Into the Great Unknown

President’s Views

BY JOHN “DINK” DINKELMAN

AFSA

For this edition, I asked that my regular headshot in front of the flag be swapped out for the photo of me sitting outside AFSA headquarters handing out cold water on a particularly hot and steamy July day in Washington, D.C. That was right where I needed to be.

I was there to greet passersby and, more importantly, welcome new members of the Foreign Service as they passed by while doing admin tasks during their first week of orientation. It was part of AFSA’s unofficial “summer street campaign.”

I was reminded of my five years working in NFATC’s Orientation Division and the scores of outstanding diplomats I met as they passed through FSI and went on to successful careers in the Foreign Service. It was inspiring and heartwarming to meet members of the new class and be reminded that there is, indeed, joy in renewal.

One week prior, I stood at the corner of E and 23rd for “Donuts with Dink,” handing out morning treats and greeting Foreign Service, Civil Service, and contractor commuters on their way to the State Department.

And in August, there were afternoon popsicles on that same corner. That’s what AFSA is about, being here for you when things get hot.

To be honest, being out there on the corner in the heat with open arms to support and work with all of you at this challenging time is what keeps me inspired. While we don’t know where the fall will take us, rest assured that AFSA will be with you with constancy and purpose.

We celebrate a Foreign Service that is once again growing, as large A-100 classes (yes, we’re once again allowed to call it A-100) join our ranks; but we do not accept the way that just a few months ago more than 1,300 of our colleagues at State were summarily dumped into the professional trash can.

Today’s new hires aren’t even allowed to hear the word “AFSA” uttered in orientation sessions—notwithstanding that joining their professional association/collective bargaining unit is the single best insurance policy they could ever buy. AFSA membership is an essential part of their professional tool kits, and they’re being proactively prevented from even learning about it.

I am convinced that when we look back over these years, the attempted erasure of AFSA from the working lives of Foreign Service members will go down as one of management’s biggest mistakes.

Nevertheless, AFSA continues to reach out independently to new employees to welcome them into the profession and to AFSA. And at the same time, we continue to call for the reinstatement of those who were summarily fired (“DOGE’d”) for no reason. We will continue to push for the creation of hiring preferences for those who want to return to service.

To that end, AFSA was honored to stand in solidarity with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1534 for our “Missing Badge” press conference and exhibit on Capitol Hill—demonstrating that we are stronger together.

I am especially grateful to AFGE leadership and to the seven members of Congress who spoke, as well as to my fellow RIFed colleagues who joined in commemorating the one-year anniversary of the twin catastrophes for American diplomacy—the demise of USAID and the State RIFs of July 11, 2025.

We’ll continue to find ways to work with our Civil Service counterparts. For far too long the Civil Service and Foreign Service have functioned in two separate worlds. This ends now. We must fight this battle together. It cannot be won alone. We are not done. We will carry on.

Finally, I thank the AFSA members who voted to approve all the proposals put forward in the July referendum. The overwhelmingly positive results at the ballot box sent a clear message of support that will allow AFSA to continue to steam ahead in advocating for the Foreign Service workforce and fight for our collective bargaining rights as outlined in the spirit, and letter, of the Foreign Service Act of 1980.

Rest assured, folks. As we head into the great unknown, AFSA will be here for you. We’re not going anywhere.