PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER 2017 FOREIGN SERVICE EXCELLENCE TODAY HIRING FREEZE FALLOUT A NEW CITIZEN OF LONDON FOREIGN SERVICE September 2017 Volume 94, No. 7 Cover Story Feature 27 It’s Practical: 57 Training the Next Generation of Diplomats A New Citizen Knowledge of history, area studies and current international affairs is not, by itself, sufficient to make an effective diplomat. of London Shines By Edward “Skip” Gnehm on the Other Side of the Thames U.S. Embassy London in Nine Elms will set new standards for security Focus on Exemplary Performance and sustainability. & Constructive Dissent Here are some insights into how it got there. By Richard LeBaron 31 47 Leader, Mentor, In Pursuit of Diplomat: Ambassador Transparency Nancy J. Powell in Assignment The recipient of AFSA’s 2017 Lifetime Restriction Policies Contributions to American Diplomacy Lack of fairness and transparency in Award talks with the FSJ about her the assignment restrictions process journey from Midwestern social studies undercuts both employees and the teacher to diplomatic leader. State Department. Asian-American employees took it on. By Christina T. Le and Thomas T. Wong 50 Pushing State to Prevent Illegal Adoptions Faced with growing evidence of malfeasance in intercountry adoptions in Uganda, this FSO decided on a course of constructive dissent to correct the problem. 57 By Wendy Brafman 54 41 DS Could Advance Overseas The State of Dissent in Visa and Passport Security the Foreign Service Diplomatic Security programs can help Members of the Foreign Service protect the United States from the regularly grapple with the professional threat of terrorist entry, but the State and moral dilemma of dissent. Department hasn’t promoted DS as By Harry Kopp the interagency lead. By Elzar T. Camper THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Perspectives 105 Departments Reflections A Baltic Tale 7 By Tom Longo 10 Letters President’s Views Building Enduring Support 14 Letters-Plus for the Foreign Service 18 Talking Points By Barbara Stephenson 91 In Memory 9 96 Books Letter from the Editor Stories of Excellence By Shawn Dorman Marketplace 23 Speaking Out 106 99 Classifieds How to Get More Bang for Local Lens 102 Real Estate Our FSI Buck: Engaging Foreign Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia Diplomats and Diasporas By Christopher Shea 104 Index to Advertisers By Michael Rosenthal AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 76 62 AFSA Awards Honor Foreign Service Excellence 69 Meet the 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board 66 State VP Voice—Like a Bridge 74 Behind the Scenes at the AFSA Election 66 Retiree VP Voice—Focus on Retiree Issues 74 Governing Board Meeting Notes 67 FAS VP Voice—Seeking Solutions and 75 Sinclaire Award Recipients in Action Sustainability 76 AFSA Award Winner Profiles 68 FCS VP Voice—Facing Unprecedented 87 Celebrating Foreign Service Youth Achievements Challenges 88 Meet the 2017 AFSA Merit Award Winners 68 USAID VP Voice—Promoting USAID Interests 90 Kennan Award Salutes Strong Writing 69 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board Takes Office On the Cover: AFSA’s 2017 award winners. Centerpiece: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell (center), recipient of the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplo- macy Award, with previous winners (from left) former Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Ambassador William J. Harrop, FSO Stuart Kennedy and Ambassador Ruth Davis. Clockwise from top right: Aubrey N. Dowd; René Gutel; Wendy Brafman; Ambassador Tulinabo Mushingi; group winners Christina T. Le, Thomas T. Wong, Cecilia S Choi and Mariju L. Bofill; Henry Throop; Elzar T. Camper; Diane Corbin; and John S. Wood. Photographer: Toya Sarno Jordan. 6 SEPTEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Building Enduring Support for the Foreign Service BY BARBARA STEPHENSON s I begin my second term as in the face of unique challenges. I want ment of State’s Work,” which is essentially AFSA president, having been us to own that story, to take pride and a tribute to the Foreign Service and the elected on a platform of con- find strength in it, and to share it with the importance of our work. Atinuing the work begun two American people.” Section 101 asserts that “United States years ago by the Strong Diplomacy slate, I renew that commitment to you global engagement is key,” and “United I reviewed my very first President’s Views now, as I begin my second and final States leadership is indispensable in light column. term as AFSA president, and I ask that of the many complex and interconnected In that maiden column, I made this you continue to do your part to own our threats facing the United States and the commitment: story and to tell