AFSA is pleased to recognize the recipients of our 2015 awards. This year, we bestowed 11 awards - four awards for constructive dissent, six awards for exemplary performance, and the award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy.

Constructive Dissent Awards

W. Averell Harriman Award – Amelia Shaw
The W. Averell Harriman Award is given to an entry-level Foreign Service officer who has exhibited extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity and intellectual courage in the context of constructive dissent. This year’s recipient is Amelia Shaw of Consulate Tijuana. Shaw has fought tirelessly for equal legal rights and protections for unmarried women, who face more stringent challenges to transmitting their American citizenship to children born in Mexico than do men or married women. Her bold challenge to this inequality, coupled with creative solutions, has inspired constructive dialogue within the Foreign Service. (See her April 2015 article in The Foreign Service Journal on this topic.)
 
William R. Rivkin Award – Samuel Kotis
The William R. Rivkin Award is given to a mid-level Foreign Service officer who has exhibited extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity and intellectual courage in the context of constructive dissent. This year’s recipient is Samuel Kotis of Embassy New Delhi. Despite initial resistance from his superiors, Kotis committed himself to providing public access to data from air quality monitors installed in U.S. embassies and consulates in India. His efforts have proved fruitful, inspiring new initiatives by and bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Indian governments. These developments, in turn, have added the abatement of air pollution to the goals of foreign policy and international negotiations. 

Christian A. Herter Award – Thomas M. Duffy
The Christian A. Herter Award is given to a Senior Foreign Service officer who has exhibited extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity and intellectual courage in the context of constructive dissent. This year’s recipient is Thomas M. Duffy of the Office of United Nations Political Affairs (UNP) in the State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO). Duffy’s determination to revive the frayed relationship between IO and the U.S. Mission to the UN in New York has fostered closer coordination, information sharing and mutual respect between the once-competing agencies. This cooperative atmosphere, in turn, has advanced foreign policy goals in negotiations and diplomatic actions abroad.

F. Allen 'Tex' Harris Award – Jeffrey Bing
The F. Allen 'Tex' Harris Award is given to a Foreign Service specialist who has exhibited extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity and intellectual courage in the context of constructive dissent. This year’s recipient is Jeffrey Bing of Embassy Sarajevo. Throughout her career, Bing has fought for the recognition of the unique contributions of office management specialists (OMS) to the Foreign Service. She has argued that the OMS coordinator should not fall under the jurisdiction of the office of the Director General but remain independent to encourage colleagues to report their concerns and suggestions without fear of penalty. Her commitment to these goals has allowed many individuals, including OMS personnel themselves, to further appreciate the centrality of the OMS corps to the Foreign Service.

Exemplary Performance Awards

Avis Bohlen Award – Mary Beth Bechtel
The Avis Bohlen Award is given to a Foreign Service family member whose relations with the American and foreign communities at post have done the most to advance American interests. This year’s recipient is Mary Beth Bechtel of Embassy Bamako. Her efforts to promote special needs education and awareness during her previous posting in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia have presented many families with crucial information, aid and the opportunity to speak openly about their country’s lack of resources and respect for their children. These efforts created a positive link between U.S. Foreign Service personnel and Saudi citizens and helped contribute to a more inclusive culture in Saudi Arabia.

Nelson B. Delavan Award – Julia Harrison
The Nelson B. Delavan Award recognizes a Foreign Service office management specialist (OMS) who has made extraordinary contributions to effectiveness, professionalism and morale at post. This year’s recipient is Julia Harrison of Consulate Erbil. After terrorists nearly overran the city, in addition to her existing duties, Harrison took on the duties of the community liaison officer (CLO) and worked to maintain optimism, spirit and safety among her colleagues. She organized events and activities to combat the boredom of restricted movement and celebrated the Marines protecting their post, allowing consulate staff to uphold their morale and continue to accomplish the goals of the Foreign Service.   

The runner-up for the Delavan Award is Veronica Peters of Embassy Riga. Peters maintained a positive attitude in the face of external uncertainties and transitions within the embassy caused by developments within Eastern Europe and Ukraine. She tirelessly took on numerous responsibilities, organized events and assisted her colleagues whenever possible. Her communication and planning skills have advanced foreign policy goals in the region and earned high marks by the Office of Inspector General.

