Washington, DC – American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) president Susan R. Johnson, on behalf of the members of AFSA, extends her congratulations to director Ben Affleck, producers Grant Heslov and George Clooney, the cast, crew, and producers of Argo on winning the Oscar for Best Picture and for its victories in the Film Editing and Adapted Screenplay categories during the 85th Academy Awards.

The U.S. hostage crisis in Iran is an unforgettable part of Foreign Service and U.S. diplomatic history, both professionally and personally, and AFSA is pleased that Argo highlights both the historical event as well as the Foreign Service community that represents the United States around the world.

The film, released in October 2012, has brought positive attention to the Foreign Service and the work that the men and women of America’s professional diplomatic service are doing around the globe to protect our nation’s interests. In December 2012, AFSA hosted a screening of the film in our nation’s capital with Tony Mendez, and Kathy Stafford and Bob Anders—two of the hostages portrayed in the film—and former AFSA president and Iran hostage Ambassador John W. Limbert.

Those wishing to learn more about today’s Foreign Service can check out Inside a U.S. Embassy, the essential guide to the Foreign Service published in 2011 by AFSA Foreign Service Books. AFSA also publishes The Foreign Service Journal, covering foreign affairs from the perspective of members of America’s professional diplomatic service. More information on Inside a U.S. Embassy and The Foreign Service Journal can be found on AFSA’s website at www.afsa.org.

AFSA, is the professional association and labor union of the U.S. Foreign Service. Founded in 1924.
AFSA represents 28,000 active and retired Foreign Service employees of the Departments of State, Commerce, Agriculture, the USAID, and the International Broadcasting Bureau.