignments, details and other SZ: What did you think of the 2011 American Acad- interagency experiences — depends on our ability to cre- emy of Diplomacy/Stimson Center report that laid out ate a personnel “float” that would allow for all of that. the case for expanding State Department training? RW: We spent a great deal of time with the folks who SZ: So they weren’t criticizing the quality of training. did the study. A lot of the issues they raised were more They were just saying Foreign Service employees need appropriate for the Foreign Service director general and more of it, right? the Bureau of Human Resources to decide. RW: I don’t know anybody who disagrees with that. Part of what they were trying to get at, which is very Certainly not us. But until you have resources to sustain valuable for the department, was really to build the case that, our focus is making the training that we do as valu- for a very robust training float. If you have a very robust able as it can possibly be. training float — the military has 15 percent more soldiers than they have jobs, so they can constantly have people in SZ: Still, people are already getting more training, training — you can take people out of the system at var- right? ious points and give them a year of training. But they RW: Absolutely. Under Diplomacy 3.0, the most re- also recognized that’s not the world we live in. cent hiring initiative, the Foreign Service has grown by 17 The ability of HR to staff all our current positions, percent and the Civil Service by 10 percent, so that’s def- until we’ve grown more than we’ve grown, doesn’t fit into initely one factor. The other factor has been an interest in training, a willingness to send people to training, giv- Shawn Zeller, a regular contributor to the Journal, is a free- ing entry-level officers and others more training than we lance writer in Washington, D.C. would have some years ago. It’s a combination of in-

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creased numbers of people and in- “I think there’s been ance management, how you super- creased interest in the value of vise employees and listen to them, training from the posts and the bu- a real culture shift over how you deal with problem em- reaus. ployees and building self-aware- I think there’s been a real cul- the last decade regarding ness. ture shift over the last decade re- The senior training is really fo- garding the value of training. It’s the value of training.” cused on how leadership at that not unusual to have some of our level is really different. When you more senior officers and retired of- — FSI Director Ruth A. Whiteside move across that threshold into the ficers say: “The only training I ever senior ranks, you’re really taking on did after A-100 was language train- a different set of responsibilities for ing and the deputy chief of mission course.” We would the leadership of the whole department. Tracey and I all talk about why that was true: “People didn’t value were visiting this morning with someone who was in that training. People didn’t want to go to training. People course last week, and he talked about how valuable it was didn’t want to release their employees for training.” And to reflect on his own leadership style. There is a very dif- I think that has really turned around significantly. ferent attitude toward all of that, with people thinking: We see it in the volume. Since we instituted manda- “If I want to be a very successful senior officer, then lead- tory leadership training in 2002, during Secretary of State ing people is as important as having very strong policy Colin Powell’s tenure, 17,000 people have participated. skills or very strong substantive skills.” The courses get very high marks and high reviews. We I’m not so sure historically that was always the case. don’t hear people talking about how “I don’t want to go, You could certainly get to the top if you were brilliant but I have to go,” or how they don’t want to let their em- even without having very strong leadership skills. I think ployees go, but they have to let them go. I think in gen- on the whole, today people think that leadership skills are eral, people have come to see the value of letting their an important part of rising to the top of the Service. employees improve their skills. TJ: One of the things I think is really critical about all TJ: Our most recent customer service survey showed of our mandatory leadership courses, all four of them, is an overall rate of 94-percent satisfaction with the training. that they include 360-degree feedback. Before taking In it, when we asked: “How did you pick what training to the course, each participant is required to send this sur- apply for?” a plurality said, “My supervisor recommended vey out to supervisors, peers and subordinates asking I take the course.” That’s a change. That shows supervi- those folks to rank them in a variety of different areas. It sors are not just willing to let their employees go to train- gives everyone the opportunity to identify the person’s ing, but are encouraging them to do so. Part of the three biggest leadership strengths and three areas for im- reason for that is we train supervisors to do that in the provement. leadership school. This gets to the issue of self-awareness, which is a key element to any kind of leadership. It’s a very powerful SZ: How is leadership training changing? tool. It’s not something anyone is using to rate anyone in RW: It’s the focus on leadership training from A-100 the class or judge them. It’s for the officers themselves to orientation through a person’s promotion into the senior see how they are perceived by others. That helps folks to ranks. We’re not waiting until people get to be senior to direct their training and their professional development, say: “Now we’ll talk about leadership training.” It builds and to understand how they might interact differently an expectation that people in A-100 expect to be treated with people who have different work styles. well, expect to be well trained and expect to be well led. I think the whole personnel system has begun to see SZ: Can you quantify the increase in training that’s the importance of these people skills and leadership occurred? skills, and not just policy skills, in getting you to the top. RW: At the end of Fiscal Year 2011, the number of It’s a real continuum, from FS-3 to -2 to -1, and into the enrollments in training and number of hours people senior ranks; talking about practical issues of perform- spend in training are up by at least 30 percent since 2005.

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Foreign Service National train- “We asked [the GAO] whether SZ: Is the training making ing is up by nearly 300 percent. a difference in the field? there was any agency in the RW: Responding to our SZ: The Government Ac- customer survey, 94 percent countability Office criticized federal government that met said they were satisfied or very FSI last year for not being able satisfied. In the feedback that’s to prove that its training has an their standard on accountability, coming back in on impact, impact in the field. What did there are very high numbers of you think about that report? and they couldn’t name one.” people saying: “I’m putting RW: I think we took the into practice what I’ve GAO report very, very seriously. learned.” And on the whole, it was very positive. One of the things It varies widely. In a course like the consular course, we learned is it’s not so much what you do, or whether you’re giving a test and you have a way to say this person you do something, but whether you have the documen- mastered this material. We know they know the consular tation. We shared with them a variety of ways in which law and regulations. For leadership and soft skills, you we get feedback on training and whether it has an im- don’t really have a test, but people tell us: “Yes, I’m using pact. But from their point of view, you need to do a for- these skills.” We use people’s responses to continuously mal evaluation of each course. We asked whether there review the course curriculum. was any agency in the federal government that met their standard on accountability, and they couldn’t name one. SZ: Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said at last year’s Sen- ate hearing on Foreign Service training that he thought SZ: It was a pretty high bar? the GAO report was reason not to give the State Depart- RW: Yes, but we have taken it very seriously. You do ment more funding. Do you think he was misinterpret- have to demonstrate the value that the training has. In the ing what GAO said? training world, and I think the GAO recognized this, there RW: Oh yes, of course I do. The GAO said we were is a recognized scale of evaluating it, named after the per- doing an excellent job. son who invented it. On the Kirkpatrick Scale, the evalu- ation at level one is a kind of smiley face. At the end of SZ: How are instructors recruited, hired and evaluated the class, I give you a piece of paper. You say: “I really had at FSI? a good time, enjoyed the class, learned a lot,” and then you RW: We have about 600 direct-hire staff, both Foreign go. It’s an immediate reaction. Service and Civil Service. Our Civil Service employees are Level two is whether you think you really increased for the most part on the training side. We have Foreign your skills. Level three, which is about as high on the scale Service officers in regular assignments who bid on our as anyone in the training world gets, evaluates impact: jobs. We work very hard to recruit strong candidates in “Have I been able to use this in my work?” areas like political training or economic training or man- We have a very broad evaluation process now, which agement/consular training. They are experienced officers we’ve put in place as a result of this feedback. Every year doing that work in the field. we are doing a level-three evaluation of 30 percent of our We pair them up with our Civil Service trainers, who courses. This means going out three to six months after a are really training specialists with professional credentials class to try to capture the impact: “Have you been able to in curriculum development, in adult learning, in course implement what you learned on the job?” I think we’ve re- design and course evaluation. It’s a good mix of practi- ally tried to take this on, documenting the training and tioners who know how the work is done in the field and making changes depending on what we found out. expertise on the Civil Service side on adult learning. Our TJ: That 30 percent of level-three evaluations reflects Foreign Service jobs are very heavily bid, so we are able to an industry standard to which Kirkpatrick says any train- attract very high-quality folks. And we think our Civil ing organization should aspire. And this year, we’ve met Service staff gets extremely high marks, as well. that target. TJ: The Foreign Service officers who come to be train-

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ers go through a weeklong course on “There are very high of space, and since a large per- training tradecraft. centage of that went to the lan- numbers of people saying: guage school, shifts aren’t as need- SZ: Are you seeing any spikes ed as before. in enrollment in language courses? ‘I’m putting into practice RW: I think language training SZ: Do Eligible Family Members across the board has grown a lot what I’ve learned [at FSI].’” and Members of Household get since 2005. Some of that is due to training? very robust hiring. Newly hired RW: Even in some of FSI’s most officers are getting more weeks of training than be- in-demand courses, eligible family members can enroll fore. The big five are French, Spanish, Arabic, Chi- on a space-available basis; many of them take languages. nese and Russian. There’s been a serious increase in We also have more than 30 fantastic courses that are de- the number of Chinese-language students. signed and run through the Transition Center specifically for EFMs, including same-sex domestic partners. Sec- SZ: Are you still doing any language training in retary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that shifts? expansion in June 2009. RW: Some, but that was eased considerably when we added new facilities two years ago. Part of the use SZ: Have you implemented any changes in area stud- of shifts was simply because we did not have enough ies? classrooms. The new addition has 135,000 square feet RW: We still teach area studies in two primary ways.

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One is the two-week intensive “There is more use of roles and missions of various de- course that covers a broad array of partments. issues in a particular region. And technology in area studies, Particularly coming out of the then we do advanced area studies QDDR process, we have worked as part of long-term language and across FSI, in fact.” very hard to build a collaborative training. relationship with the U.S. Agency That model has not changed, for International Development on but we have added a number of courses. We have a new training. I think it’s been a real success story. course on area studies for people assigned to Mexican We now have a senior USAID officer detailed to FSI, border posts, for example. It’s not the same as if you are and together we created a very successful distance learn- assigned to Mexico City. That was something the direc- ing course on diplomacy and development. USAID tor general’s staff recognized: the need to do more to made it mandatory for their new hires. Between our two prepare our officers assigned to the border. agencies, nearly 400 people have taken it so far. There is also more use of technology in area studies, We are now creating a classroom course that has sim- and across FSI, in fact. Almost all of our classrooms are ilar content, only on a more advanced level. And we are equipped with smartboards, making training more inter- working with USAID to create their first mission direc- active. And we’re able to bring the Internet into the tor’s course, which is patterned on the Ambassadorial classroom. Seven or eight years ago, we didn’t have that Seminar. capability. TJ: We’re also giving a scrub to area studies courses to SZ: AFSA believes the Bureau of Human Resources ensure they deal with the development pillar highlighted should be able to ensure that employees get training, re- in the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Re- gardless of the complaints at the posts and bureaus. Do view. you think that’s necessary? RW: If I understand AFSA’s goal in this regard, it isn’t SZ: Would you like to highlight any recent innovations so much a training-related question as it is about career in the curriculum of the Leadership and Management development and assignments. I believe their point of School? view is that regional bureaus have too much say in as- RW: The major additions since 2005 are the empha- signments, and training would be a part of that. sis on interagency training and training the interagency Without commenting on whether the central system community. A flagship course we created in the leader- or bureaus have too much control of personnel, we have ship school four or five years ago is the National Security seen a serious change in bureaus’ willingness to let peo- Executive Leadership Seminar, at the FS-1, GS-15 level. ple go to training. It meets for two days a month over five months, and we offer it three times a year. SZ: What other changes would you highlight? It’s a very different model from what we normally do, RW: Foreign Service National training has been a very in several respects. Half the participants come from the big growth area for us over the years. In recent years, it State Department and half from other agencies. It’s also became clear we cannot send trainers out to all the re- a course people are nominated to take. It focuses on na- gions, and bureaus and posts can’t afford to send a lot of tional security strategy and the roles of different agen- people back to Washington for training. So we’ve tried to cies; the reason to do it over five months is to give people come up with a different model, which I think has been a chance to do a lot of networking in between. very successful and well received. The course has a long waiting list of participants from Almost all of the regional bureaus have training cen- other agencies because it’s one of the few genuinely in- ters, so we have partnered with them to take more train- teragency training opportunities in the federal govern- ing to the field. And because we can’t send a lot of ment. There was so much demand for it that we also American trainers overseas due to the cost, we’ve created created a weeklong course we call “Understanding the a new program of adjunct faculty. Interagency.” It also focuses on national security and the In that program, as well, we work with the regional

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bureaus. Each of them nomi- “Particularly coming out popular FSI course on cus- nates high-performing FSNs tomer service. They would who they believe would make of the QDDR process, we have then also be able to teach good adjunct faculty trainers. overseas. We then bring that cadre back worked very hard to build a here for train-the-trainer train- SZ: FSI has received large ing, focusing on a set of courses collaborative relationship with budget increases in recent that are most popular with years, though funding has flat- FSNs, such as customer service USAID on training.” tened out recently. How have and supervisory skills. you used the money? As a result, we now have RW: A major activity is all more than a dozen FSN adjunct faculty who are able to the training we are doing with stability operations. We teach these FSI courses in the field. In 2011 alone, we created a new Division of Stability Operations in the reached approximately 550 FSNs who would not other- School of Professional and Area Studies, and added an wise have had training, through our adjunct faculty pro- associate dean to the school because of the growth in that gram — and in 2012 we expect to reach 800 more. It’s area. They are doing all the mandatory training for Iraq been a real win-win. and Afghanistan, for instance. We also developed a cur- We are just about to launch a pilot of a similar pro- riculum of training with the new Bureau of Conflict and gram using eligible family members who would take Stability Operations. train-the-trainer instruction and be certified to teach the I should note that much of the increased funding

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 37 F OCUS

came to us from Afghanistan and “Foreign Service ing, so many of them contract it Iraq supplemental allocations. out. We’d like to be able to in- National training has been crease our ability to attract other SZ: In an ideal world, what agencies to FSI. would you like to be able to do to a very big growth area We’d also like to continue to improve training? push the envelope on technology. RW: A lot of what we do is tied for us over the years.” We just got permission for our to the State Department’s overall distance learning courses to run budget. I think we’ve tried very on a Macintosh and multiple hard to demonstrate the value-added of training, so in browsers, not just Microsoft. We’d like anything we de- tough fiscal times we’d want to make the case that it is velop for distance learning to run on any kind of platform more important than ever. If we go back to somewhat re- an employee has, whatever kind of phone, whatever kind duced hiring, which we may have to do under the likely of laptop. budget scenarios, I hope we will have demonstrated the A great step would be to turn this into a wireless cam- value of training so the department would agree it is the pus, like most college campuses. Currently, the only wire- last place you cut, rather than the first. less we have is in our A-100 classroom. There are We’d also love to expand training with USAID, where legitimate security concerns about doing that, but we hope we’ve just taken the first steps, and with other agencies in we can move in that direction. general, so we can train foreign affairs professionals to- gether. At many other agencies, there’s not a lot of train- SZ: Thank you both. ■

38 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 CELEBRATING INTELLECTUAL COURAGE: AFSA’S CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARDS

THESE UNIQUE AWARDS TRULY HONOR THE BEST OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

BY JOHN W. LIMBERT

n December 1967, as the Vietnam War was Ambassador Thomas D. Boyatt, himself a recipient of two raging, AFSA unveiled two annual awards to rec- AFSA dissent awards, points out that in a culture where peer ognize and encourage constructive dissent and regard is very highly prized, these awards bestow extraordi- risk-taking within the Foreign Service: the nary distinction. Moreover, most awardees have gone on to W. Averell Harriman Award for constructive enter the Senior Foreign Service and account for a much dissent by junior officers (FS-6 through FS-4) and higher percentage of ambassadors than the Service as a the William R. Rivkin Award for mid-level of- whole. ficers (FS-3 through FS-1). Together, the four AFSA constructive dissent awards con- IA Foreign Service Journal editorial that month expressed stitute a program unique within the federal government, one the hope that the awards would “result in even higher pro- that celebrates the courage and integrity of Foreign Service fessional standards in the Foreign Service. In this regard, we personnel at all levels who have challenged the system from are particularly pleased that in stressing excellence, these two within. awards are to be received primarily by those officers who The association confers its dissent awards, as well as per- show intellectual courage or creativity.” formance and other awards, each June in the Benjamin First given in 1968, the Harriman and Rivkin Awards were Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the Department of joined the following year by the Christian A. Herter Award, State in the annual AFSA Awards Ceremony, which is co- honoring constructive dissent by Senior Foreign Service of- sponsored by the director general of the Foreign Service. ficers. And in 2000, AFSA created the F. Allen “Tex” Har- The Secretary of State or Deputy Secretary has frequently at- ris Award for dissent by Foreign Service specialists in honor tended the ceremony, as well. of the renowned FSO and AFSA activist, who received the Profiles of this year’s award-winners begin on p. 53; look Rivkin Award in 1984. for coverage of the June 26 ceremony in the September edi- tion of AFSA News. John W. Limbert, a retired Senior Foreign Service officer, chairs AFSA’s Awards and Plaques Committee. He was am- A Unique Program bassador to Mauritania from 2000 to 2002 and AFSA presi- Commenting on the distinctiveness of the AFSA con- dent from 2003 to 2005, among many other assignments. structive dissent award program in a September 2010 Speak- Ambassador Limbert is the author of Iran: At War with His- ing Out column, retired Ambassador Edward L. Peck, the tory (Westview Press, 1987), Shiraz in the Age of Hafez (Uni- 1973 recipient of the Rivkin Award and a longtime member versity of Washington Press, 2004) and Negotiating with Iran: of AFSA’s Awards and Plaques Committee, observed: Wrestling the Ghosts of History (U.S. Institute of Peace Press, “Doing battle with authority is certainly not a major facet 2009). of the Foreign Service’s public persona. When people think

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 39 of us at all, they tend to do so in terms cious in challenging existing policies, of good manners, a carefully balanced while encouraging lively debate of the approach, extensive use of the passive The question for each of issues in the embassy.” voice and, perhaps as much as anything Ron Schlicher received the Herter else, conflict avoidance. us should be, “Why am Award in 2004 for work in two Middle “In the real world, however, only Eastern hot spots. His assignment as the Foreign Service, acting through I not expressing my consul general in Jerusalem from 2000 AFSA, publicly commends members to 2003 — just as the Palestinian in- who are willing to advocate and pursue disagreement? — not, tifada moved from street protests to changes in policies or management. the systematic application of terrorism No similar program exists in any other “Will I hurt my career — was marked by exceptional report- organization.” ing and advice. As the award nomina- It is important to emphasize that if I dissent?” tion states, “He demonstrated un- the subject of the dissent does not have matched intellectual integrity in pro- to be related to foreign policy. It can viding a continual flow of advice and involve a management issue, consular information, which frequently chal- policy or personnel regulations. Nom- dissent_and_other_awards.aspx). lenged long-held assumptions.” inees may have used the formal State Even new entrants to the Foreign As if that performance were not Department Dissent Channel to ex- Service will likely recognize the names impressive enough, during his 2003- press their views, but that is an entirely of at least some recipients. Here is a 2004 tour in Iraq Schlicher created separate program from AFSA’s own small sampling of awardees and the is- and ran the Coalition Provincial Au- constructive dissent awards. sues about which they dissented. thority’s Office of Provincial Out- From 1968 through 2011, AFSA reach. There his reporting challenged conferred the Harriman Award on 36 Calling the Honor Roll many of the assumptions under which entry-level officers and, collectively, John Paul Vann received the 1968 the U.S. government had been oper- the Embassy Tehran hostages (in ab- Herter Award for his recommenda- ating, and gave the CPA a new ability sentia in 1980 and in person in 1981). tions about U.S. policy as deputy di- to influence Iraqi opinion in a coordi- Over the same period, the Rivkin rector of the Civil Operations and nated way. Award went to 43 mid-level FSOs, as Revolutionary Development Support Anthony Quainton received the well as the Iran hostages and, in 1994, program in Vietnam. His nomination Rivkin Award in 1972 for his reporting a group of 13 officers who dissented termed him “a controversial figure, a and analysis during the India-Pakistan over the Clinton administration’s initial man who insisted on maintaining his crisis the previous year. (Later pro- refusal to intervene in Bosnia. independence and integrity at all costs. moted to ambassador, he would go on In addition to the group awards for … His judgments have been repeat- to earn the Herter Award in 1984.) the Iran hostages in 1980 and 1981, 38 edly proven right by time.” His nomination read, in part: Senior Foreign Service officers re- Three decades later, Edmund Mc- “He is always able to question ceived the Herter Award from 1969 Williams would win the same award whether the accepted policy genuinely through 2011. And since 2000, 10 spe- while serving as political counselor in fulfills U.S. needs and make innovative cialists have won the Harris Award for Jakarta. Long before the resignation proposals for constructive change. He constructive dissent. of President Suharto, McWilliams had has the knack of taking the initiative AFSA also issued a special posthu- a “seemingly prescient view of In- and putting forward a new and some- mous award for constructive dissent in donesia’s imminent political transi- times dissenting view when that view 2002 to Hiram “Harry” Bingham IV. tion.” is critical to a policy decision being Disobeying State Department orders, As the colleague who nominated made. He has the ability to argue his Bingham issued life-saving visas to McWilliams in 1998 observed: “No in- case skillfully and aggressively but more than 2,000 Jews and anti-Nazi dividual within the embassy did more without offense. … In other words, refugees in Marseilles in 1940 and to promote a U.S. reappraisal of the Mr. Quainton has demonstrated that a 1941, for which he was eventually distribution of benefits from Indone- middle-ranking officer can have major forced out of the Foreign Service. sia’s economic growth and of the na- impact upon policy.” The names of all past winners of tion’s readiness for fundamental politi- Long before the Arab Spring, For- constructive dissent awards are posted cal reform. … Never have I served eign Service officers were not just on AFSA’s Web site (www.afsa.org/ with anyone more aggressive and tena- monitoring the democratization move-

40 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 ment in the Middle East, but reaching ing Osama bin Laden would not be out to its members. As a political offi- surrendered, and the Taliban was cer in Tunis, Douglas A. Silliman re- Dissent is not a luxury — preparing for war. ceived the Harriman Award in 1988 for “extraordinary initiative and achieve- it is a necessity of our job. Dissent: A Job Requirement ment in reporting and analyzing his- As these examples show, dissent is toric changes in Tunisia’s internal not a luxury — it is a necessity of our political scene.” job. Our work requirements statement His citation continued: “He demon- As his award citation explains, VOA should include the phrase, “bring at- strated intellectual courage in insisting correspondents work under a congres- tention to problems, contradictions on contacts with the largely under- sional charter that requires them to be and unproductive policies.” What kind ground Islamic fundamentalist groups.” “accurate, objective and comprehen- of Foreign Service do we have if em- Though the Harris Award for con- sive” in their news reporting. Even so, ployees say nothing when they see structive dissent by Foreign Service the Department of State and Interna- something that wastes money, endan- specialists is a relatively new program, tional Broadcasting Bureau exerted in- gers health and safety, or damages the it is already making a real difference. tense pressure on VOA not to broad- nation’s foreign relations? Andre de Nesnera, a 32-year Voice of cast a report that used excerpts from a Dissent should be put alongside our America correspondent, bureau chief post-9/11 interview with Taliban leader Service’s core values of duty, honor and and news director, received the award Mullah Mohammed Omar. country. The question for each of us in 2002 for his efforts to defend VOA’s Despite the pressure, de Nesnera should be, “Why am I not expressing charter and preserve the integrity of its authorized the release of the segment, my disagreement?”— not, “Will I hurt news broadcasts. which accurately quoted Omar as say- my career if I dissent?” Taking a contrary position can be uncomfortable in an organization that The Nomination Process values consensus and collegiality. It Anyone may propose a superior, peer or subordinate — or themselves — for an can damage friendships and even di- AFSA dissent award, so long as the nomination (700 words or fewer) includes all of the vide family members. Dissent can following elements: force us to confront facts we would • The name of the award for which the person is being nominated, along with the prefer to ignore. nominee’s name, grade, agency and position. So why dissent? Because we have •The nominator’s name, grade, agency and position, along with a description of his goals beyond advancing our careers. or her association with the nominee. We have a conscience, and care about •A justification for nomination that describes the actions and qualities that qualify the our country’s fortunes and about the nominee for the award. This should cite specific examples demonstrating that he or fate of our Service. We have a duty to she has “exhibited extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity, intellec- point out misguided policies — be they tual courage and constructive dissent.” in Iraq or elsewhere — and to provide Additional Guidelines a constructive solution. •Only career or career-conditional members of the foreign affairs agencies (e.g., We are also the people on the State, USAID, FCS, FAS or IBB) are eligible for a constructive dissent award. ground with the training, knowledge, •An individual may be nominated more than once in different years for the same judgment and experience to advise the award, provided that he/she has never won that award. president and the Secretary of State. •The time period during which the actions attributed to the nominee took place does We owe it to our country to use what not have to be within the most recent calendar year. However, they should have oc- we know and to give our honest views, curred not more than four years before the time of the nomination. even when they may differ with cur- •While messages sent via the State Department Dissent Channel and USAID’s Direct rent orthodoxy. For if not us, who? Channel may be cited as the basis of a dissent award, it is still necessary to submit a When AFSA issues the call for nomination directly to AFSA for consideration. nominations for the 2013 dissent For more detailed information on AFSA’s Constructive Dissent Award Program, in- awards this fall, please consider nomi- cluding criteria and procedures for nominating recipients and lists of past winners, visit nating a deserving colleague — or even www.afsa.org/dissent_and_other_awards.aspx, or contact Perri Green, AFSA’s coordi- yourself — for one of these unique nator for awards and outreach, at [email protected] or (202) 338-4045, ext. 521. awards. You will do us all a great serv- ice by honoring the best among us. I

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 41 THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVES IN FOREIGN POLICY

SUCCESSFUL FOREIGN POLICYMAKING NEEDS OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES, A VISION AND A MISSION STATEMENT DECLARING ITS PURPOSE.

BY JON ELLIOTT

ssorted journalists, nongovernmental or- A Policy Machine Off Kilter ganizations and academics have penned Social and political discontent had been fermenting just a lot of nonsense about the failure of under the surface of these North African and Middle Eastern Western governments to predict the societies long enough and visibly enough for ambassadors and Arab Spring revolutions. Yes, the United political officers with even modestly sensitive antennae to States and Europe were caught with have spotted it. These regimes’ obvious lack of domestic le- their pants down during the Arab Spring, gitimacy should not have come as a surprise: Any government but the failure was not one of prediction. Rather, the West that feels the need to manufacture a 90-percent election win Afailed to acknowledge the link between the lack of regime le- is manifestly insecure. gitimacy and false stability, and so did not develop relation- North Africa’s dictators were also aging, and gossip about ships with the broader representatives of popular opinion who the succession was rife throughout the region. Yet remember now find themselves in power. the French defense minister authorizing the dispatch of anti- These lapses stemmed from a narrow focus on short-term, riot gear to Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as the “national interest”-driven transactional relationships with old initial demonstrations spread? After all, Ben Ali was France’s regime insiders. Responsibility for such inadequate policy- friend, and alternative narratives of genuine democratic ex- making lies with the diplomats, the analysts and the elected pression didn’t fit the established policy of working with the politicians who oversee them. To prevent recurrence of these regime. failures, policymaking needs to be driven by credible, coher- Could it be that senior diplomats on the ground chose to ent values and a long-term perspective. ignore the inconvenient signals of impending change, so as not to risk that next move up the career ladder? Jon Elliott spent 16 years in the United Kingdom Diplomatic Another part of the problem is the encroachment into for- Service, serving as deputy high commissioner to Uganda and eign policy formulation over the past decade or so of “securo- head of the Zimbabwe and Maghreb/Mediterranean sections diplomats” — my term for officials who assess problems of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, through a narrow national security lens and see all foreign re- among other assignments. He left the Service in 2007 to join lations as transactional and short-term. For them, foreign Human Rights Watch as Africa advocacy director, serving in policy is like military planning with suits and ties, a game of that capacity until 2011. Since then, he has been based in psychological operations and realpolitik. You isolate a near- Tanzania working as an independent consultant advising cor- term objective and create mechanisms to achieve it, cutting porate, nongovernmental and governmental clients across whatever cynical deal it takes, and worry about the conse- Africa on a wide range of issues. quences later. However, once that culture is ingrained into

42 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 policy by headquarters officials, who are a million miles from have weathered the current turmoil: Jordan and Morocco. the front lines, the entire policy machine loses the long-term Two years ago, they would probably have been on any securo- view and is knocked off kilter. diplomat’s list of vulnerable states. But the long-term foreign In the securo-diplomats’ world, democracy and human policy analyst would have seen them as “work-in-progress” rights are for wimps: it’s “smarter” to get results quickly, be democracies. testosterone-driven and tough. But the real, five-dimensional Neither country is perfect — not by a long shot. But in the foreign policy environment seldom cooperates for long. And long term, both are also more likely to be bastions of democ- that is why the securo-diplomats lost traction so embarrass- racy standing against terrorism than the brutal autocracies — ingly during the Arab Spring. Torturers with whom they had e.g., Yemen, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia — that function as ex- closely collaborated in running the global rendition machine tremism’s recruiting agents. Plus, the good news about dem- were being replaced by nascent demo- ocratic legitimacy is that it’s relatively easy crats they couldn’t stomach, just because to identify and measure. some were Islamists. The securo-diplo- mats perversely saw the stirrings of dem- Securo-diplomats assess In Search of ocratic legitimacy not as a core value Overarching Principles driving foreign policy and something to problems through a So how do we determine whether our be celebrated, but as a threat to stability. policy toward a particular issue or coun- The ripples of laughter from Beijing and narrow, short-term try has lurched dangerously into short- Moscow must have been deafening. termism? First off, we need to be wary of national security lens. people who repeatedly talk about “the Our Thugs, Right or Wrong national interest,” a term usually em- The securo-diplomats’ approach to ployed by those who want to sound clever foreign policy follows the delightful about policy but rarely look below the phrase attributed to FDR in describing Nicaraguan President surface or over the horizon. Because the term can mean any- Anastasio Somoza Garcia: “He may be a thug, but he’s our thing to anyone, it is useless when trying to craft effective, thug.” (FDR didn’t say “thug,” of course, but this is a family long-term policy within a shifting, multipolar environment. journal.) Successful foreign policymaking needs overarching prin- Unfortunately, the law of diminishing returns was work- ciples, a vision and a mission statement that sets out clearly its ing against them in North Africa: the longer the thug clings to real purpose. This not only builds international credibility, power, the more his people despise him (it’s always a man), but improves internal communication and spreads risk expo- unite against him (and you) and take more extreme measures sure by reducing inconsistency. That way, what you’re doing to remove him from power. And as soon as Mr. Thug and his on Syria bears a passing resemblance to what you’re doing on support group disappear, you are left with some angry ene- Algeria. And it is not a naïve, soft option: it may ultimately mies in the territory and have to play a frantic game of catch- mean making difficult decisions like finding an alternative to up. In the worst-case scenario, you confront a failed state and Bahrain for your Persian Gulf fleet. That requires bold lead- spend years trying to re-establish any kind of normalcy. Just ership. look at Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo A long-term view also means focusing on the totality of an 20 years after those states collapsed. engagement with the country or region in question — not The Arab Spring has proved again the old adage that au- just governments, ruling parties or elites. (As a corollary, tocracies’ lack of democratic legitimacy makes them inher- human rights and governance must therefore be given equal ently unstable. Democracies might look messy and fragile at — and top — billing within policymaking, not relegated to times, and they do infuriating things (such as electing gov- walk-on roles.) Ask yourself how much stronger would the ernments we don’t like). But they are less prone to outright opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime be collapse. now if foreign governments had invested more time and at- Their messiness comes from the growing pains associated tention in forging ties to the Syrian diaspora before the Arab with creating accountable, popular governments that tackle Spring. Will policymakers wait until Algeria or Saudi Arabia social and political demons, unlike repressive autocracies such teeters before they follow suit there? as Algeria that ensure such grievances fester. Respecting Visibility also matters. Diplomats should be seen publicly democracy and human rights may create short-term vulner- with the vulnerable and oppressed, as U.S. Ambassador abilities, but it builds long-term strength. So the “moral” pol- Robert Ford bravely was in Syria and my former colleague icy becomes the sound, practical policy, too. Craig Murray was in Uzbekistan a decade ago. (See Murray’s Consider the most durable Middle Eastern regimes to article about that experience, “The Folly of a Short-Term Ap-

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 43 proach,” in the October 2007 FSJ.) Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain. Tunisian Images of physical solidarity with the President Ben Ali was regularly por- oppressed deliver messages a hundred The good news about trayed as great on women’s rights — so times more effectively than words. long as women didn’t oppose him (for Some diplomats claim that such democratic legitimacy is which they could expect to be tor- public association with the oppressed tured). If we look hard enough, we can puts innocent people in danger. They that it’s relatively easy to say something positive about everyone. are quite wrong. In my work at Mussolini made the Italian trains run Human Rights Watch, every vulnera- identify and measure. on time. ble group and human rights defender “We have no leverage on the re- in Africa I spoke with said exactly the gime.” Maybe you do have levers that opposite. you’re not using, or you aren’t looking Of course, this comes down to ef- hard enough for them. Or you expect fective senior-level leadership. The To be fair, of course, there are not them to work too quickly, even though worst generals plan to fight the last war, enough hours in political leaders’ days effective pressure takes months or and so it is with senior diplomats. Bad to keep tabs on everything. They have years to build under even the best of leaders close off debate that does not to rely on advice from below, and bad conditions. The United States has been fit the established policy. They focus advice leads to bad policy. But how, extraordinarily creative in applying on the 48-hour news cycle, the four- whether one is a top official or an pressure on Iran; it’s amazing what a bit year domestic electoral timeline and entry-level political officer, can you of well-directed willpower can achieve. their two- or three-year diplomatic spot bad advice? “The country has no domestic U.S. posting roster (and next job). Based on more years than I care to constituency, plus we use up interna- Effective foreign policy leaders, by remember inside the foreign policy tional political credit to get anything contrast, obsess about creativity, inclu- machine, as well as time outside look- done, so we can just ignore the problem sivity and transparency, internally and ing in, I offer the following list of plat- altogether.” In situations like this, it is externally. They assemble a broad mix itudes that should set alarm bells common to hear the “national interest” of voices into the policy machine, es- ringing. argument deployed, usually to justify pecially dissenters. The age of foreign “He’s the only game in town.” My inaction or the wrong action. In the policy carried out by self-selecting, in- all-time favorite in the hit parade of early 1990s, Somalia was not a priority house “experts” ought to be long gone bad policy advice, this is an extension U.S. “national interest.” Oops. by now. of FDR’s “thug” doctrine — but with “He clearly stole the elections, but a subtle difference. It tantalizingly al- that didn’t affect the final result.” How Telltale Signs lows the speaker to “hold his or her could any foreign diplomat possibly The good news for Foggy Bottom is nose” and to demonstrate awareness of know this, or think that such a patron- that the United States is already better dealing with bad people — while con- izing judgment matters more than the at this than most other Western states, veniently carrying on business as usual. view of the people directly affected? especially those in Europe. But it still For obvious reasons, the thug in Yet I have heard Western officials use has a long way to go. President Barack question won’t allow any other “game” the phrase in countries ranging from Obama, for example, reached out to to take shape on his watch, as we saw in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ordinary Arab citizens well before the pre-upheaval Tunisia, Syria and Libya. and Guinea to Uganda and Burundi in Arab Spring, beginning with his June A variant is to bemoan “the lack of a the past 18 months, to explain why 2009 speech in Cairo. Yet that turned credible alternative to President X” — they are letting leaders produced by out to be a half-measure at best, as ignoring the fact that the people of the dodgy elections slide by. Remarkably, much motivated by a counterterrorism country in question are the proper senior Western policymakers keep narrative as promoting democracy. judge of that, not foreign diplomats. echoing the line in other parts of the Washington still has a number of Moreover, if President X really is the world, too. thuggish regional allies in its diplo- only game in town, that should really “His country’s just been through a matic closet: Algeria, Saudi Arabia, worry us! terrible conflict; we shouldn’t be too de- Bahrain and various Central Asian and “He’s clearly a brutal dictator, but he manding.” In other words, let’s put the sub-Saharan African states. And wor- is progressive and helpful in some ways, past behind us and move on, even if ryingly, it still seems to be pursuing so let’s cut him some slack.” This atti- that means setting aside sustainability, business as usual with many of them. tude was often heard in pre-upheaval justice and accountability. Recent ex-

44 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 amples of this attitude include Guinea over the West’s failure to stop the 1994 and Cote d’Ivoire, where the interna- genocide has been replaced by a more tional community, led by the African In some cases, nuanced U.S. understanding of the re- Union, the United States and France, pressive Rwandan Popular Front and did a remarkable job of bringing po- U.S. foreign policy has the threat it poses to peace, human tentially catastrophic crises to a swift rights and stability throughout the re- conclusion using principally diplomatic begun a welcome shift to gion. means. But except for a few token in- I live in hope of seeing more exam- dividuals, those who committed crimes long-term perspectives ples of enlightened U.S. policy toward during these crises remain free to do other African dictatorships, as well as so again. and a focus on legitimacy. regimes in the Middle East and Cen- Having a credible foreign policy tral Asia. As in Hosni Mubarak’s means not just prevention and resolu- Egypt, the de facto dictatorships of An- tion of conflict, but prevention of a re- gola, Uganda and Ethiopia — with currence. The hard work shouldn’t their occasional “election-like events,” stop when a catastrophe has been take lies seriously. They can take the as one U.S. diplomat elegantly put it — averted; that’s when it should really time to understand those they might are living on borrowed time. begin. Hope that things will turn out otherwise label as enemies, or unreli- Pursuing a more enlightened for- well is never an effective basis for strat- able, when they are simply different. eign policy, focused on bolstering le- egy or policy. So we see now that Ghannouchi’s gitimacy and minimizing the long-term party was already the “legitimate” rep- risks posed by repressive autocracies, Doing the Right Thing resentative of the Tunisian people long can help prevent more failed states and My own conversion to the cause of before Ben Ali ran away. Yet while it is tackle the roots of extremism. And, long-term policymaking began in 1999 now the leading moderate Islamist even better, it is the right thing to do. I when I was head of the Foreign Of- movement in the world, it is also a frag- fice’s Maghreb Section. No one in a ile coalition — one we cannot afford to senior diplomatic role really cared let fail. about the Maghreb then. It was pre- Happily, we can see cases where 9/11, the Israel-Palestine peace talks U.S. foreign policy has begun a slow You Are Our were all that mattered, and I was left but welcome shift to long-term per- to play around with policy, like a kid spectives and a focus on legitimacy. Eyes & with a new toy. Some are not entirely new; despite in- One day, an Algerian contact based consistencies and wobbles over the Ears! in London (who is now a prominent years, Washington’s policy toward regional commentator), suggested I Sudan and Zimbabwe has had a long- Dear Readers: meet Rached Ghannouchi, the Lon- term focus and a generally positive im- don-based leader of the Tunisian Is- pact. In order to produce a high- lamist movement, Ennahda (Renaiss- Without it, we would not have had quality product, the FSJ depends on the revenue it ance). I was new to the region, still rel- the North-South Comprehensive earns from advertising. atively inexperienced and not really sure Peace Agreement in Sudan, ending a what an Islamist was. But since I war that killed millions. And in Zim- You can help with this. thought it was my job to listen to differ- babwe, we may finally be witnessing Please let us know the names ent opinions, and I knew that meeting the last months of one of the conti- of companies that have provided good service to you — a hotel, Ghannouchi would annoy the Tunisian nent’s genuinely malevolent regimes, insurance company, auto ambassador to London, I readily in part due to sustained international dealership, or other concern. agreed. There began a great conversa- pressure. A referral from our readers tion that taught me (again) not to judge Similarly, American policy on Nige- is the best entrée! books by other people’s covers. ria is at last being driven by efforts to Over time, I saw how Tunisian fix the long-term governance failure Ed Miltenberger President Ben Ali’s regime had lied that led to oil bunkering and Islamist Advertising & Circulation Manager Tel: (202) 944-5507 about Ghannouchi to suit its own terrorism, rather than just treating E-mail: [email protected] agenda. But diplomats don’t have to these symptoms. And in Rwanda, guilt

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 45 FS HERITAGE JOEL R. POINSETT: FIRST U.S. ENVOY IN LATIN AMERICA

THOUGH MAINLY KNOWN TODAY FOR GIVING HIS NAME TO A CHRISTMAS FLOWER, JOEL POINSETT ACHIEVED MUCH MORE.

BY LUCIANO MANGIAFICO

uring the Napoleonic era, when Span- While in St. Petersburg, U.S. consul Levett Harris, the ish America saw the opportunity to first U.S. representative posted in Russia, introduced Poin- seek independence, the United States sett to Czar Alexander I (1777-1825). Harris was still at seized the opportunity to increase its his post when the consulate was raised to the level of a lega- political and commercial influence in tion in 1809, and worked for the head of the U.S. mission the area, while limiting or excluding (and later Secretary of State and president), John Quincy that of European powers. Adams (1767-1848). Adams would later write that Harris Beginning in 1810, a primary agent “made a princely fortune by selling his duty and his office Dfor the implementation of these policies was Joel Roberts at the most enormous prices.” Though Harris lost his po- Poinsett (1779-1851). sition in 1819, he surfaced again in 1833 as chargé de af- A botanist, traveler and politician, Poinsett was the first faires in Paris. U.S. envoy to the pre-independence Spanish colonies in the In January 1807 Czar Alexander I tried to recruit Poin- cone of South America; he was later envoy to Mexico. He sett to take a post at his court but advised him to “see the was involved in the independence movements of Argentina empire, acquire the language, study the people,” before de- and Chile; and while in Mexico, he tried to purchase Texas ciding. With that advice in mind, Poinsett left St. Peters- and limit British influence. burg on an adventurous journey through southern Russia. Joel Roberts Poinsett was born in Charleston, S.C., in When he returned to St. Petersburg, the czar offered him a 1779, the descendant of a family of French Huguenots, who commission as a colonel in the Russian Army, but Poinsett had moved to the U.S. in the 1660s. He was educated in decided to return home. Connecticut and Europe, and traveled extensively overseas from 1802 to 1807. Busy in Buenos Aires During the first decade of the 19th century, the foreign Luciano Mangiafico, a Foreign Service officer from 1970 to policy of the United States encountered many challenges. 1991, served in Milan, Palermo, Bucharest, Manila, Bridge- Apart from the brewing conflict with Great Britain on the town and Washington, D.C. Since his retirement from the impressment of U.S. sailors of British extraction, Napoleon’s Service, he has continued to work as an inspector for the State actions in Spain and Portugal had created an opening for Department. The author of two books, Contemporary Amer- most of their Latin American colonies to seek independ- ican Immigrants (Praeger, 1988) and Italy’s Most Wanted (Po- ence. tomac Books, 2007), he writes on foreign policy, business and The United States, already faced with harassment of its the arts for various publications. seaborne commerce by Great Britain and France, viewed

46 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 these developments with alarm, particularly as British power Drafting the Chilean Constitution grew in the Western Hemisphere. Frustrated by his scant success in promoting U.S. inter- In 1810, President James Madison sought to confront ests in Argentina, Poinsett left Buenos Aires in November these issues by appointing several “agents” to Latin Amer- 1811, traveling over the Andes Mountains to arrive in San- ica. These men were to report on the evolving situation in tiago on Dec. 29. He was accredited as U.S. representative their area, advance U.S. influence and, concurrently, limit the following February, becoming the first foreign agent to the influence of other European powers, particularly Great be so recognized by the new Chilean government. Britain. On July 4, 1812, Poinsett hosted a party to celebrate the Madison selected Poinsett as his “agent” to the south- independence of the United States and the unveiling of the ernmost area of Latin America. Secretary of State Robert new Chilean flag. In a letter to Chilean President Jose Smith (1757-1842) detailed Poinsett’s scope of action, in- Miguel Carrera (1785-1821), Poinsett noted the “special structing him to travel to Buenos Aires and “to take such coincidence that on that same date of my fatherland’s sepa- steps, not incompatible with the neu- ration from Great Britain, [we cele- tral character and honest policy of the brate the] creation of the Chilean United States, as the occasion renders national flag. This gives curious signif- proper.” icance to tomorrow’s celebration, in Poinsett arrived in Buenos Aires on Czar Alexander I which we will see interwoven the sym- Feb. 13, 1811. His initial assessment bols of two sister nations.” was that the United States could re- advised Poinsett to Meanwhile, Poinsett was helping place the influence of both Spain and Pres. Carrera draft a liberal republican England once the European colonies “see the empire, constitution; in fact, the first meeting declared independence. Three days of the Constitutional Committee was after his arrival, he wrote to the new acquire the language, held at his residence on July 11, 1812. Secretary of State, James Monroe It appears likely that Poinsett took the (1758-1831), requesting that he be study the people.” lead in composing the document, for given official credentials and detailed when he delivered the draft, he wrote instructions to deal with the fledging that he was “submitting the constitu- governments of Buenos Aires, Santi- tion that we developed together ... as ago and Bogota. Cautiously, Monroe we haven’t spent enough time on it, it told Poinsett that “the destiny of these provinces must de- wouldn’t be unexpected that some changes are made.” pend on themselves.” The Spanish viceroy in Lima, under whose jurisdiction But Poinsett was ill suited to be a passive observer. He Chile fell, regarded the Chilean actions as rebellious and at- successfully protested the preferential commercial advan- tempted to enforce his authority by seizing ships trading tage given to British shipping and obtained a similar treat- with Santiago, including American ones. ment for the U.S. In addition, he worked around Secretary Poinsett decided to take matters into his own hands. He Monroe by contacting Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin sought a general’s commission in the Chilean army and at (1769-1849) to ask that he use his influence to get William the head of a troop of cavalry marched north and defeated G. Miller, a local businessman, appointed as U.S. consul the Royalist troops at San Carlos. He then led an artillery either in Buenos Aires or Lima. This effort came to naught, detachment to lay siege to the port town of Talcahuano, ac- however. cepted the surrender of the Royalists on May 29, 1813, and On April 30, 1811, President James Madison (1751- freed the 10 U.S. merchant ships being held in the bay. 1836) appointed Poinsett consul general to all the new Soon that success was overshadowed by the arrival of two South American republics, and named Luis Goddefroy British warships that nearly captured the envoy (the War of (1774-1860), a French national working in Montevideo, as 1812 was well under way by this point). Hounded by Span- consul under him. Because the U.S. Senate would not con- ish Royalist troops who had gone on the counterattack and firm Goddefroy, the president appointed Thomas L. retaken Santiago, Poinsett fled with Carrera back over the Halsey (1777-1845) to the position, which he held from Andes to Buenos Aires, where he found that British influ- 1812 to 1819. Miller was appointed vice consul, serving ence was well established. from 1812 to 1816; both men were based in Buenos Aires. Poinsett could not even secure a passage home to the

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 47 United States because American ships, Mexican politics. Soon after Vicente cleared from the Atlantic by the Guerrero (1782-1831) became presi- British, were no longer visiting Buenos Shortly after arriving in dent in 1829, he wrote President An- Aires. Eventually he was able to board drew Jackson (1767-1845), request- a neutral ship bound for Bahia, Brazil, Mexico, Poinsett produced ing that he recall Poinsett. Jackson where he took another vessel going to complied, and Poinsett left Mexico the Madeira Islands. He arrived in two perceptive, realistic City on Christmas Day 1829 — a date Charleston on May 28, 1815. that would soon prove highly appro- reports that were priate. Revolutionary Mexico and the Poinsett Report promptly ignored. A Lasting Legacy Next, Poinsett pursued a successful After his return to Charleston, political career. After serving in the Poinsett again served in the South Car- South Carolina legislature from 1816 olina state legislature, from 1830 to to 1821, he was elected to two terms in 1831. In this capacity, he was Presi- the U.S. House of Representatives. the people,” Monroe decided to rec- dent Jackson’s confidential agent, Simultaneously, in recognition of ognize his government. keeping him abreast of developments his Latin American expertise, Pres. Soon thereafter, just as Poinsett had and helping him to craft policy in re- Monroe appointed Poinsett as an in- predicted, Mexico became a republic. sponse to the nullification crisis. In formal special emissary to Mexico, But while the United States quickly 1833, he married Mary Izard Pringle which had just declared its independ- recognized the government of Presi- (1780-1857), daughter of Ralph and ence from Spain. dent Guadalupe Victoria (1786- Elizabeth (Stead) Izard. Poinsett left Charleston on Aug. 28, 1843), it took considerable time to Poinsett served President Martin 1822, arrived in Vera Cruz on Oct. 19, appoint a diplomatic representative. Van Buren (1782-1862) as Secretary and reached Mexico City on Oct. 27. of War from 1837 to 1841. In that ca- There he met with ranking officials and Minister to Mexico pacity, he presided over the continuing obtained an audience with Emperor On July 8, 1824, Senator John C. removal of Indians west of the Missis- Augustin I (1783-1824) on Nov. 2. Calhoun (1782-1850) sounded Poin- sippi, conducted the Seminole War Shortly thereafter, he returned to the sett out about taking the post. He ini- and significantly improved the effi- United States to brief the Monroe ad- tially declined, but reconsidered when ciency of the U.S. Army. In March ministration on his mission. he failed to secure a higher position. 1841 he retired to his plantation in He produced two reports. One, On March 26, 1825, Poinsett received Georgetown, S.C., where he died on Notes on Mexico, was for general con- his letter of instruction from Secretary Dec. 12, 1851. sumption; the other, The Present Polit- of State Henry Clay (1777-1852). Though Poinsett’s mission in Mex- ical State of Mexico, went only to Poinsett’s major task was to negoti- ico a quarter-century before had ended Secretary of State John Quincy Adams ate the cession to the U.S. of all or part in failure, it did have one lasting legacy: and President Monroe. of Texas, a very difficult undertaking. a flowering plant he collected there The latter document was highly The negotiation dragged on for years, and brought back with him reminds us perceptive and realistic. It not only as the United States offered substan- of Poinsett every December. summarized the emperor’s speeches tial amounts of money without making The plant, which the Mexicans call but reviewed population trends, eco- headway. In February 1828 the nego- the flor de noche buena (Christmas nomic developments, the state of the tiations came to a screeching halt. Eve flower), is known to us as the military and the extent of valuable nat- As Poinsett told Secretary Clay in a poinsettia. One story has it that he ural resources. The report was aimed letter: “We have been represented by obtained a few exemplars of the plant at ensuring that the United States was the agents of certain European powers near the city of Taxco Alarcon; an- ready to take advantage of Mexican dif- as the natural enemies of Mexico; and other, that he saw the plants adorning ficulties, both in economic affairs and our desire to make alterations in the a manger tableau in a church in in territorial expansionism. treaty limits concluded with Spain, was Cuernavaca and swiped a few from Yet even though he warned that the constantly urged as proof of our bad Baby Jesus. emperor would soon be deposed “be- faith and insatiable ambition.” Either way, he will forever be cause his violent dissolution of Con- It also did not help that Poinsett linked to the now-iconic Christmas gress had so stirred the indignation of had become embroiled in domestic flower. I

48 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 AFSAAmerican Foreign ServiceNE Association • July-August 2012WS AFSA Panel Assesses Prospects for the Arab Spring BY EVA M.A. MOSS, AFSA STAFF

n conjunction with the May issue of the Foreign Service Journal, which focused on I“Snapshots of Challenge & Hope: The Arab Spring, A Year Later,” on June 6 AFSA hosted a panel discussion drawing on the expertise of three Foreign Service profes- sionals. Two of the panelists were on the front lines at that historic juncture: Ambassador Gene Cretz was chief of mission in Tripoli when Libyans rose up against Moammar Gaddafi, and Ambassador Margaret Scobey experienced firsthand the tumult of Tahrir Square and the downfall of Hosni Mubarak. AFSA hosts FS experts on the Arab Spring. From left, Executive Director Ian Houston, Ambassador The third panelist, FSO Victoria Taylor, Margaret Scobey, Ambassador David Newton, AFSA President Susan Johnson, FSO Victoria Taylor served in Tunisia from 2006 to 2008, and and Ambassador Gene Cretz. returned to the country in February to assess developments. (She shared her Yemen and deputy chief of mission in Syria Jazeera and other information outlets, insights from that visit in the May FSJ.) And and Yemen. including the Internet and social media, in the panel moderator, retired Ambassador Before introducing the panelists, Amb. fomenting the revolts and changes in gov- David Newton, spent 22 of his 36 years in Newton noted that we have begun “a chal- ernance that have collectively constituted the Foreign Service in the Arab world, lenging decade for American diplomacy in the Arab Spring. including tours as ambassador to Iraq and the region.” He pointed to the role of Al- Each panelist then shared his or her experiences dealing with the former AFSA Announces 2012 Award Winners regimes and the ongoing transitions, high- n June 26, with a large audience filling the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin lighting the role of Foreign Service profes- Room, AFSA honored the winners of the 2012 AFSA Constructive Dissent and sionals in reaching out to the democratic OOutstanding Performance Awards. Winners received a certificate of recognition, opposition in these countries, as well as a monetary prize and the AFSA Globe. monitoring and reporting on developments Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy and making policy recommendations to Ambassador William Lacy Swing Washington. Constructive Dissent Awards Amb. Scobey, who is now deputy com- The William R. Rivkin Award: Joshua Polacheck, Washington mandant and international affairs adviser Outstanding Performance Awards at the National Defense University, noted The Nelson B. Delavan Award: James R. Velez, Mazar-e-Sharif that neither she nor anyone else “could pre- The M. Juanita Guess Award: Sara Hurst Butler, Port-au-Prince dict [the] incredible collapse of the regime” The Avis Bohlen Award: Leila Gupta, Nairobi of President Mubarak. AFSA Post Representative of the Year: Jeff J. Jacob, Kabul Amb. Cretz stressed that a person had Profiles of the winners begin on page 53. Continued on page 58

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 49 A F S A N AFSANEWSBRIEFS E AFSA Welcomes New Interns FS Follies W The change of season brings yet another crop of dynamic young S interns to AFSA. We are thrilled to welcome the summer 2012 class! Eva M.A. Moss is the new Foreign Service Journal Editorial Intern. She is a rising sophomore at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., and the daughter of a recently retired Foreign Service employ- ee. (Advertising Intern Claudia Gerken will remain with AFSA through August.) Beth Romagnoli is the new Communications, Marketing and Outreach Intern. A senior at Franklin College Switzerland, Beth is studying communications and media, and comparative literary and cultural studies. Interestingly, Beth’s grandfather, Eugene Sullivan, was honored at AFSA’s Memorial Plaque Ceremony last year. He was a Foreign Service officer with USAID when he died of malaria in Ethiopia in 1972. We thank our departing interns — Paul J. Carter, Christy Nguyen and David J. Barton — for their hard work and dedication during the spring semester and wish them the very best. Managing Unaccompanied Tours In May, more than 25 Foreign Service family members and employ- ees attended a Washington-area happy hour hosted by the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide. The topic was managing an unaccompanied tour and the event included presentations from representatives of State Department offices and a panel of family members who have experienced an unaccompanied tour. Family Liaison Office representatives presented information on FLO’s Unaccompanied Tours Support Program, which provides guidance, resources and assistance to all FS employees and family members from all foreign affairs agencies. The Foreign Service Institute’s Transition Center provided an overview of courses available to employees and family members and State Department employees and family members. resources offered by the Overseas Briefing Center. For more information about happy hours and other upcoming The Office of Medical Services’ Employee Consultation Service events, please contact AAFSW First Vice President Jen Dinoia at explained the confidential counseling and referral options available for [email protected]. J

AFSA HEADQUARTERS: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 Staff: STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 Executive Director Ian Houston: [email protected] Business Department Governing Board: USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 Director of Finance Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] PRESIDENT: Susan R. Johnson FCS AFSA OFFICE: (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 Controller Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] STATE VP: Daniel Hirsch Assistant Controller Cory Nishi: [email protected] USAID VP: Francisco Zamora PRESIDENT: [email protected] Labor Management FCS VP: Keith Curtis General Counsel Sharon Papp: [email protected] STATE VP: [email protected] FAS VP: David Mergen Deputy General Counsel Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] RETIREE VP: Mary Ellen Gilroy RETIREE VP: [email protected] Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: [email protected] SECRETARY: Vacant USAID VP: [email protected] Labor Management Counselor Janet Weber: [email protected] Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh: [email protected] TREASURER: Andrew Winter FAS VP: [email protected] Staff Attorney Raeka Safai: [email protected] STATE REPS: Matthew Asada FCS VP: [email protected] Staff Attorney Andrew Large: [email protected] William Bent Office Manager Christine Warren: [email protected] Grace Choi AFSA News USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: [email protected] Kenneth Kero-Mentz USAID Staff Assistant Stefan Geyer: [email protected] Kimberly Krhounek Editor Donna Ayerst: [email protected] Member Services (202) 944-5516; Fax: (202) 338-6820 Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: [email protected] Elise Mellinger Member Services Representative Kristy Pomes: [email protected] Joyce Namde Foreign Service Journal Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Ana Lopez: [email protected] David Zwach FSJ: [email protected] Communications, Marketing and Outreach USAID REPS: Michael Henning Editor Steven Alan Honley: [email protected] Retiree Counseling & Legislation Coordinator Bonnie Brown: [email protected] Iris Young Associate Coordinator for Retiree Counseling and Legislation Matt Sumrak: [email protected] Senior Editor Susan Maitra: [email protected] FCS REP: Steve Morrison Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: [email protected] FAS REP: Andrew Burst Associate Editor Shawn Dorman: [email protected] Director of Policy: vacant Ad & Circulation Manager Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] Legislative Assistant Clint Lohse: [email protected] IBB REP: Andre De Nesnera Art Director Caryn Suko Smith: [email protected] Executive Assistant to the President Patrick Bradley: [email protected] RETIREE REPS: Robert Houdek Scholarship Director Lori Dec: [email protected] Edward Marks On the Web Scholarship Program Assistant Jonathan Crawford: [email protected] Hugh Neighbour

How to Contact Us: Contact to How AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org Marketing & Outreach Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: [email protected] Molly Williamson FSJ: www.afsa.org/fsj Special Awards & Outreach Coordinator Perri Green: [email protected] Web and Graphics Assistant Jeff Lau: [email protected]

50 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 A F V.P. VOICE: STATE I BY DANIEL HIRSCH S Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA State VP. A N E Internet Porn: Does State W S Know It When It Sees It?

upreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once famously said regulations address social media as communication tools, where- of pornography: “I could never succeed in defining it, but as social media users — and those who enforce the regulations SI know it when I see it.” It is a position that works well — view them as virtual venues for social interaction. when everybody shares the same point of view. But when view- The most common area in dispute is not even mentioned points diverge, that position becomes untenable, at least as a basis in the FAM sections dealing with social media. This is 3 FAM for punishing pornographers. 4130, concerning conduct that could embarrass the government. AFSA is growing increasingly concerned over the prolifer- Cases arising within this realm often appear to be selected for ation of rules applied to employees’ off-duty behavior that, on discipline haphazardly, and adjudicated by standards far more the one hand, are deliberately vague and, on the other, are adju- common in the early part of the last century. Conduct that is dicated with a degree of conservatism that seems at odds with not notorious (neither widely known nor discussed as scandalous) the views of a majority of FS members. One of these areas is and not disgraceful by modern standards (such as describing the off-duty use of social media, such as blogging and Facebook. romantic encounters on Facebook) can be alleged to be both According to AFSA’s latest survey, 15 percent of the 2,200 notorious and disgraceful in the case of an individual the depart- respondents either publish a blog or have a household mem- ment seeks to discipline, while ignored in dozens of similar cases. ber who does so. Seventy-six percent use Facebook or other State, in consultation with AFSA, affinity groups and oth- social media at least once a week. One can assume that these ers, should: numbers will rise. State’s policies governing the use of such media • More completely define and consolidate its regulations, both have not kept pace with these developments, and considerable in regard to personal behavior and to social media use. Rules confusion appears to exist, both within State and among FS blog- cannot be consistently applied if they are not specific. gers, over the rules. • Dramatically enhance the efficiency and speed of its review Issues have ranged from a regional security officer who incor- process for publications, or specifically exempt specific forms rectly asked all employees at post to report every foreign nation- of publishing (e.g., social media) from that process. al Facebook friend, and an ongoing debate about FS bloggers’ • Define the authorities responsible for social media moni- first amendment and free speech rights, to various complaints toring and rule enforcement. People should know who does, of career-related threats, often vague, directed by people of ques- or does not, have the authority to censor their writing, both at tionable authority toward publishers of blogs or their spouses. post and in the department. The State Department’s attitude toward the use of social media • Apply policies consistently. for personal purposes appears to be based on three general ideas, Where interpretation is key to enforcement — as in decid- all of which are valid: that the government has a right to pro- ing what constitutes disgraceful behavior — the rules should tect classified information; that the core FS mission can be ham- either clearly describe the department’s interpretation, or offi- pered if employees embarrass themselves or the United States; cially designate a single body or office to make the call. To pro- and that certain (and often apparently innocuous) disclosures mote decisions more reflective of modern viewpoints, that body of information can potentially hurt both the security of indi- should consist of a diverse selection of FS members. (The pro- viduals and national security. State’s policy can be found in the priety of blog postings should be judged by people familiar with Foreign Affairs Manual at 5 FAM 792, which also references other our realities, and regularly rotating FS members through an office relevant sections. or review panel reduces the risk of outdated viewpoints taking Problems arise when these ideas are incompletely defined, root.) inconsistently applied or applied in ways that appear inconsis- These are my thoughts on this issue. What are yours? tent with 21st-century viewpoints and realities. They are com- AFSA’s advice for social media users can also be found on plicated by the fact that those who write the rules for social media the Web site at: www.afsa.org/MemberServices/MemberGuid usage are not the ones who enforce them. Importantly, State’s ance/SocialMediaGuidance. J

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 51 A F V.P. VOICE: FCS I BY KEITH CURTIS S Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA FCS VP. A Counting Our Blessings a strong director general position in Am- bassador Chuck Ford and we have helped N hile we face some of the biggest challenges we have seen strengthen our personnel and budget. E in 20 years, I would like to take a moment to pat our- Much of this is thanks to the strong and W Wselves on the back. The effectiveness of AFSA over the inclusive leadership that Pres. Johnson has S last couple of years, under the leadership of President Susan shown, always thinking not only of the Johnson, has been extraordinary. We have a strong organization voice of State but also of the smaller agencies. Sometimes I won- running a surplus, and our membership has reached 16,000 — der why we can manage this but State and FCS management can- the largest in our history. not seem to work as a unit. As I said in my last column, the “eco- We have recently shown how pointed and effective we can be nomic statecraft” of State has sewn confusion, and management by sending more than 3,000 letters that helped United Airlines failed to demonstrate teamwork across our agencies. Can’t man- see the error in its pet policy, and have made very significant strides agement at least make sure that cables that go out to the world in protecting the professionalism of the Foreign Service. Under on commercial issues are cleared by both agencies? I remember Executive Director Ian Houston’s able leadership, AFSA has put when that used to be a common courtesy. together an excellent speaker series that allows us to promote our All that said, at home in the International Trade Agency at cause and rank among the “heavy hitters” in the foreign policy Commerce, we face the biggest challenge to FCS since our cre- field. ation: a proposed reorganization that could dismantle the On Capitol Hill, we have defended the first two tranches of Commercial Service. (Gird your loins, as we will need to make the Overseas Comparability Pay, protecting the 16 percent salary some big decisions on this one). Still, it is heartening to think, increase for regular FSOs. On the FCS side, our diligent action as we face challenge after challenge, we are an organization with on the Hill with our stakeholders over the last two years is most- proven effectiveness and real power. So for the moment, at least ly responsible for an extra $25 million in funding. We established let us count our blessings. J

V.P. VOICE: VP RETIREES I BY MARY ELLEN GILROY Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA RETIREE VP. Something New and Different

eturning to State for Foreign Affairs Day 2012 was both programs or no program at all. Those familiar and strange. It was great catching up with old assigned to Washington may or may not Rfriends and discovering I had not forgotten how to navi- have mentors or, if they do, their mentors gate the halls. However, listening to Under Secretary for may not have the time for mundane questions about FS life. Management Pat Kennedy’s briefing on the “State of State” made The Washington Post used to publish an advice column for me realize how much has changed since I retired at the end of apartment renters. The first time I read it, I was appalled at how 2009. The fundamentals of diplomacy may still be the same, but basic it was — how to furnish an apartment, how to buy clean- how we carry it out is not exactly the same. ing products. Then it dawned on me: so many young profes- AFSA President Susan Johnson’s May 2012 Foreign Service sionals starting out are far from home and have never lived in apart- Journal column, “Time for FSOs to Stand Up for the Foreign ments. Suddenly the column didn’t seem so useless to me. Service,” touched a chord for many of us. When I joined the The Foreign Service is like that for new hires who do not have Foreign Service in 1983, the U.S. Information Agency still followed the benefit of family or friends who served before them. It’s one the practice of rotating junior officer trainees through each sec- thing to pass the tests and read the blogs, but even the most gift- tion of the embassy. My time spent in the U.S. Agency for ed graduate of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service might International Development, the military sales office, management lack some basic overseas life skills. and all the other sections of the embassy, was an extraordinary Thinking about Kennedy’s remarks and Susan Johnson’s call learning experience. It also accelerated my understanding of the for reconsideration of professional education and training, I won- breadth and depth of the work of the mission. Shortages of bud- der if we need something new and a little different: a volunteer corps get, staffing and time ended the apprenticeship junior officer trainee of retirees serving as mentors to new FS employees and family mem- tour: and it’s not coming back. bers. We might not be able to talk about current career path strate- Now, many posts have active programs to give entry-level pro- gies, but we can offer some common-sense advice. If you like the fessionals an opportunity to learn something of our craft outside idea of a volunteer former FS mentoring corps or you have a their current job descriptions. However, some posts have less active better idea, please let me know at [email protected]. J

52 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 A 2012 AFSA CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARD WINNERS F Profiles of award winners compiled by Donna Ayerst. S A William R. Rivkin Award N FOR A MID-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER E Joshua Polacheck W S

here is a common perception among many Foreign cations. These choices send a message of distrust to Service officers, particularly those who have served at the people of our host nations.” He went on to argue that Tcritical threat posts around the world, that security “the siege mentality and isolation” play into the “goals of restrictions imposed by the Department of State hinder their many terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida and ability to perform their mission. Joshua Polacheck, this year’s Hezbollah.” winner of the prestigious William R. Rivkin Award for “Transnational nihilistic terrorist movements use impro- Constructive Dissent, had the courage to take up that issue. vised explosive devices. These bombs are not weapons of war; they are weapons of terror. Nobody is aiming them; they’ll kill whoever happens to be there — the woman, or the child, or the elder,” he reflects. No stranger to danger and risk, Josh survived the detonation of a roadside bomb under the vehicle in which he was riding while serving in Mosul in 2007. Yet he believes that as security tightens, diplomacy suffers. A young boy from Heywar, Moreover, the balance is lost. Erbil, meets Josh Polachek. “Adopting an approach of consis- tently erring on the side of caution empowers everyone to Josh Polachek (right) speaks with the local council in Hatra, Iraq. tighten security while, often, no one is empowered to signifi- Having begun his FS career in 2003 as a public diplomacy cantly loosen it,” Josh states. officer in Harare, Josh quickly came to the conclusion that it is He offers two suggestions: The department’s Office of “imperative that our diplomats have the ability to reach out, Policy Planning should perform an in-depth review of our interact and engage with the people of the country in which worldwide security policy; and FS personnel should be they serve, not only the traditional elites.” allowed to take personal responsibility for their own actions. During assignments in Harare, Santo Domingo, the U.S. “Approximately one-third of A-100 classes have served in mission to the United Nations, the Provincial Reconstruction Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen or Pakistan. There are plenty of Team in Ninewah, Beirut and Islamabad, Polacheck has seen FSOs open to personal responsibility regarding risk; they the effects of barricaded embassies and barricaded mentalities understand the world is a dangerous place, but they accept it on the diplomatic process. While mindful of security con- and are willing to volunteer,” Polacheck observes. cerns, he maintains that when such obstacles keep our person- The nomination cites the department’s response, which nel from explaining our mission, political, social and other asserted that the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development problems often errupt. Review process was addressing many of the points he had Since the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es raised. It also said that his cable furnished important input Salaam and Nairobi, and especially in the post-9/11 era, Josh for the discussion. points out that the “new normal” to build embassies with high When asked what spurred him to act, Josh replies simply, walls and push our presence out to places beyond city centers “I felt someone needed to say it.” He went on to add that the has, literally, closed the “openness of American values.” department needs to find the balance between security and In his dissent message, Josh notes: “In an attempt at perfect risk. “We need to reconsider what is our mission and what is security, we made a series of choices with grave policy impli- an acceptable level of risk and go from there.” J

