PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION APRIL 2021 VIRTUAL DIPLOMACY? FOREIGN SERVICE April 2021 Volume 98, No. 3 Focus on Diplomacy Feature in an Age of Disruption 53 Effective Public Diplomacy: Lessons from Tuk-Tam Listen first, one retired PD practitioner advises. Here is his story of a very successful program. By Ken Moskowitz 26 39 Can Diplomacy Transferring in Be Done Virtually? a Time of Chaos Two Foreign Service officers explore Challenging in the best of times, the question through the lens of FS transfers have become crucibles personal experience. Their answer: in of resilience and determination some ways yes, but mostly no. during the pandemic. By Jessica Huaracayo and By Cameron Woodworth Alexis Ludwig Appreciation 44 31 Pandemic Parenting— Commercial Diplomacy How Foreign Service 56 Strong—Raising the Bar Moms Are (Not) A Truly in the Virtual Era Making It Work Trustworthy Leader In 2020 U.S. companies were forced FS parents—in particular, FS moms— George P. Shultz into a new world of lockdowns and are stretched to the breaking point, 1920-2020 virtual relations, where work norms and there doesn’t seem to be had to be refashioned. A commercial an end in sight. By Steven Alan Honley officer looks at the way ahead. By Donna Scaramastra Gorman By Aileen Nandi 34 49 Retirement In-Person Exchanges, My Reintroduction Supplement Interrupted to America— Some virtual components have A COVID-19 Journey proved helpful, but the face-to-face Returning “home” after years experience—the heart and soul of an overseas is notoriously difficult. 70 exchange program—is irreplaceable. The COVID-19 pandemic gave the Twelve Pitfalls By Deena Mansour experience a whole new, and What to do and what not to do surprising, twist. when planning for life post-career. By Kimberly Harmon By John K. Naland THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL 2021 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Perspectives Departments 7 85 10 Letters President’s Views Reflections Taking Care of Our The Case of the 13 Letters-Plus Colleagues—and Ourselves Bungled Blacklist 17 Talking Points By Eric Rubin By Kevin Chambers 78 Books 9 86 Letter from the Editor Local Lens Virtual Diplomacy Jurmala, Latvia in an Age of Disruption By Paul Poletes By Shawn Dorman Marketplace 23 80 Real Estate Speaking Out 83 Classifieds Resilience Leadership By Josh Glazeroff 84 Index to Advertisers AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 59 AFSA Celebrates Win on Meritorious Service 66 AFSA Welcomes New Hires to the Foreign Service Increases 67 Save the Date: Foreign Service Day Virtual Events 60 State VP Voice—Are Linked Assignments 68 AFSA Webinar: Reviewing Your Retirement Plan Worth It Anymore? 68 USAID Seeks Assignment and Career Counselors 61 USAID VP Voice—Schedule F(SL): 69 APHIS Offers Foreign Service Fellowship Noncareer Hiring Takes a Toll 62 FCS VP Voice—Our Biggest Untapped Resource 63 AFSA President Meets with Members in 65 Virtual Town Halls 63 AFSA Governing Board Meeting, Feb. 17, 2021 64 State MED Director Briefs AFSA Members on Slow Vaccine Rollout 65 AFSA Seeks Award Nominations for 2021 On the Cover—Illustration by Connie McLennan. 6 APRIL 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Taking Care of Our Colleagues— and Ourselves BY ERIC RUBIN ife in the Foreign Service is always ing pandemic is just one example of the We believe the Foreign Service needs challenging. The constant moves, bravery and dedication of its members. significant growth in both resources and the stresses on spouses and fami- Another is the first impeachment personnel, with a rough ideal target of Llies, the unfamiliar illnesses and process of 2019-2020, which saw more 1,000 additional Foreign Service posi- the recurring heavy doses of risk can make than a dozen of our colleagues com- tions at State and equivalent proportional our profession hard to sustain. pelled to testify or give depositions increases in the other departments and For members who do not look like under oath against the express instruc- agencies we represent. the white males making up the major- tions of the president of the United We need a strong and urgent focus on ity of America’s diplomats throughout States. Our colleagues who testified turning around the intolerable decline in most of our history, there are additional turned what could have been a wrench- diversity in all our agencies. And we need obstacles and stresses. Add to this the ingly painful experience into a moment to get the Foreign Service back to the cen- frequent swings of the political pen- of pride, patriotism and determination. ter of the policymaking process on both dulum that undermine trust in our Career colleagues across the govern- foreign affairs and foreign assistance. nonpartisan Service. ment also demonstrated that loyal public From President Biden on down, the This set of problems was com- servants will not be hung out to dry when new administration has sent many posi- pounded in recent years by a hostile and pulled