it effectively to our fellow world”—challenges that “cannot be “I will speak to everyone during my ten- Americans. addressed without sustained and robust ure as AFSA president of the extraordinary Why? Because it is working. I see con- United States diplomatic and develop- demands that are made of the extraordi- crete evidence that our fellow Americans ment leadership.” nary people who answer the call to serve. increasingly know who we are, what we The “vital” work of State and USAID, “As part of our pledge to worldwide do, and why it matters. Section 101 states, “is critical to the pro- availability, we in the Foreign Service For instance, in its reporting on the jection of American power and leadership willingly agree—in fact, work hard to moving ceremony on Foreign Service worldwide, and without which Americans prevail in a highly competitive selection Day, May 5, at which we in Washington would be less safe, our economic power process—to take on a career that requires and many of you at posts around the would be diminished, and global stability us to serve in remote corners of the globe, world paused for a moment to honor and prosperity would suffer.” often in unsafe and unhealthy conditions the 248 fallen colleagues whose names If this language sounds familiar, it of genuine hardship, where good schools appear on AFSA’s memorial plaques, The should, as it echoes messages AFSA has for our kids and decent jobs for our Washington Post refers to the “nobility” of been pushing out across the country, as spouses are rare. the Foreign Service. well as on the Hill, for many months now. “We willingly agree to rotate jobs every And in his July 28 New York Times In a word: Nine in 10 Americans favor two to three years as part of our competi- Sunday Review piece, Roger Cohen strong American global leadership, which tive up-or-out promotions system. While writes, “Over the years, in war zones and is unthinkable without a strong, profes- that means we never get to settle com- outside them, I’ve known American For- sional Foreign Service deployed around fortably in a job and a place we love, we eign Service officers for whom the word the world protecting and defending know this is the path to the broad range ‘noble’ was not misplaced.” America’s people, interests and values. of experience we need to grow as Foreign So have I, and, so, I suspect, have you. To all of you who took up and deliv- Service profession- Explicit support for the Foreign Service ered this message, I say thank you—and als and prepare now clearly extends to Capitol Hill, where please keep up the good work. Own your to lead America’s the Senate Foreign Relations Committee story of remarkable service. Polish it. Tell foreign policy. in late July voted out the 2018 State autho- it with pride. Every time you do, you make “Ours is a rization bill. I encourage you to read the the Foreign Service stronger by building remarkable story of entire bill, but particularly want to draw broad and enduring support for us and service, of deliver- your attention to Section 101, “Sense of the essential work we do to maintain ing for our country the Congress on Importance of Depart- America’s global leadership. n Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2017 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor in Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Managing Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Associate Editor CONTACTS Gemma Dvorak: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Publications Coordinator (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Controller Ad & Circulation Manager USAID AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Assistant Controller Art Director FCS AFSA Office: Cory Nishi: [email protected] Caryn Suko Smith (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Editorial Intern LABOR MANAGEMENT GOVERNING BOARD Andrea Philbin General Counsel President Sharon Papp: [email protected] Advertising Intern Hon. Barbara Stephenson: Deputy General Counsel Windy Tay: [email protected] [email protected] Raeka Safai: [email protected] Editorial Board Secretary Senior Staff Attorneys Eric Green, Chair Hon. Tom Boyatt: [email protected] Neera Parikh: [email protected] Randy Berry Treasurer Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] James (Jim) Bever Hon. Earl Anthony ‘Tony’ Wayne: Labor Management Counselor Angela Bond [email protected] Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: M. Allyn Brooks-LaSure State Vice President [email protected] Lawrence Casselle Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] Grievance Counselor Shawn Kobb USAID Vice President Jason Snyder: [email protected] Suzanne McGuire Ann Posner: [email protected] Senior Labor Management Advisor Joan Polaschik FCS Vice President John G. Rendeiro Jr.