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 53 A F 2012 AFSA OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS S A The Nelson B. Delavan Award The M. Juanita Guess Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR A COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICE COORDINATOR N E James R. Velez Sara Butler W S hile assigned to the German-led Regional Command ach year, AFSA singles out a Community Liaison Office North headquarters platform in Mazar-e-Sharif, Coordinator for his or her job performance during the WAfghanistan, Office Management Specialist Jim Velez Eprevious year. This is no easy task. The exceptional put his previous 26 years of experience serving in the U.S. Army, nature of the job tends to attract outstanding individuals. followed by Foreign Service assignments to Baghdad, Jakarta and AFSA looks for one CLO who has been not only willing and Brussels, to good use. He took on many of the functions of a able to take on the many challenges the position presents, but facilities manager, assistant general services officer, translator and somehow manages to do it all and more. morale booster. Sara Butler proved her mettle by re-establishing the Community Liaison Office in earthquake-devas- tated Port-au- Prince and, in so doing, trans- formed the quality Sara Butler plays with a child at the Rose Mina of life for those Orphanage. assigned there. That was no small task given the extent of the damage and the Jim Velez with his trusty vehicle, Max. fact that it is her first Foreign Service post. Information and resource management — skills she honed “It wasn’t long after my arrival before I realized that my mili- as a congressional aide on Capitol Hill — proved to be among tary background would serve me well in this unique operational Sara’s strong suits. She effectively collected a wealth of informa- environment. The offices and residences of the U.S. senior civil- tion on Haiti for newly assigned personnel and those considering ian representative required frequent facilities maintenance-type bidding. She also revitalized the CLO intranet site; directed a support and liaison with a variety of German and NATO offices post video providing a realistic picture of what people can expect located throughout the large base,” Velez adds. at post; and revised and produced new material on Port-au- The German air base, Camp Marmal, serves as the platform Prince for the Overseas Briefing Center. for five subordinate Provincial Reconstruction Teams. Prior to Another particularly noteworthy endeavor was the CLO Velez’s arrival, there had been tension between U.S. personnel Yellow Pages. After the quake destroyed landlines, many busi- and their North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners, mostly nesses were forced to switch to cell phones. Sara, along with due to lack of proficiency in German. “Velez’s fluency in the Quisha Calixte, the locally engaged staff administrative assistant language, combined with his profound understanding of the in the CLO office, spent three months canvassing local business- command structures of the U.S. military and NATO organiza- es, collecting more than 250 listings. tions, allowed him to actively engage our NATO counterparts, Sara has proven to be a strong advocate for community thereby vastly improving the relationship,” the nomination needs during the rebuilding phase of the mission. The manage- states. ment section relied on her innate ability to consider the needs of Establishing rapport with key German maintenance person- others and to gauge the effect management decisions could have nel allowed Velez to respond to any issues or problems affecting on post morale. These skills were essential, given high personnel chief-of-mission personnel, whatever the hour. He had some- turnover and a 40-percent loss of post housing stock. one there when the heating systems in the residential containers Sara’s perspective says it all: “It can be easy at hardship posts went out, when satellite problems arose, the cable systems need- to focus on what is not available. I really wanted to embrace the ed repair and when supplies were offloaded from embassy cargo challenge of finding creative ways to organize events and activi- planes. He even found someone to assemble bicycles for staff ties within Haiti’s parameters.” A Habitat for Humanity project, Continued on page 59 Continued on page 58

54 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 A F S The Avis Bohlen Award AFSA Post Representative A FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER of the Year N Leila Gupta Jeff J. Jacob E W he Avis Bohlen Award honors the volunteer work of a t takes all kinds of people to volunteer to be an AFSA post S Foreign Service family member. As a result of Leila representative. Generally speaking, someone with an outgo- TGupta’s efforts, a dilapidated school in one of Kenya’s Iing personality would be the first type to come to mind. But largest slums has been transformed, a library has been estab- this year’s AFSA Post Representative of the Year, Jeff Jacob, dis- lished and a clinic has opened its doors, offering Kenyans and pels that image. A modest, self-effacing, private kind of guy, he expatriates alike mental health care. is also a man with a mission. Leila’s professional credentials as a trauma and grief consul- From 2008 to 2009, Jacob’s first tant read like a disaster junkie’s bucket list: Rwanda in the wake assignment with the Bureau of of the 1994 genocide; Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of Diplomatic Security was in their Kabul; Sierra Leone following the rebel invasion; Ethiopia and New York field office. He then Chad with HIV/AIDS orphans; and Haiti following the 2010 traveled to Kabul, where he served earthquake. from 2011 to 2012, and will be She joined the State Department as an eligible family member moving on to Manila this month. in 2002 with her husband, Jay Zimmerman. They have been Before joining DS, Jacob served posted to Ndjamena, Port-au-Prince and Nairobi, where they on the New Orleans police force, a have been residing since 2008. job that also required working with When Leila first visited Casa Upendo School in Mathare communities. So when the post Valley shortly after arriving in Nairobi, she was confronted with rep position in Kabul became Jeff J. Jacob, winner of AFSA impoverished children playing in filth and a school in name vacant, he volunteered. Post Representative of the Year only. The structure Jacob instigated an AFSA mem- Award. was dilapidated, bership drive — sending out mass learning materials e-mailings and making personal appeals — successfully adding were nonexistent new members from Kabul to the association’s roster. and teachers had lit- As a result of his tenure tle understanding of as post rep, a number of A number of individuals curriculum develop- individuals benefited from ment. his proactive support during benefited from his proactive “I found it a variety of personal prob- support during a variety extremely distressing lems. By steering his con- of personal problems. Leila Gupta reads to students at the Casa Upendo to see 275 children stituents to AFSA’s labor School. crowded together in management office, he small, dark class- helped them cope with such complicated issues as discrimina- rooms sitting on broken benches and muddy floors without a tion, overtime pay and eligible family member employment. pencil, slate or exercise book,” she explained. “Even more strik- His commitment to his role as AFSA rep did not end when ing was the total absence of textbooks, teaching materials or he went on R&R. Jacob continued to respond to AFSA emails. books of any kind in any of the 10 classrooms from kindergarten And nearing the end of his time at post, he sought volunteers to to 8th grade.” replace him as post rep. The experience spurred her to action. To raise awareness of Commenting on his post rep role, Jacob said, “I found it very the deplorable conditions of the school, she e-mailed relatives, satisfying to help people in the community.” He describes his friends and mission colleagues soliciting donations to renovate position as “serving as the middle-man” between AFSA and the building and establish a library. members at post by keeping them abreast of association infor- Working with Bishop Bernard Wambala, a respected Kenyan mation, which requires frequent updates. He modestly charac- community leader; Pastor Sammy, the school director; and terizes his role as the initial point of contact, with AFSA staff pro- donations from the embassy community and others, Leila con- viding all of the support and guidance. tracted local carpenters and laborers to renovate the structure “I am glad I took the job, and I look forward to being active Continued on page 59 and helpful in the association at my next post,” he concluded. J

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 55 A F S 2012 AFSA Merit Award Winners A BY LORI DEC, SCHOLARSHIP DIRECTOR FSA is proud to announce the 26 Foreign Service high school seniors applicants were judged on their art submission, two letters of recom- N who were selected as the winners of the 2012 AFSA Merit Awards mendation and an essay. Victoria Laney was selected as the Art Merit Award ACompetition. These one-time-only awards, totaling $40,500, were winner for her visual art submissions. Elizabeth Dunham and Moira Sims E conferred on Washington, D.C.-area winners on May 4. AFSA congrat- were selected as the Art Merit Honorable Mention Award winners for their W ulates these students for their academic and artistic achievements. visual art submissions. Winners receive $2,000 awards, and Honorable Mention winners receive Eight academic merit named scholarships have been established to S $1,000 and $750 awards. The best-essay winner and the community ser- date. These awards were bestowed on the highest-scoring students: Bridget vice winner each receive $500. Judges are members of AFSA’s Scholarship Jamison received the Association of the American Foreign Service Committee, chaired by Ambassador Lange Schermerhorn and made up Worldwide Scholarship; Lucinda Chu-Ketterer received the John and of individuals from the Foreign Service community. Priscilla Becker Family Scholarship; Rose Hinman and Bradley Raynor This year, 70 students competed for the 15 Academic Merit Awards. received the Turner C. Cameron Memorial Scholarships; Charlotte Ellison They were judged on grade point average, standardized test scores, an essay, received the John C. Leary Memorial Scholarship; Shannon Ball and Basil two letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and any special Smitham received the Joanna and Robert Martin Scholarships; and circumstances. From the Academic Merit Award applicants, Nora Kirkham Marshall Richards received the Donald S. Memorial and Maria Giuseppa was selected best-essay winner, and Christina McGuire was selected as com- Spigler Award. munity service winner. For more information on the AFSA Merit Awards, the AFSA Scholarship Nine students submitted art merit applications under one of the fol- Program, or how to establish or apply for a scholarship, please contact Lori lowing categories: visual arts, musical arts, drama or creative writing. Art Dec at (202) 944-5504 or [email protected], or visit www.afsa.org/scholar.

Academic Merit Winners

Shannon Ball – daughter of Madeline Carwile – daugh- Lucinda Chu-Ketterer – Charlotte Ellison – daughter Elizabeth Goldrup – daugh- Douglas Ball (USAID) and ter of John Carwile (State) daughter of Keith Ketterer of D. Kevin Ellison (State) and ter of Stephen Goldrup Janet Ball; graduated from and Karin Hauschild; graduat- (State) and Jeanette Chu Marie-Christine Ellison; graduat- (State) and Nicole Price; grad- the American Community ed from the American (FCS); graduated from George ed from Lake Braddock uated from the International School, Amman, Jordan; Overseas School of Rome, Mason High School, Falls Secondary School, Burke, Va.; School of Beijing, China; attending Tufts University, Italy; attending Rhodes Church, Va.; attending Pitzer attending the University of attending Brigham Young majoring in international College, majoring in biology. College, majoring in chemistry; Virginia, majoring in mathemat- University, majoring in studio relations; designated the designated the John and ics and art; designated the art. Joanna and Robert Martin Priscilla Becker Family Scholar. John C. Leary Memorial Scholar. Scholar.

Bridget Jamison – daughter Bradley Raynor – son of Marshall Richards – son of Amelia Smith – daughter of Basil Smitham – son of of Jeffrey Jamison (State) and Michael Raynor (State) and Robert Richards (State) and Matthew Smith (State) and Thomas Smitham (State) and Shannon Jamison; graduated Kathleen Raynor; graduated Cynthia Richards (State); Susan Smith; graduated from Alexandra Maduros; graduat- from James Madison High from Our Lady of Good graduated from George the American Community ed from Walt Whitman High School, Vienna, Va.; attending Counsel High School, Olney, Mason High School, Falls School, Amman, Jordan; School, Bethesda, Md.; Barnard College, majoring in Md.; attending Kenyon Church, Va.; attending The attending the Massachusetts attending Yale University, dance and history; designated College, majoring in interna- College of William and Mary, Institute of Technology, majoring in physics; designat- the Associates of the tional studies; designated the majoring in Chinese studies; majoring in physics. ed the Joanna and Robert American Foreign Service Turner C. Cameron Memorial designated the Donald S. Martin Scholar. Worldwide Scholar. Scholar. Memorial and Maria Giuseppa Spigler Scholar.

56 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 A F Scholarship Winners Honored PMA Funds $3,000 AFSA Scholarship S mb. Lange Schermerhorn (left), AFSA Scholarship Committee A On May 4, eight local chairwoman, thanks attendees for their generous donations to winners of the Merit A AFSA’s scholarship fund at the Public Members Association N of the Foreign Service luncheon on May 3, as PMA President Carmen Awards were hon- E Delgado listens. ored at AFSA. Top W row, left to right: S Bradley Raynor, Marshall Richards,

Basil Smitham and AYERST DONNA Betina Van Meter. Front row, left to right: Chairwoman of AFSA Scholarship Committee Ambassador Lange Schermerhorn, Lucinda Chu-Ketterer, Charlotte Ellison, Kathryn Hornbeck, Molly Nesemann and AFSA President Susan Johnson.

Academic Merit Award Honorable Mention Winners Torrence Delawie – daughter of Gregory Delawie (State) and Vonda Delawie (State); graduated from the Berlin Brandenburg International School, Brandenburg, Germany; attending the California Institute of Technology, majoring in computer science. Adriana Larsen – daughter of Jon Larsen (State) and Jennifer Barber; graduated from West Creek High School, Clarksville, Tenn.; attending Auburn University, majoring in physical therapy. Molly Nesemann – daughter of Michael Nesemann (State) and Susan Nesemann; graduated from George Mason High School, Falls Church, Va.; attending the University of Virginia, with no declared major. Jack Smith – son of Dean Smith (State) and Alison Toledo; graduated from Lake Oswego High School, Lake Oswego, Ore.; Rose Hinman – daughter of Kathryn Hornbeck – Jeremy Hyde – son of attending the University of Virginia, majoring in engineering. Richard Hinman (State) and daughter of Robert Hornbeck Andrew Hyde (State) and Reia Tong – daughter of Kurt Tong (State) and Mika Tong; Josephine Hinman (State); (State) and Joan Andrews Diana Rowen (State); gradu- graduated from Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, Md.; graduated from the American (State); graduated from ated from the American attending Brown University, majoring in architecture. Community School of James Madison High School, International School of Michael Winnick – son of Seth Winnick (State) and Cindy Amman, Jordan; attending Vienna, Va.; attending the Vienna, Austria; attending Winnick; graduated from the John F. Kennedy School, Berlin, Columbia University, major- University of Miami, majoring Carnegie Mellon University, Germany; attending the University of Pennsylvania, with no ing in Russian; designated in marine science. majoring in physics. declared major. the Turner C. Cameron Memorial Scholar. Art Merit Award Winner Victoria Laney – daughter of Bridget Tambe (State); graduated from the International School of Tanganyika, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; attending Johns Hopkins University, majoring in biology. Art Merit Award Honorable Mention Winners Elizabeth Dunham – daughter Moria Sims – daughter of of John Dunham (State) and Marco Sims (State) and Karen Marya Dunham; graduated from Morrissey (State); graduated the American Embassy School, from Istanbul International New Delhi, India; attending the Community School, Turkey; New College of Florida, with attending Pratt Institute, no declared major. majoring in photography. Community Service Award Winner Quincey Szymeczek – Betina Van Meter – daugh- Christina McGuire – daughter of John McGuire (State) and daughter of Jerzy Szymeczek ter of Joseph Van Meter Suzanne McGuire (State); graduated from the International School and Sherrie Szymeczek (USAID ) and Martine Van of Manila, Philippines; attending Connecticut College, majoring in (State); graduated from Meter; graduated from South human development. TASIS, The American School Lakes High School, Reston, in England, Thorpe, England; Va.; attending the University Best Essay Award Winner attending American of Twente, The Netherlands, Nora Kirkham – daughter of Keith Kirkham (FCS) and Beth University, majoring in inter- majoring in industrial design. Kirkham; graduated from the American International School of national studies. Bucharest, Romania; attending Gordon College, majoring in interna- tional affairs.

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 57 A F S AFSA Bestows AFSANEWSBRIEFS A the 2012 Kennan FSYF Scholarship Merit Award The Foreign Service Youth Foundation congratulates Reia Tong, this year’s recipient of the N Writing Award FSYF 2012 Scholarship Merit Award, sponsored by GEICO and the FSYF. Reia, 18, is the E n June 1, at a ceremony at the daughter of Mika and Kurt Tong, currently assigned to Tokyo. She graduated from Walt W National War College at Fort Whitman High School in Bethesda, Md., in June. In her free time, Reia enjoys outdoor S McNair, AFSA Governing Board activities, swimming, painting and traveling to new places with her family — she has already O lived in Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul. She will attend Brown University in the fall, where she will Retiree Representative Hugh Neighbour major in architectural studies. and NWC Commandant Rear Admiral Reia will receive a cash award of $4,000 and will be honored at the FSYF Youth Awards Douglas J. McAneny announced this Ceremony, held in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State on Friday, July 20. year’s winner of the George F. Kennan For information on the 2013 FSYF Scholarship Merit Award, please contact [email protected]. Strategic Writing Award. AFSA has long sponsored this award, which recognizes the 52nd Annual AAFSW Art & Bookfair best paper written by a State Department The 52nd annual Art & BookFair of the Associates of the American Foreign Service employee at the War College. Worldwide will take place from Friday, Oct. 12, through Sunday, Oct. 21. The event will be FSO Michael S. Dixon, this year’s win- held in the Diplomatic Exhibit Hall of the Harry S Truman Building. The fair will feature ner, was nominated by two separate pro- books, art, collectibles, stamps and coins from all over the world. fessors for two outstanding essays: All proceeds benefit Foreign Service families and the AAFSW Scholarship Fund. Donations — especially rare books, art items, stamps and coins — are now being accepted. “Afghanistan’s Mineral Wealth: Can It For donation pickup, please call (202) 223-5796 or e-mail [email protected]. If you Eliminate the Need for Foreign Assistance?” would like to volunteer to help at the event, please contact Judy Felt at (703) 370-1414. J and “A Critique of Russia’s Use of Economic, Informational, Diplomatic and Arab Spring • Continued from page 49 Non-Kinetic Military Instruments in the After the presentations, an overflow Run-Up to the August 2008 Russia- to have lived in Libya before the revolution crowd posed thoughtful questions to the Georgia War.” to appreciate the “psychological, econom- panelists, many of which addressed how Mr. Dixon is a political officer whose ical and governing impact” of Gaddafi’s Foreign Service personnel operated under most recent assignment was as deputy regime, which he described as being “like such challenging conditions. political-economic counselor and senior cancer.” In their responses, as in their remarks, economic officer in Prague. Following Ms. Taylor, currently an international all three panelists were optimistic about the studies at the War College, he is headed affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign region’s prospects, though they noted that to Astana as political-economic counselor. Relations, described Tunisian President Zine progress may be slow and uneven. As Amb. He has served in Cyprus, Ukraine, El Abidine Ben Ali’s strenuous efforts to por- Cretz remarked, the Arab Spring reflects a Poland, Turkmenistan and in the Office tray his country as a “tourist haven.” But as pent-up desire by the people of all these of the European Union and Regional Embassy Tunis reported, beneath the sur- countries to rule themselves that cannot be Affairs. Before joining the Foreign Ser- face “the model had a lot of cracks.” reversed. J vice, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer. In other writing awards, FSO Greg M. Juanita Guess Award • Continued from page 54 Macris took first place in the strategic essay involving 25 embassy volunteers over a span of three months, is just one of several suc- category of the Chairman of the Joint cessful projects Sara organized. Chiefs and Secretary of Defense contest. Together with Anna Lason, the mission’s FS health practitioner, Sara helped to estab- AFSA members Andrew Erickson and lish a fitness calendar of activities that has resulted in a corps of volunteers organizing Paul Avallone won National Defense everything from soccer to tennis tournaments. University Foundation awards. And Since the 2010 earthquake, there has been a fivefold increase in the number of youth AFSA member Marc D. Koehler won a at post, so Sara secured volunteers to teach children’s music and swim lessons and Dr. Frank Trager Faculty and Alumni championed a management initiative to procure a playground. Award, sponsored by the NWC Alumni “One of the highlights of my time at post was installation of the children’s play- Association. ground,” said Sara. “There were six children at post when I arrived, and now there are Kennan Award winners receive a cer- 31 kids. The playground became a symbol of continued efforts to transition back to tificate and a prize of $250, intended for normal embassy operations.” the purchase of scholarly books. To learn When asked what this award means to her, Sarah’s response typifies the more about the award, please go to www. kind of person she is: “Above all, I’m just really grateful for all our community afsa.org/kennan_writing_award.aspx. J accomplished under very difficult circumstances.” J

58 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 A F Delavan Award • Continued from page 54 Bohlen Award • Continued from page 55 members. He served as a one-man Angie’s List, ensuring that and build school benches and blackboards. S the platform had the capability to successfully carry forth its In April 2011, the first and only library in Mathare Valley A mission goals. opened, boasting 1,200 donated books and teaching materials In his role as OMS, Velez established standard office proce- used by students and teachers from five neighboring schools N dures in an office that had not previously had a full-time in the community. To make better use of the new materials E administrative specialist. He responded to requests from and resources, Leila brought in an expat librarian to train the W Embassy Kabul for personnel accountability, provided charts school staff. S of deployed field personnel, and coordinated the sensitive To top it all off, to help lower school fees, she bought three delivery of personal mail items to PRT-based staff. sewing machines, taught a group of widows to sew and gave Taking on the role of a community liaison officer, Velez them loans to buy fabric. Students may now buy uniforms coordinated official lunches, hail and farewells, and the first- from the widows at an affordable cost. ever Mazar-e-Sharif consular corps representational event at a Recognizing the need for mental health care, Leila opened local downtown restaurant. By meeting individually with her own clinic in Nairobi in 2010 (at the time she was working numerous foreign diplomats, he was able to garner support as a consular assistant in the embassy). As many of her for an event that has become so popular it is now held patients have experienced extreme trauma or grief, she orga- monthly and sponsored by other diplomatic missions. nized free training for 92 Kenyan counselors and mental There is no doubt that the professionalism, enthusiasm health providers on “Grief and Trauma Interventions for and dedication Velez put into his time in Mazar-e-Sharif, fre- Children.” quently under arduous and dangerous conditions, make him As the nomination states, Leila will leave an “overwhelm- a superb choice for the Nelson B. Delavan Award. J ing legacy” when she departs Kenya. J

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60 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 A F CORPORATE APARTMENT SPECIALISTS: Abundant experience CONVERTED 19TH-CENTURY Amish barn with exposed oak S working with Foreign Service professionals and the locations to best beams for sale in Shipcarpenter Square, Lewes, Del. Ground floor: A serve you: Foggy Bottom, Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Chevy handicapped-accessible bedroom/ bathroom suite and sun room. Chase, Rosslyn, Ballston, Pentagon City. Our office is a short walk 2nd floor: 3 bedrooms, play area, full bath. $795,000. Contact Bill from NFATC. One-month minimum. All furnishings, housewares, Peiffer, Sotheby’s International Realty MLS 592416. N utilities, telephone and cable included. Tel: (302) 542-9318. E-mail: [email protected] E Tel: (703) 979-2830 or (800) 914-2802. Fax: (703) 979-2813. E-mail: [email protected] SARASOTA, FLA. 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JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 61 BOOKS

Lessons Unlearned Afghanistan and lack of understand- The history ing of Islam and the Muslim world, to Washington’s de facto outsourcing of The Wars of Afghanistan: Tomsen recounts Messianic Terrorism, Tribal is so breathtakingly Afghanistan policy to Pakistan via the Conflicts and the Failures CIA and the military, and the result- of Great Powers outrageous that ing divergence between official U.S. Peter Tomsen, PublicAffairs Books, no one could pronouncements and actions in the 2011, $39.99, hardcover, 849 pages. make it up. field — the story of the U.S. misad- venture in the Afghan “shatter zone” REVIEWED BY SUSAN B. MAITRA is so breathtakingly outrageous that no one could possibly make it up. Barely two years before the pro- Tomsen brings history, hard-won in- jected final withdrawal of all U.S. com- envoy, with the rank of ambassador, to sights and a keen grasp of Afghan tribal bat forces from Afghanistan, the way the Afghanistan resistance from 1989 culture to bear in explaining the dy- out of America’s longest-running war to 1991, Tomsen was charged with im- namics of what he calls the Afghan po- seems far from clear. How and why plementing U.S. policy for the White litical cauldron. There each invader’s has it come to this? And what is U.S. House during the critical period in hubristic “we can play them” conceit policy in Afghanistan, anyway? which the anti-Soviet jihad turned into meets its rude and inevitable demise. Retired Ambassador Peter Tomsen civil war, Pakistan became an interna- He recounts how the Soviet gov- addresses these fundamental ques- tional terrorist base, and the stage was ernment was sucked into that caul- tions in a compelling narrative that set for the fateful U.S. invasion. dron lock, stock and barrel — the gives legs to the old adage that truth is The career diplomat came to the Politburo’s time-tested bag of tricks for often stranger than fiction. job well prepared. As deputy chief of controlling East European satraps From the first chapter, a dramatic mission in Beijing from 1984 to 1988, thrown back in its face and its own in- account of President Mohammad Na- Tomsen had been engaged, among telligence agencies turned into the jibullah’s attempt to flee Kabul in 1992 other things, on the Afghanistan issue. competing servants of a tribal power as his regime crumbled, the reader is Before that, as a political officer in struggle in Kabul. swept into the tragedy and complexity Moscow from 1977 to 1979, he had That story is arresting enough. But of the past three decades in Afghani- witnessed the lead-up to the porten- the detailed record he presents of stan and the broad pattern of that tous Soviet invasion. America’s dive into the very same abyss country’s encounters with foreign Still earlier, he’d lived in South Asia — the result of militant ignorance, bu- powers over centuries. for seven years, five as political officer reaucratic stovepiping and a bad, Cold What makes this 849-page tome so in India and two as a Peace Corps Vol- War-related habit of deference to the vital — and important — is that the unteer in a Nepali village. So he knew Pakistan military’s InterServices Intel- author was directly involved in the the territory. ligence organization — is, frankly, em- drama and has personal relationships The trouble for Tomsen was that it barrassing. (Who can forget the ISI’s with many of the principal actors. As was hard to know what U.S. policy re- champion, the extremist Gulbuddin President Ronald Reagan’s special ally was. From official ignorance of Hekmatyar, who was on the verge of

62 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 B OOKS

In Everyone’s human rights and their promotion stand and fall on their own, irrespec- The Wars of Afghanistan Interest tive of utility. That’s not to deny that diplomats is a timely look at the Religious Freedom: will also find a national interest in pro- Why Now? Defending moting religious freedom. States that an Embattled Right realities of making respect religious freedom tend not to Timothy Samuel Shah and Matthew incubate terrorism, while those that J. Franck, Witherspoon Institute, and implementing 2012, $9.95, paperback, 86 pages. repress it generally do. In any case, the demand for reli- foreign policy. REVIEWED BY JOHN M. GRONDELSKI gious freedom isn’t going away any- time soon. As Shah and Franck Even a cursory survey of current observe: “In virtually every part of the events indicates that religion is under- world, religious actors increasingly going a global resurgence. In fact, as seek to enjoy the right to exist, organ- “winning” Kabul throughout the co-authors Timothy Samuel Shah and ize and influence public opinion and 1990s, while billions of taxpayer dollars Matthew J. Franck put it in Religious political decisions on the same basis as were allocated to the cause?) And our Freedom: Why Now? Defending an non-religious actors.” policy’s negative impact on the region, Embattled Right: “What needs special They continue: “The future of nu- not to mention the struggle against Is- explanation is not the resurgence of merous societies of strategic impor- lamic terrorism, is sobering. religion in the last 50 years or so, but tance to the United States — in- Because the lessons Tomsen iden- the paroxysm — often violent — of cluding China, India, Russia, Egypt, tifies stayed deliberately unlearned secularism that swept across the world Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Nigeria, through several administrations, one beginning with the French Revolution Afghanistan and Iran — will depend wonders: Is change possible at this in 1789, and had decisively receded in no small part on how they respond point? “The hour is late,” he writes in only by 1989.” to the insistent demands of their di- early 2011, but a U.S. policy based on So what does this trend signify for verse religious communities for free- facilitating a fundamental change in foreign affairs professionals? One dom and security.” If believers keep Pakistan’s policy, genuine Afghan cus- basic implication, according to this re- pressing their demands for freedom, tody of the war, and diplomatic re- port of the Task Force on Interna- America will have to take sides. gional and global reinforcement tional Religious Freedom, convened The task force focuses specific at- “could salvage some long-term success by Princeton’s Witherspoon Institute, tention on the Islamic world. For the in Afghanistan.” is the need to use diplomacy more ef- “moderate Islam” in which so many Sadly, it is still not clear that any fectively to defend and promote this Westerners put such faith to emerge, real change is at hand. basic right. there must be political space. And if a Though meticulously documented, The book first builds the case that regime favors just one sect of Islam, it The Wars of Afghanistan is no aca- religious freedom is a fundamental is unlikely to be a “moderate” one. demic work. It is an intimate, timely right, not some special pleading. It is In such cases, the country’s society look at the realities of making and im- intrinsic to human dignity because it will not develop the ability to peace- plementing foreign policy that should plumbs to the person’s most basic fully test divergent religious opinions. be required reading for anyone who rights: to define himself or herself, to And absent those natural release has anything to do with Afghanistan, relate to others and to live according valves, extremism grows. and for every student of U.S. foreign to the dictates of his conscience. America’s national interest clearly policy and international affairs. Thus, Foreign Service professionals lies in defending religious freedom, who hope to skip to the part detailing especially as the full impact of the Susan Brady Maitra is the Journal’s what diplomats should “do” about re- Arab Spring unfolds. Concretely, the Senior Editor. ligious freedom miss the point: basic report advocates nine major steps to

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 63 B OOKS

America’s national interest clearly lies in defending religious freedom around the world.

afford religious freedom “an appropri- ately robust status within the foreign policy community.” These include enhancing the role and resources of the Ambassador-at- Large for Religious Freedom; giving religious freedom policymakers ade- quate means and the discretion to nimbly target them; making religious freedom a functional subspecialty; building religious freedom strategies into annual mission planning pro- cesses; and putting a senior interna- tional religious freedom official at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Although densely written, the re- port argues effectively for a vigorous foreign policy defense of religious freedom — not only as a human rights www.facebook.com/fsjournal concern, but as a critical part of Amer- ica’s strategic interest. Such a per- spective could add vitality to State’s legally mandated mission to advance Like Us! this right. I John M. Grondelski is an FSO cur- rently studying Chinese for an assign- ment in Shanghai. He previously Get FSJ and AFSA Updates served in London, Warsaw, Bern and Washington, D.C.

64 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 IN MEMORY

Marguerite (Owens) Anderson, including “How to Run a Meeting,” 12, 1923, in Brookline, Mass., Mary 92, wife of the late Foreign Service of- and conducted a seminar on club pro- Buell graduated from St. Timothy’s ficer William Otto Anderson, died on gramming. School near Baltimore in 1940. After a Jan. 7 in Kensington, Md., her home The couple returned from Berlin year at Erskine Junior College in since 1960. and settled in the Kensington area in Boston, she became a cub reporter for Marguerite Anderson grew up in 1960. There Mrs. Anderson taught the Baltimore Sun. the St. Louis area and attended Mac- business courses at the former Ken- She spent most of the rest of her ca- Murray College in Jacksonville, Ill., sington Junior High and at Richard reer overseas, working for the Office of where she obtained a bachelor’s degree Montgomery High School. She work- Special Services in Ceylon from 1944 in business after switching from a ed as a legal secretary in several firms to 1945, for the U.S. military in Shang- music major (she was a pianist). Later, and wrote a number of business-re- hai from 1945 to 1946 and for the State she took teaching-related graduate lated pieces, including “How to Run a Department in Washington, Munich courses at the University of Maryland. Club.” and Bonn. She accompanied her husband to An active member of Business and In 1957, she married a fellow For- postings abroad for 20 years, including Professional Women, she twice served eign Service officer, Elim O’Shaugh- South Africa (where their twin sons as president of the Kensington chap- nessy, which required her to resign were born), Thailand, Singapore and ter. She also spoke to various groups, from the Service (the rules of the day Germany. Active in the community including her alma mater, to dash the dictated that no female FSO could be wherever she found herself, Mrs. An- myth that Americans overseas “live married). She accompanied her hus- derson helped start the American only unto themselves.” band on postings to Belgrade, where School in Singapore and taught fifth Mrs. Anderson was predeceased by their first two children were born; and sixth-grade classes there. She also her husband in 1964 and by her son, London, where their last child was helped start a school for Chinese Michael, in 2011. She is survived by born; and Budapest, where Mr. women to learn home economics and her daughter, Narda R. Anderson of O’Shaughnessy died in 1966. domestic skills and another that taught Reisterstown, Md.; a son, Mark W. An- As Mary O’Shaughnessy, she work- Chinese children to read. derson of Saint Augustine, Fla.; four ed as director of the Massachusetts In- In West Berlin, Mrs. Anderson was grandchildren and five great-grand- stitute of Technology conference cen- president of the American Women’s children. ter in Dedham, Mass., until she Club, chaired the American Red Cross married William A. Buell Jr. in 1969. Grey Ladies, and organized and taught  This second marriage to an FSO English and American customs to Ger- brought her four stepchildren and took man war brides. In addition, she Mary Buell, 89, a former FSO, her to Paris, Brussels, Washington and chaired the “Conference of American wife of the late FSO Elim O’Shaugh- back to Munich. Women’s Activities in Germany” held nessy and wife of the late FSO William In 1979, the Buells settled again in in Wiesbaden. She wrote and lectured A. Buell, died on May 12. Washington, D.C., when he became on business- and club-related activities, Born Mary Wilson Cutler on Feb. vice president of Radio Free Europe/

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Radio Liberty. Mrs. Buell worked for held several positions overseas. She Mr. Cohn was born in Brooklyn, the author and hostess Evangeline taught at a private university in Cara- N.Y., on July 29, 1923, the elder son of Bruce as a researcher and social secre- cas, tutored journalists at a major news- Nathan Cohn and Blanche Herc Cohn. tary, and was a founding board mem- paper in Zagreb, continued her studies After serving from 1943 to 1945 with ber of Sasha Bruce Youthwork. at Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. Army in India during World After she and her husband retired to Bologna, and established an SAT prep War II, he earned a B.A. degree in eco- Middletown, R.I., where he was raised, company in Rome. All the while, she nomics and political science from Dick- she became involved with Newport’s also managed the responsibilities that inson College in 1948. Redwood Library and St. Columba’s came with being the spouse of a U.S. He did postgraduate work at New Chapel, and with making their house a diplomat and raised three children. York University, the University of place that all her family loved. She was Upon returning to the United Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the widely admired throughout her life for States, she edited the corporate University of Miami, where he earned her beauty, style, wit, intelligence and newsletter for Vie de France, and then an M.A. in public administration and energy. Wherever she went, there was found her next passion advocating for was also an instructor. His master’s the- not a museum, ruin, cathedral, castle, homeless rights in Washington, D.C., sis focused on the integration of garden or play she didn’t want to see. at the Community Council for the African-American officers into the Mary Buell survived her husband, Homeless. Over eight years, Mrs. Call- Miami police force. Bill, by only seven months. She left a away championed a holistic approach Beginning his career with the U.S. sister, Diana Rowe; her children, Elise to the problem of homelessness, serv- Department of Commerce in 1951, of New York City and Middletown, ing as a board member and former de- Mr. Cohn joined the U.S. Foreign Nelson of Lake Tahoe, Nev., and So- velopment director at CCH at Friend- Service in 1956. During his long career phie O’Shaughnessy of San Francisco, ship Place in the District. as an economics officer, he held posts Calif.; and three of her four stepchil- Family and friends remember her in Istanbul, Paris, Karachi, Kabul and dren, Jeanne Rosen of Shutesbury, as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother Jakarta. In between overseas appoint- Mass., William A. Buell III of New and sister whose love of life, candor and ments, Mr. Cohn assumed various eco- York City, and John Buell of New intellect, guidance and constant sup- nomic and social policy advisory Haven, Conn.; as well as seven step- port have touched many around the positions at the Department of State in grandchildren. world. Washington, D.C. Mrs. Callaway is survived by her Following retirement, Mr. Cohn  husband, Gil, of Chevy Chase, Md.; settled in New York City. There he three children, Catherine of New York served on the vestry and as a warden of Susan Elizabeth Gilmour Call- City, Matthew (and his wife, Chris) of All Saints Episcopal Church from 1981 away, 72, the wife of retired FSO Gil Reston, Va., and Abigail (and her hus- to 1999. Callaway, died of pneumonia on Dec. band, Chad Charowhas) of Kensington, Mr. Cohn’s first wife, Verna (“Pete”) 29, 2011, at Sibley Hospital in Wash- Md.; three grandchildren, Claire, Ian Peterson, died in 1992. He is survived ington, D.C. She was a six-year sur- and Cyrus; a sister, Mary Jane Arnold by his second wife, Rosemarie Baioc- vivor of lung cancer. of Ellicot City, Md.; and a brother, Jim chi Cohn, as well as by four stepchil- Following her early passion for in- Gilmour (and his wife, Judy) of Swan- dren, four stepgrandsons and several ternational relations, Susan Callaway zey, N.H. nieces and nephews. earned her bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in international affairs   from American University. While pur- suing graduate studies, she wrote sev- David Herc Cohn, 88, a retired Robert Dodge Davis, 89, a retired eral books on foreign area studies for Foreign Service officer, died peacefully Foreign Service officer, died on March the U.S. Army. on March 1 in Laguna Hills, Calif., 3 in Wooster, Ohio. During her husband’s long career in where he had been residing since No- Mr. Davis attended the University the Foreign Service, Mrs. Callaway vember 2010 with his wife, Rosemarie. of Oklahoma and then spent three

66 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 I N M EMORY CHANGE OF ADDRESS Moving? years (1943-1946) in the U.S. Army as from Yale Law School in 1951 and from a rifleman and interpreter for the Al- the Harvard Graduate School of Public lied Military Government in Germany Administration in 1958. Take AFSA and France. He graduated from the Joining the State Department For- University of Oklahoma in 1947, and eign Service in 1952, Mr. Frost served With You! joined the Foreign Service the same overseas in Belgrade, Salzburg and Bad year. Godesberg. Because of the illness of From 1947 to 1957, Mr. Davis his first wife, Judith, he left the Foreign served in embassies in Germany, South Service in 1959, returning to New York Africa and Israel. He then took up So- City. There he re-entered legal prac- Change your address online, viet area and Russian language studies tice, specializing in management and at Harvard University, where he re- investments. visit us at http://www.afsa.org/ ceived his master’s degree in public ad- He later became president and then address_change.aspx ministration. chairman of the board of the Lucius N. Between 1960 and 1965, he was Littauer Foundation. Under his lead- Or posted to Bonn as first secretary and ership for three decades, the founda- Send change of address to: political officer for Berlin and commu- tion had a positive impact on hundreds AFSA Membership nist bloc affairs. He then served as of worthy Jewish, educational and civic Department deputy policy chief at the Voice of causes throughout the world. America in Washington, D.C., and at- Always interested in health issues, 2101 E Street NW tended the National War College Mr. Frost served as a member of the Washington, DC 20037 (Class of 1969). Public Health Council of the New From 1970 to 1974 he was deputy York State Department of Health chief of mission in Honduras; and from under Governor Hugh Carey from 1975 to 1978, he was DCM and politi- 1985 to 1987, and as treasurer and di- cal adviser in West Berlin. His last as- rector of the New York Heart Associ- signment before retiring was as ation. He was also a trustee of the diplomat-in-residence at the College of Brearley School, the Collegiate Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. School, Marlboro College and Rad- Mr. Davis’s wife, Marilyn F. Davis, cliffe College. died in March 2002. He is survived by As a student at Harvard, Mr. Frost his daughter, Ruth Davis Brown of had been the founding president of the Wooster, Ohio; two sons, Jonathan of college’s chapter of the Hillel Founda- Wooster, and Richardson of Palm Har- tion for Jewish Campus Life. Later, as bor, Fla.; and eight grandchildren. a graduate, he joined its visiting com- mittee and became honorary curator  and president of Judaica at Harvard University Library. He also served as a William Lee Frost, 84, a former member of the Visiting Committee to Foreign Service officer, died on Sept. Harvard Divinity School. 7, 2011, in New York City. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Frost was Mr. Frost was born in Larchmont, chair of the New York State Archives N.Y., to Charles and Eva Frost. He Partnership Trust. He was also the graduated from Bayside High School president and a director of the Jewish and served in the Navy during World Telegraphic Agency and a trustee of the War II before attending Harvard Col- PEF Israel Endowment Funds, Inc. lege, graduating in 1947. He graduated Friends, family and colleagues re-

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call Mr. Frost’s leadership, counsel and sador Robert Charles Hill, died peace- under President Dwight Eisenhower, friendship. His hobbies included ram- fully on April 1 at the Arbor Hospice and assistant secretary of Defense for bling — in the Rockies, around Man- in Ann Arbor, Mich., following a brief international security affairs under hattan and in Scotland — and singing. illness. Her youngest son, James Bow- President Richard Nixon. The couple Mr. Frost was predeceased by his doin Hill, was at her side. also kept a home in the White Moun- first wife, and is survived by their Cecelia Gardner was born on Dec. tains of New Hampshire throughout daughters Rebecca (and her husband, 7, 1920, in Baltimore, Md., the daugh- their marriage. Mohammad) and Hannah. He is also ter of Elinore McLane and William During her years abroad, Mrs. survived by his wife, Susan, and their Graham Bowdoin Jr. Privately tutored, Gardner fully engaged herself with the children Abigail (and her husband, she spent her childhood first in Balti- people of the various nations in which John) and Robert (and his wife, more, then in Aiken, S.C., Portland, they served. She attempted to repre- Navah), and five grandchildren. Maine, and Paris, France. sent the best qualities of U.S. culture: In lieu of flowers, donations may be On Dec. 1, 1945, she married empathy and sophistication. made to one of the institutions men- Robert Charles Hill of Littleton, Mrs. Gardner was an accomplished tioned above. N.H., and served at his side for 33 mid-Atlantic tennis champion and du- years at posts in Costa Rica, El Sal- plicate bridge player, and an excellent  vador, Mexico, Spain and Argentina, horsewoman. She also held member- as well as in Washington, D.C. Mr. ships in the Chevy Chase, Elkridge and Cecelia Gordon Bowdoin (Hill) Hill served as assistant secretary of Sulgrave clubs. Friends and family Gardner, 91, wife of the late Ambas- State for congressional relations members recall her as a faithful wife and beloved mother. Following Ambassador Hill’s death in 1978, she was married for 20 years AFSA Resource Marketplace to George Victor Gardner, a Roanoke, Find the Most-Requested Resources from the Va., attorney. The couple resided in Overseas Briefing Center Online at www.afsa.org/AFSAMarketplace Washington and Naples, Fla. Mr. 1. FSI’s Transition Center Gardner died in August 2010. 2. U.S. Department of State Overseas Briefing Center (OBC) Mrs. Gardner was predeceased by 3. Security Overseas Seminars: PSOS, ASOS, SAA, SOS, SOS her twin sister, Anne Graham Bow- 4. Transition Center Training home page for eligible family members doin, in 1921, and by her elder sister, and members of household (MOH) 5. International Jobs - Working Overseas Elinora Bowdoin Bolton, who died on 6. Country Information (Bidding Resources) Feb. 7 at the age of 93. 7. Transition Center Courses She is survived by her two sons, 8. Preparing to Go Overseas James Bowdoin Hill (and his wife, 9. Pets and International Travel 10. Foreign Service Assignment Notebook: What Do I Do Now? Laura) of Ann Arbor, Mich., and 11. U.S. Department of State Career Transition Center (CTC) William Graham Bowdoin Hill of 12. Personal Post Insights Richmond, Va.; four grandchildren, 13. Elementary School Stuff Douglas and Sean Hill of Ann Arbor, 14. Arrange Medical Clearance and Immunizations and Robert and George Hill of Buenos 15. High Stress Assignment Outbrief Program Aires, Argentina; two sisters, Jane Moody of Portland, Ore., and Dana Poole of New York City; a brother, Winthrop Smith of Gorham, Maine; and many nieces and nephews. Donations in her memory may be made to Old Saint Paul’s Church, Bal- timore, Md.

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Colleen M. Hart, 82, wife of the Hospice House in Florence, S.C., or traditional musicians in Taiwan, China, late FSO Richard R. Hart, died peace- the Cancer Society Brazil and Korea. fully on April 22 in Sarasota, Fla. One colleague recalls watching a Colleen Hart was born on Dec. 1,  (literally) fiery performance of Mr. 1929, in Stroh-LaGrange, Ind. She Jenks’ band Tianchuang (roughly, “Sky- married Richard R. Hart in July 1955 Darrell A. Jenks, 54, a retired For- light”) near an abandoned factory on and put him through Chinese studies eign Service officer, died on May 14 in the outskirts of Beijing that climaxed in by operating her own beauty salon. Baltimore, Md., after a yearlong strug- the burning of a giant stylized skylight, Thereafter, she followed him to Wash- gle with cancer. sending flames and sparks hundreds of ington, D.C., and provided elegant sup- Mr. Jenks received his bachelor’s de- feet into the air and leaving the audi- port to further his career as a Foreign gree in French from Reed College in ence stunned. Transformational diplo- Service officer. They served in Japan, 1979, and went on to earn an M.A. in macy at its most dramatic! Taiwan, Nepal, Hong Kong, Thailand political science from the University del The fiery skylight aptly symbolized and China. Zulia in Maracaibo, an M.A. in national the elemental nature of Mr. Jenks’ When Mr. Hart retired from the security and strategic studies from the spirit, this colleague recalls. He had the Foreign Service in 1984, the couple Naval War College and, later, a Ph.D. unnerving habit of diving into almost settled in Sarasota. There Mrs. Hart in the ethics of science fiction from any pool of water he came across: the was actively involved with the Sarasota Salve Regina University. Amazon, the glowing blue water at the Institute of Life Time Learning, be- In 1981, he entered the Foreign bottom of a copper mine, a black pool coming the longest-serving volunteer Service. During a 30-year diplomatic at the bottom of a cave, or a river in the after 27 fun-filled years. She was also a career, Mr. Jenks was posted to Belize Brazilian backwoods in the middle of member and volunteer at the Church (where he met his wife, Thelma), the night. of the Palms. Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Maracaibo, In the same spirit, he plunged into Colleen Hart was predeceased by Kaohsiung, Brasilia, Seoul and Maysan. cultures — Chinese, Brazilian, Tai- her husband of 55 years, Richard, in His last assignment was as director of wanese, Japanese. For Mr. Jenks, one 2010. the Foreign Service Institute Japanese colleague recalls, there was no such She is survived by three children, Language School in Yokohama, from thing as a boring place, or a boring per- FSO Amy Vrampas (and her husband, which he retired in 2011. son — he knew that if he persisted, if Cosmas) of Muscat, Oman; Scott Hart Fluent in French, Spanish, Por- he went a little deeper, he would find (and his wife, Leola) of Leicester, N.C.; tuguese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Korean the one thing that made that place, that Janmarie Chatlosh (and her husband, and Japanese, he also gained a working person, that culture fascinating. Jeff) of Florence, S.C.; six grandchil- knowledge of Arabic during a year Mr. Jenks is survived by his wife, dren, Jason Chatlosh (and his wife, leading a Provincial Reconstruction Thelma, of Baltimore; his daughter Meagan) and Justin Chatlosh of Flo- Team in Iraq. He received numerous Desiree, now an officer in the 82nd rence, S.C.; George and Alexandra awards from the State Department, in- Airborne based at Fort Bragg, NC; his Vrampas of Muscat; Brie and Zack cluding the Secretary’s Award for Ex- son Christopher, also serving in the Hart of Leicester, N.C.; two sisters, cellence in Public Diplomacy. U.S. Army at Fort Bragg; two brothers, Madeline McKinley (and her husband, Colleagues and friends remember Mark of Kirkland, Wash., and Andrew William) of Muncie, Ind., and DeVeta Mr. Jenks as a dynamo of spirit and cre- of Cypress, Calif.; an uncle, Lawrence Householder of Huntington, Ind. ativity of an especially exploratory and Hochstein of Las Vegas, Nev.; and his The family thanks Mrs. Hart’s many interactive kind. He was a gifted jazz parents, George and Zoya Jenks of friends for their warm and generous drummer: in addition to a stint in New Lewisburg, Pa. support over the last few months. Me- York City’s Loft Scene in the 1970s, he Condolences may be sent via the morial donations can be made in her formed bands almost everywhere he Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home at name to the Sarasota Institute of Life went, playing drums with an experi- www.mwfuneralhome.com/obituaries/ Time Learning (SILL) or the Church mental and polyrhythmic style that Darrell-Jenks/. In lieu of flowers, do- of the Palms in Sarasota, Fla.; McLeod mixed well with both progressive and nations may be made to the Alvin &

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Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute, c/o The ture of rapidly changing events. As of- Eleanor Hanson Leonard, 90, Darrell Jenks Memorial, Sinai Hospi- ficer in charge of Greek affairs at the the wife of retired Foreign Service of- tal of Baltimore, 2401 W. Belvedere State Department from 1985 to 1987, ficer James F. Leonard, died on March Ave., Baltimore MD 21215. he and his colleagues in the Office of 13 at her home in Rosslyn, Va., with Southeast European Affairs received her husband at her side.  an award for heroism for decisively de- Eleanor Leonard was born in fusing a potentially disastrous military Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7, 1921, William J. Kushlis, 69, a retired confrontation between Greece and and attended D.C. public schools. Foreign Service officer, died on April Turkey. After graduating as the valedictorian 6 in Houston, Texas, of acute myloid He was a Pearson Fellow for the from Woodrow Wilson High School, leukemia. late Senator Edward F. Kennedy, D- she went on to Wellesley College, Mr. Kushlis joined the Foreign Mass., from 1984 to 1985. A fluent where she received a bachelor’s degree Service in 1970. During a 27-year ca- Russian speaker, Mr. Kushlis con- in physics in 1943. In 1942 she took reer, he met all sorts of fascinating cluded his Foreign Service career as a leave from Wellesley to teach meteor- people, from presidents and Cabinet senior foreign policy adviser on coop- ology to Army trainees. ministers to reporters, editors, stu- erative threat reduction with Russia In 1943, she married her longtime dents, human rights activists and lead- and Belarus in the Office of the Sec- beau, Arthur Lee Thompson III, ers of independence movements. retary of Defense (1994-1996). whose family owned Thompson’s Mr. Kushlis was posted overseas in Following his retirement, Mr. Honor Dairy, one of the largest indus- Switzerland, the USSR, Greece, Fin- Kushlis moved to Albuquerque, N.M., trial firms in Washington at that time. land, Thailand and the Philippines, where he was a broker and financial Their son “Lee” was born on Oct. 6, and served at the State Department adviser from 1998 to 2006. He loved 1944. Her husband was killed in the and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. to travel, ski, swim, watch movies and Philippines on the last day of World He also served on Commission on Se- attend the theater, opera and concerts. War II. curity and Cooperation in Europe He was treasurer of Quintessence, a Mrs. Leonard became interested in conflict prevention missions in Esto- premier Albuquerque choral group, the U.S. Foreign Service and, in 1947, nia and Moldova. and a member of the Albuquerque enrolled in a summer course at George Colleagues and friends recall Mr. Committee on Foreign Relations, the Washington University to prepare for Kushlis as an astute political analyst, Santa Fe World Affairs Forum and the Foreign Service exam. There she reporter, team-player, linguist, nego- DACOR. met her future husband, James F. tiator and mediator. As political coun- Mr. Kushlis is survived by his wife, Leonard. She passed the Foreign Serv- selor in Helsinki (1988-1992), he Patricia H. Kushlis, a retired USIA ice exam with high marks, but was re- supervised and contributed to the re- Foreign Service officer whom he met fused an appointment on the grounds porting on the Baltic independence in A-100, of Albuquerque; his son, that as a widow with a small child, she movements in the years preceding the Christopher J. Kushlis (and wife, Mag- was sure to remarry and the Service’s breakup of the Soviet Union. dalena Polan) of London; two broth- investment in her would be wasted. He and a colleague had the honor ers and two sisters. Despite this rebuff, she accepted of receiving the official request for Contributions in his name may be Mr. Leonard’s proposal, married and U.S. recognition of Estonian inde- made to the Santa Fe World Affairs accompanied him on Foreign Service pendence from Foreign Minister Forum, P.O. Box 31965, Santa Fe NM assignments in Damascus, Moscow, Lennart Meri on Aug. 22, 1991, on the 87594, to help defray speaker travel Paris, Taichung and Taipei. embassy’s front steps to relay to Wash- expenses, or to the Sisters of the Most Mrs. Leonard learned Russian, ington. Precious Blood, c/o Sister Carmen French and Chinese during these Throughout his career as a political Schneider, 204 North Main St., tours, while assisting her husband in officer, Mr. Kushlis was frequently O’Fallon MO 63366-2299, for the ed- the traditional Foreign Service spouse’s lauded for putting disparate pieces to- ucation of Estonian children with spe- duties and bringing up their son and gether to form a coherent political pic- cial needs. five daughters. She greatly enjoyed a