into the Washington political mael- tive signals. We welcome the commit- suspicious attitude toward the Foreign strom, and that their colleagues—and ment to support and defend our country’s Service from our country’s senior lead- their union—will be there to support them career public servants and to ensure they ers, and a lack of respect for experience, even in the toughest of times. That was have the resources and backing to get the expertise and professional knowledge. not the case during the Red Scares and job done right for the American people. Some of our most talented senior col- Lavender Scares of the 1940s and 1950s, We especially welcome the announced leagues were forced out of the Service, when some of our best diplomats found readiness to work with us and other and with them went much of our ability themselves alone and without support in federal unions as partners, with the shared to speak truth to power. The events of the face of unfair, outrageous and some- goal of improving the effectiveness and Jan. 6 deeply affected many members, times illegal attacks on their integrity. impact of the U.S. Foreign Service while both for the attack on the core institu- The recent annual federal employee raising morale and job satisfaction. tions of our country but also the lack of a surveys show a big drop in career and We also welcome the renewed focus strong response from agency leaders to personal satisfaction in all the foreign on work-life balance, quality of life for the concerns of their career employees. affairs agencies. We need to swiftly take employees and their family members, Yet this difficult period also saw sus- action to get back to the kind of broad and support for locally employed staff tained excellence and a renewed com- satisfaction our colleagues reported less who often sacrifice much to make U.S. mitment to serve than a decade ago. efforts succeed. our nation. That In conveying our priorities to the We at AFSA want to seize this hopeful the Foreign Service new administration and to Congress, and urgent moment. We need your advice helped more than AFSA has laid out a vision for achiev- and suggestions on how we can best serve 100,000 Americans ing a significant increase in our positive you in helping to build a healthier and get home in the contributions to the country’s national happier career Foreign Service. Please midst of a surg- security, prosperity and global role. write to us at [email protected]. n Ambassador Eric Rubin is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL 2021 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor-in-Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Senior Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Managing Editor CONTACTS Kathryn Owens: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Associate Editor (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance and Facilities Cameron Woodworth: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Publications Coordinator Manager, HR and Operations USAID AFSA Office: Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] Cory Nishi: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Controller Business Development Manager— FCS AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Advertising and Circulation (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Member Accounts Specialist Molly Long: [email protected] Ana Lopez: [email protected] GOVERNING BOARD IT and Infrastructure Coordinator Art Director President Aleksandar “Pav” Pavlovich: Caryn Suko Smith Hon. Eric S. Rubin: [email protected] [email protected] Editorial Board Secretary Alexis Ludwig, Chair Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS Hon. Robert M. Beecroft Treasurer Director of Communications Daniel Crocker Virginia L. Bennett: [email protected] Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] Joel Ehrendreich State Vice President Manager of Outreach and Internal Harry Kopp Thomas Yazdgerdi: [email protected] Communications Jess McTigue USAID Vice President Christopher Teal Allan Saunders: [email protected] Jason Singer: [email protected] Joe Tordella Online Communications Manager FCS Vice President Vivian Walker Jeff Lau: [email protected] Jay Carreiro: [email protected] Hon. Laurence Wohlers Awards and Scholarships Manager FAS Vice President Dinah Zeltser-Winant Theo Horn: [email protected] Vacant Retiree Vice President MEMBERSHIP AND OUTREACH THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS John K. Naland: [email protected] Director, Programs and Member Engagement PROFESSIONALS State Representatives Christine Miele: [email protected] The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), Joshua C. Archibald 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is Manager, Outreach and Maria Hart published monthly, with combined January-February Strategic Communications and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Kristin Michelle Roberts Nadja Ruzica: [email protected] Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization.