The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2009

A F S A N E W S 2009 AFSA CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARD WINNERS (By Francesca Kelly) D iplomatic couriers often face difficult conditions in their work, but until recently, couriers out of Miami worked under particularly challenging cir- cumstances. What concerned Barron I. Rosen most about these circumstances was not the hardship of the travel, though consid- erable by any standards, but the fact that couriers were required to sign a waiver prior to traveling on a particular cargo carrier. By doing so, couriers gave up their right to bring legal action against the cargo company even in the event of gross negligence. In other words, even if the pilot flew intentionally into a mountain, a courier’s family would have no recourse against the carrier. State had contracted for many years with the same cargo company, which also required couriers to travel nearly 20 hours without rest on an old plane with no toilet facilities. Although the trips to Port of Spain, Parmari- bo and Georgetown were physically and emo- tionally grueling, it was the waiver to which Rosen objected. He noted the danger and absurdity of this requirement, and questioned whether anyone else in the entire Foreign Service was obliged to sign such a waiver. The initial response frommanagement was discouraging, even dismissive. Rosen persisted in pointing out an unsafe practice, and discussions grew heated. Yet he refused to back down. Now the courier routes out of Miami are served via commercial airliners. A successful courier, like Rosen, is mis- sion-focused and has a sense of adventure. In his previous assignment, Rosen made nearly 15 visits to Pakistan, including numerous overland missions to the consulates. While accepting that risk is part of the job, he felt compelled to speak out in Miami when he encountered the waiver requirement, which he calls “a short-sighted policy.” The key requirement of the Harris Award for a Foreign Service specialist is evidence that the winner has challenged the status quo, despite possible consequences. Not only did Rosen, who was an untenured FS-4 officer at the time, persevere on this issue to the potential detriment of his employment status, but he remained dedicated to the well-being and safety of his colleagues. Explains Rosen, “Speaking out was important, as it led to a positive change for all my colleagues in Miami.” Rosen is a Phi Beta Kappa gradu- ate of the University of Pennsylvania and Duke University School of Law. His major was East Asian studies and he speaks Mandarin Chinese. He joined the Foreign Service in 2005 and was previously assigned to Bangkok. Prior to joining the department, he worked as an attor- ney and as a teacher. Barron Rosen (second from right) with U.S. embassy employees (left to right) Joseph Ronald, Cheryl Schaefle, and Charles Hilaire, at the Port-au-Prince Airport, Haiti, May 14. Top: Rosen at the Miami Courier Vault at Miami International Airport, May 12. Bottom: Rosen with pilot Michael Ryan at Miami International Airport, prior to departure for Havana, May 21. SHANE MOORE J U L Y - A UGU S T 2 0 0 9 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 49 The Tex Harris Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALIST Barron I. Rosen