The Foreign Service Journal, May 2003

T he launch of AFSA’s new book, Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America , on March 27 at AFSAheadquarters, drewdis- tinguishedguests,members of the press and the folks who worked hard to put together thisnewand improved second edition. Under Secretary forPolitical AffairsMarcGrossman, a con- tributor to the book’s Day in theLife section, spokeabout the importance of the new publi- cation and his efforts to pro- mote it on Capitol Hill and with the press. “This is a book about what the State Department does,” American Foreign Service Association • May 2003 INSIDE A U.S. EMBASSY AFSA Launches New Book BY STEPHEN E. MATHER, EDITORIAL INTERN FOREIGN AFFAIRS DAY AFSA Memorial Plaque Ceremony T he AFSA Memorial Plaque ceremony takes place every year during Foreign Affairs Day (formerly Foreign Service Day), to honor those men and women who have lost their lives while serving the U.S. government abroad in foreign affairs. The first plaque was erected 70 years ago by AFSA onMarch 3, 1933. The secretary of State at that time, Henry L. Stimson, presided over the ceremony. Until two years ago, the criteria for inscription on the plaque required death under “heroic or other inspirational circumstances.” In 2001, the AFSAGoverning Board amended the criteria to also include those Foreign Service employees who died “in the line of duty.” Using the expanded cri- teria, AFSA has added 25 names to the plaque. This year, the Governing Board approved an additional six names to be added to the plaque. Those employees will be honored on May 9during the annual ForeignAffairsDayprogram, ina ceremony at the site of theplaque in the C Street lobby. Secretary of State Powell has agreed to preside, as he has done the past two years. Included among the six honorees isUSAIDForeign Service officer Laurence Foley, who was shot and killed last October as he was getting into his car to go to his office in Amman, Jordan. With the additionof these six names, theAFSAMemorial Plaquewill honor a total of 215 fallen colleagues. Since 1975, employees serving in 32 different countries have lost their lives. As Secretary Powell has often stated, the men and women of the U.S. Foreign Service are on“the front lines of diplomacy,” and, despite the growingpersonal risk to them- selves and their families, they continue to advance and promote our country’s vital inter- ests abroad. ▫ AFS NEWS FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD The Loss of Arnie Schifferdecker I t iswithdeep sadness thatwe report the deathof retiredFSOandChairmanof the Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board Arnold “Arnie” P. Schifferdecker, who died at George Washington University Hospital after a heart attack on March 15. He was 67. Arnie’s ForeignService career spanned three decades (1964 to 1995), but he continued serving AFSA and the State Department after retirement. In recogni- tion of Arnie’s many years of devoted service toAFSAand, especially, the Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board, this issue of the Journal includes an “Appreciation” of his life and career. ▫ Continued on page 7 This Issue in Brief: BRIEFS: JOs, VEHICLES, MAGAZINES .......................2 FLO TURNS 25 ........................................3 PROTECTING SOFT TARGETS..............4 DON’T COUNT ON PRIVACY................5 Q&A: PERSONNEL ..................................6 REMEMBER THE FS TROOPS..............8 MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP. .......8 HOW MUCH TIME IS ENOUGH? ........9 ILLUSTRATION BY CONNIE MCLENNAN