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course in haute cuisine at the Cordon in 1977 as deputy special representa- Bleu School in Paris and put its lessons tive under Ambassador Robert Strauss, to good use in her various homes over the couple returned to the Middle the next 50 years, especially in the East, where they had begun their State many elegant events she hosted in con- Department service some 30 years ear- nection with her husband’s work. lier. They retired in early 1981. In 1964, the couple returned to At this point, as her husband recalls, Washington, where Mr. Leonard Mrs. Leonard decided that it was “her moved through several positions in the turn.” Drawing on her ability with State Department, becoming the desk computers, she found a position in officer for Korea in 1968. He was 1984 at the Environmental Protection charged particularly with finding a way Agency developing ways to present to free the crew of the USS Pueblo, complex statistics in an intelligible for- which had been attacked and captured mat. After a decade at EPA, Mrs. by the North Koreans. Leonard started a desktop publishing In late 1968, it was one of Mrs. business in 1996. At the same time, Leonard’s ideas that was shaped into she served as treasurer of the Virginia what became known as the Leonard Native Plant Society’s Piedmont chap- Proposal. In December 1968 it was ter, volunteered at several other or- accepted by the North Korean nego- ganizations and welcomed many tiators at Panmunjom, and the crew friends and family at the couple’s was released just before Christmas. dream home, which they had built in In 1969 the Nixon administration the wooded hills of Fauquier County. sent Mr. Leonard as head of the U.S. Family and friends remember Mrs. delegation to the Disarmament Con- Leonard as someone who brought the ference in Geneva, with Eleanor and highest standards to every task she un- children more or less in tow. After dertook. An intellectual with a distin- three years and two arms control guished sense of style, she provided treaties, Mr. Leonard retired from the perfect elegance to the many events Foreign Service, and the couple settled she hosted. in New York City. There he served as Survivors include her husband of 63 president of the United Nations Asso- years, James F. Leonard of Arlington ciation of New York for four years be- County; a son from her first marriage, fore accepting an offer to become A. Lee Thompson IV of Potomac, Md.; deputy permanent representative at four daughters from her second mar- the U.N. under Ambassador Andrew riage, Cindy Leonard of Arlington, Va., Young. Val Leonard of Washington, D.C., Car- During their New York years, Mrs. olyn Leonard of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Leonard founded an international dis- Pamela Leonard of Arlington, Va.; two cussion group for diplomatic wives, sisters; and five grandchildren. A making a small crack in the wall of daughter from her second marriage, masculine diplomacy. She volunteered Diana Leonard, died in 1980. with the National Democratic Com- mittee for presidential campaigns in  1968, 1972 and 1976. When the Carter administration Grant Victor McClanahan, 93, a sent Mr. Leonard to Egypt and Israel retired Foreign Service officer, died

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peacefully on April 14 in Washington, in Egypt. At Ingleside at Rock Creek, Don Muncy, an FSO with USAID. D.C., after a brief illness. where he and his wife, Pauli, resided A 1970 graduate of Duke University, Mr. McClanahan was born on Oct. during the last four years, Mr. Mc- Linda Muncy moved to the Washing- 22, 1919, in Tanta, Egypt, to Drs. Frank Clanahan helped organize a writers’ ton area to begin her government ca- and Helen McClanahan, Presbyterian group and found great satisfaction in reer following graduation. Following medical missionaries. After high school sharing his stories and poems with her marriage to Don, then a Marine he left Egypt to attend the Stony Brook other writers there. Corps officer, she moved to Camp School in Long Island, N.Y. He worked for many years with his Lejeune, N.C. When her husband fin- Planning to be an Egyptologist after daughter Jill on his memoirs and pa- ished his military tour, the couple re- graduating from Muskingum College pers. Portions of these, covering his turned to the Washington, D.C., area, in Ohio in 1941, he studied at the Uni- early years in Egypt at the time of the and both began their civilian govern- versity of Chicago and was a guide at discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, ment service careers. the Oriental Institute. He was also were compiled and published by his Before joining the Foreign Service, president of the eating co-op and active daughter Gailyn under the title In an Mrs. Muncy worked at the U.S. Civil in a pacifist organization, the Fellow- Ancient Land (Lulu, 2010). Service Commission and the U.S. De- ship of Reconciliation. In 1949, he re- Mr. McClanahan did not consider partment of Agriculture. She then ceived a master’s degree from Ameri- himself a linguist although he spoke served with the Department of State can University. and read Arabic, French, Italian, Ger- for nearly 27 years. Mrs. Muncy was After Pearl Harbor was bombed, man, Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Japan- posted to Quebec, Bangladesh, South Mr. McClanahan enlisted in the U.S. ese. He also had a lifelong interest in Africa and Yemen, in addition to as- Navy and served in naval intelligence in Egyptian hieroglyphics. He was an ar- signments in Washington, D.C. Chicago, Egypt and Washington, D.C. dent numismatist and a scholar of clas- The call to serve one more overseas Immediately after the war, he decided sical and Napoleonic history. tour brought her to Kabul, where she to take a position in the Department of In London, he was a member of the was able to join her husband, already State, initially in research. He then Reform Club and Pall Mall for more posted there. Her assignment in Af- joined the Foreign Service, serving than 50 years. And in Washington, he ghanistan was to have been her final overseas in Dhahran, London, Paris was a longtime member of DACOR. posting before retirement. and Baghdad, retiring in 1968. Mr. McClanahan is survived by his Mrs. Muncy is survived by her hus- In retirement, while living in Lon- wife of 68 years, Pauli; two daughters, band of 40 years, Don, of Potomac, don and Tuscany, he wrote a book for Jill Watson of Chevy Chase, Md., and Md.; her son, Michael, and daughter, the Institute for the Study of Diplo- Gailyn Saroyan of Los Angeles, Calif.; Laura, of Rockville, Md.; her father, macy at Georgetown University, Diplo- and four grandchildren: Strawberry Jackson Howard of Salisbury, N.C.; matic Immunity: Principles, Practices, Saroyan and Cream Saroyan in Califor- and her sister, Margaret of Ellijay, Ga. Problems (Palgrave McMillan, 1989). nia; Armenak Saroyan in Nevada; and In lieu of flowers, the family re- He also contributed a chapter to Diplo- Dr. Ariel McClanahan Watson in Nova quests donations to be made in Linda macy Under a Foreign Flag (George- Scotia. Muncy’s name to the American Dia- town University Institute for the Study As he wished, Mr. McClanahan’s betes Association, PO Box 11454, of Diplomacy, 1990), describing his ex- ashes will be scattered over the Nile Alexandria VA 22312. Please view and perience closing Embassy Baghdad and Danube rivers. sign the family guestbook at www. when the Iraqi government expelled pumphreyfuneralhome.com the U.S., British and other Western  diplomats during the 1967 Arab-Israeli  War. Linda Sue (Howard) Muncy, 63, Mr. McClanahan also enjoyed writ- a career Foreign Service officer, died Sandy M. Pringle, 90, a retired ing poetry and short stories — among on Jan. 31 after a sudden illness in Foreign Service officer, died peacefully them an account of Sherlock Holmes’ Kabul, where she had been serving with his son and daughter at his side on missing years, spent (in Grant’s telling) since January 2011 with her husband, Feb. 19, in Spotsylvania, Va.

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Mr. Pringle was born in New York vania County, finally free to settle down he held an honorary doctor of philoso- City, but moved with his family to vari- on the 65 acres they loved so much. phy degree from St. Mary’s University. ous cities across the country before There Mr. Pringle was able to spend During a long diplomatic career, he graduating from high school in Port time doing the things he most enjoyed: served in positions of increasing re- Chester, N.Y., in 1939. researching his extensive antique map sponsibility around the world, includ- On a visit to Mexico sponsored by collection, caring for the family border ing Panama, Ecuador, Gabon, Mo- the Experiment in International Living collies and shelties, and working in the zambique, Mexico, Zambia, Iceland, while he was attending Princeton Uni- garden and woods on their property. Jamaica, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and versity, he met his lifelong love, Julia He also became very involved with Belize. He also served in Washington Ryder. Although blind in one eye as Christ Episcopal Church, spending on three different occasions: as post the result of a childhood accident, Mr. countless, rewarding hours on its finan- management officer in the Bureau of Pringle tried unsuccessfully to enlist in cial and organizational affairs. African Affairs, division chief and as- the Army when World War II broke When Mrs. Pringle died in 2007, signments officer for the Middle East out; persisting, he was finally inducted Mr. Pringle began a new and very chal- and South Asia, and executive director at the end of 1942. The Pringles were lenging chapter in his life, moving to (deputy assistant secretary) of inter- married in San Francisco in 1944, just Woodbridge, Va., to be closer to his American affairs. before he shipped out to the Philip- daughter. In increasingly poor health Mr. Scassa volunteered to help in pines. and with his eyesight diminishing, he Beirut on two occasions, once follow- After the war, the couple returned nevertheless fiercely maintained his in- ing the bombing of the U.S. embassy in to Princeton University, where Sandy dependence and faced each day with 1984 and, again, in the spring of 1985, graduated summa cum laude in 1947, remarkable courage and good cheer. when TWA Flight 847 was hijacked and where his son, Harry, was born. He also remained a keen and, at times, and Americans taken hostage. He re- Mr. Pringle joined the Foreign Service, acerbic observer of national and inter- ceived many Department of State and the family moved to Nicara- national political affairs until just days awards for superior performance and gua, where they lived until 1949, and before his death, relying on National was also repeatedly recognized for his where their daughter, Julie, was born. Public Radio to provide him with a win- work to promote meaningful equal em- Following postings to Peru and Hon- dow on the world he could not see. ployment opportunities for minorities duras, in 1955 the Pringles returned to Mr. Pringle is survived by his son, and women. Princeton, where Mr. Pringle spent a Harry, of Portland, Maine; his daugh- President George Herbert Walker year of advanced study at the Wood- ter, Julie, of Woodbridge; and two Bush nominated Mr. Scassa to be U.S. row Wilson School of Public and Inter- grandchildren. ambassador to Belize in 1989, and he national Affairs. was confirmed by a unanimous Senate Following an assignment in Wash-  vote. He served in Belize for approxi- ington, D.C., they were posted to the mately four years and was then as- Netherlands in 1959. The Pringles Eugene L. Scassa, 73, a retired signed as diplomat-in-residence and then moved in 1963 to Montgomery, Foreign Service officer and former am- visiting professor of international rela- Ala., where Mr. Pringle studied at the bassador, died on March 22 in San An- tions at St. Mary’s University in San An- Air War College. tonio, Texas, after battling various tonio, Texas. Amb. Scassa also served In 1967, after another tour in Wash- health issues. His family was at his side. as a delegate to the 51st United Nations ington, they left for their last overseas A first-generation Italian-American, General Assembly and as senior area assignment, in San Jose, where Mr. Mr. Scassa was born in Monaca, Pa., in adviser for Latin America. Pringle served as deputy chief of mis- 1939 to Italian immigrants Carmine Following his retirement from the sion. The couple returned to Washing- and Maria Scassa. He attended Foreign Service, Amb. Scassa re- ton in 1970, and in 1975 Mr. Pringle Geneva College and served with the mained at St. Mary’s, taking on tempo- retired from a position in the Bureau of U.S. Army in Metz, France, before en- rary assignments for the Department of Inter-American Affairs. tering the U.S. Foreign Service. A State in Honduras, Colombia, Chile They then moved to rural Spotsyl- graduate of the National War College, and Cuba. After a second retirement,

JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 73 I N M EMORY

he worked as senior consultant for High School. American College Testing, helping As a young woman at a time when, write the Foreign Service Examination. as Mrs. Wood told it, nobody believed a Amb. Scassa founded the Model woman had the ability to be a pilot, she Organization of American States in learned to fly airplanes from the father 1995. He remained an active partici- of a friend. That changed her life for- pant in its planning and execution, and ever, she would say in later years. Al- held an honorary permanent seat on ready an adventuresome soul, she went the organization’s steering committee. on to enjoy unique worldwide experi- In 2011, in recognition of his passion ences. and hard work over the previous 16 Mrs. Wood met her future husband, years, the organization was named for Ben, at Ocala Airports’ Army pilot him and is now known as the “Eugene training school. The two wed in Texas Scassa Model Organization of Ameri- and, after the war, moved with their can States.” first son to Washington, D.C., where Colleagues and friends recall Amb. Mr. Wood joined the Foreign Service. Scassa as a superb mentor who had a She accompanied her husband to For- profound impact on students at St. eign Service postings in the Philippines, Mary’s University. Over the course of Belgium, Vietnam, Cambodia and Lon- 16 years there, he was directly respon- don. The marriage ended in divorce in sible for mentoring and directing 30 the late 1950s. alumni active-duty FSOs, 30 alumni in During the 1960s and 1970s, Mrs. various federal intelligence agencies Wood lived in Paris, Washington, D.C., and 12 alumni involved in international and Sardinia, traveling extensively development work. throughout Europe and Turkey, camp- Amb. Scassa is survived by his wife; ing in a signature, customized white his three children, David, Susan, and Land Rover. In 1980 she settled in Vir- Eugene; and 13 grandchildren. ginia, where she established a garlic In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts farm. may be made in honor of Eugene L. Mrs. Wood wrote about her experi- Scassa and the ESMOAS to the St. ences in North from Ocala (Special Mary’s University Annual Scholarship Publications, Inc., 2000), a memoir that Fund, Attn: Ronan McAshan, Advance- “reads like an adventure story,” accord- ment Services, One Camino Santa ing to one reviewer. She was the first Maria, San Antonio TX 78228-8544, or female pilot in Marion County, and also donate online at http://|donate.stmarytx. enjoyed astrology. edu/online-giving/giftForm. Mrs. Wood was preceded in death by her brother, Dr. John D. Lindner,  and by her ex-husband, Ben Wood. She is survived by her sons, Ramsay Barbara Lindner Wood, 92, the Wood of London, and Chalmers B. former wife of the late Foreign Service Wood of China; nieces, Anne Foelker officer Ben Wood, died on April 23 in of Haymarket, Va., Beverly Lindner of Ocala, Fla. Maui, Hawaii, and Barbara Dusch of Mrs. Wood was born in Ocala to Dr. Cumming, Ga.; a nephew, John D. Eaton George and Justina (Rhody) Lindner Jr. of Ocala; and a grandson, Lindner. She graduated from Ocala Tryver Wood. ■

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JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 77 REFLECTIONS

My Portable Consciences

BY ANNIE PFORZHEIMER

wenty years ago in South Pashtun-centered national security ap- Africa, after reading a newspa- She had been paratus would lead to a sustainable Tper article about a valiant threatened countless peace with other ethnic groups? And human rights defender who was trying when President Hamid Karzai “deliv- to protect young black gang members times, but never let ered” on his promises of women’s par- targeted for assassination by the police, fear impede her. ticipation by appointing wives of his I picked up the phone and found a way loyalists, what was gained? to meet her. We were both in our mid- She served me tea and spoke in 20s; but unlike me, she had no diplo- English perfected by her years in Pak- matic plates on her car. She had been A decade ago I regularly talked with istani refugee camps, where she raised threatened countless times, but never the director of El Salvador’s Human her son singlehandedly and delivered let fear impede her. Rights Center, who had been close to other refugee women’s babies. She Once we traveled to a township the Jesuits murdered by the military in laughed about once grabbing the pres- cemetery where she walked down a 1989. He smiled patiently but skepti- ident’s hand and telling him, “I’m older row of headstones introducing me to cally at my talking points. He laughed than you, so you have to listen to me!” her friends interred there, one after out loud at my faith that an elite who All my portable consciences — another, as if we were at a party. She had stolen its country’s wealth for many these men and women and many oth- dated someone from another race and years was on a slow-but-sure path to- ers — poke me hard with their sharp faced criticism, yet stayed in the rela- ward progress and fairness. elbows and deflate me with sarcasm tionship. When I was with her, I Yet he was equally dismissive of the when I default to clichés, when I don’t wanted to protect her and simultane- left, and enjoyed skewering their clue- look hard enough to find the options ously to live through her courage. lessness and ideological rigidity. Dur- where justice and American power co- In Turkey before and after 9/11, I ing the 2004 presidential race between incide, when I fail to see the obvious met lawyers who overcame an arcane, a neo-Stalinist and a former sports- and when I paint too rosy a view. complex legal system to defend free caster who was wholly owned by the Thinking of those with no armor expression and save detainees from business community, I told him: “I against attack and yet possessed of en- torture. One was so brilliant that I don’t know who will win, but I know ergy, courage and will, I pledge to put worked hard to get him on an interna- where you will be in the next adminis- down my talking points, sharpen my tional visitors’ program with other tration — in the opposition.” powers of observation, and try to find human rights defenders to travel to the While on assignment in Kabul two the plain language they use in order to United States for two weeks and see years ago, I met regularly with the head say: this is wrong, we can do better, and how activists here achieve their goals. of the Independent Human Rights As- this is how. I When he returned, he didn’t deliver sociation. She would ask me to explain the expected paean to our freedoms what, specifically, justified my optimism Annie Pforzheimer, an FSO for 23 when asked about his trip during a din- that talks with the Taliban would take years, is director of the Office of Peace ner party we both attended. Instead, the concerns of Afghan women and mi- Operations, Sanctions and Counter- he attacked the blatant racism and hor- norities into account. terrorism in the Bureau of Interna- rific state of the U.S. prison system. Why did I think that supporting a tional Organization Affairs.

78 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012