Retirement Services

Welcome to the retirement services section of AFSA's website. AFSA is devoted to responding to a full range of retirement-related issues. Below you will find a wealth of information geared for those who are about to retire and also to those who already have taken the leap.

AFSA's retiree services division also produces the bi-monthly AFSA Retiree Newsletter on benefits and other related matters; works on the annual Retiree Directory, which connects old friends and colleagues; offers a regular speaker series on federal benefits issues; provides education and recognition for classes in the Job Search Program at the Foreign Service Institute and listings of job opportunities for retirees; engages with the foreign affairs agencies on issues such as WAE employment and retiree access to facilities; and meets with interlocutors on Capitol Hill to ensure that federal benefits and entitlement programs are protected.

Contact Us!

• Dolores Brown, Retirement Benefits Counselor
• Christine Miele, Manager, Retiree Outreach and Engagement

Your Elected Representatives

The AFSA Governing Board has three elected members who represent the retiree constituency. The Vice President for retirees is John K. Naland; you may get in touch with John here. John writes a regular column for the AFSA News section of The Foreign Service Journal; click here to read his latest writings. Ably assisting John as retiree representatives on the 2017-2019 Governing Board are Ambassador (ret.) Al LaPorta and Philip A. Shull.

Get Involved!

We encourage you to stay connected to AFSA in retirement, whether you live in the Washington, D.C. area, anywhere in the U.S. or even abroad. AFSA offers many events here at our headquarters building; even if you can't attend in person we record all events and make them available for viewing on our website. We also hope you will consider offering your expertise as a speaker on issues related to foreign affairs and the Foreign Service. You can sign up for AFSA's speakers bureau, or volunteer to speak at an AFSA Road Scholar program. We also encourage you to get involved with your local foreign affairs or Foreign Service retiree association, or attend some of their local events. There are so many ways to stay involved in the career that shaped your life.

Not Yet an AFSA Member?

No worries. If you recently (or not so recently) retired and did not fill out a form to change from active-duty to retiree membership, you can download the necessary forms by clicking here. If you choose not to apply online, please mail the completed membership and automatic annuity deduction forms to AFSA at 2101 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, or fax them to (202) 338-6820. We look forward to welcoming you as a member.

Honoring Your Service

AFSA is pleased to offer two new ways to remember and commemorate the lifelong Foreign Service career of our members, their spouses or partners. Our Foreign Service Medallion is a beautiful keepsake that can be used for multiple occasions, including being affixed to grave markers. The Foreign Service Commemorative Coin is similar to those long used by the many branches of the military; the silver-finish, 1.75” diameter coin has the Great Seal on the obverse and the AFSA logo and slogan on the reverse. Both are available for purchase through the AFSA website.