M. Juanita Guess Award – Alexei Trofim
The M. Juanita Guess Award is given to a CLO who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and energy while assisting the families serving at an overseas post. This year’s recipient is Alexei Trofim of Embassy Dushanbe. His planning and communication skills have fostered enthusiasm, excitement and community among embassy staff in a difficult and isolated location. Trofim organized 10 or 12 regular monthly events, special holiday celebrations and CLO-sponsored trips within and outside of the city, which allowed his colleagues to connect with local staff, enjoy the natural beauty of Tajikistan and revive their morale.
 
This year, there are two runners-up for the Guess Award: Sara Locke and Jamie Bellamy of Embassy Beirut. Their joint efforts in organizing and coordinating multi-weekly activities such as trivia nights, book clubs and grocery trips improved the drive and performance of the embassy staff, whose movement around the city is severely restricted. In addition, they organized morale surveys, which offered the embassy community a safe way to express their concerns and provide potential solutions. These efforts have greatly enhanced the quality of life at this post.
 
Mark Palmer Award – Andrew Young
The new Mark Palmer Award is given to a member of the Foreign Service who promotes American policies focused on democracy, freedom and governance through bold, exemplary, imaginative and effective efforts during one or more assignments. This year’s recipient is Andrew Young of Embassy Bamako. Throughout his career, Young has actively advocated for democratic values and rights in all corners of the world. His service in Burma and Mali have demonstrated his commitment toward supporting and protecting democratic activists; criticizing governmental abuses of power; and leading peace negotiations that respect democracy, the rights of citizens and the rule of law. He has also expanded America’s power to promote and preserve democracy abroad by drafting the successful ADVANCE Democracy Bill. Young’s actions not only support a crucial pillar of U.S. diplomatic goals, but also help to improve the quality of life for people everywhere.
 
The runner-up for the Mark Palmer award is Joshua Baker of Consulate Dubai. As the director of the Dubai Regional Media Hub, Baker has engaged communities daily in all forms of media (and in numerous languages) to promote democratic values, extol human rights and denounce terrorism. Despite direct threats to himself and his office by terrorist groups, his pro-democracy messages have reached and influenced millions of individuals. As a result, the @USAbilAraby social media account has quintupled to more than 300,000 followers in only 24 months. Baker’s brave and unceasing efforts have thus helped foster a clear and positive impression of U.S. foreign policy goals, all while promoting democratic ideals in the face of terrorist threats. 
 
Post Representative of the Year Award – Charlee Doom
The Post Representative of the Year Award is given to a post representative who has demonstrated sustained and successful engagement with AFSA membership at post and post management to advance the strategic priorities of the association. This year’s recipient is Charlee Doom of Embassy Nairobi. Doom has advocated respect for and rights of Foreign Service professionals. She has fought to preserve policies that improve the health and safety of diplomats, aided post-career officers to gain retirement benefits and relayed the concerns and frustrations of her colleagues – as well as potential solutions – to AFSA and post management. Her dedication, commitment and constructive willingness for teamwork have inspired numerous Foreign Service officers to join or rejoin AFSA.
 
Contributions to AFSA Award – Ambassador (ret.) Andrew Winter
The new Contributions to AFSA Award is given to an active-duty or retired AFSA member of any of the foreign affairs agencies represented by AFSA who has made a significant (non-monetary) contribution to the association in its role either as a professional association of practitioners of diplomacy, or in its role as a labor union representing Foreign Service members. This year’s recipient is Andrew Winter, former AFSA treasurer. Winter has made incredible contributions to the financial and organizational health of AFSA. Between 2005 and 2013, he oversaw the renovation of AFSA headquarters, enhanced AFSA’s investment portfolio, offered budgetary support for both the renovation of the AFSA website and the redesign of The Foreign Service Journal and improved the association’s overall financial standing. His devoted service has laid the groundwork for future growth and development within AFSA.

Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award

The American Foreign Service Association is delighted to name career diplomat William C. Harrop as recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award, honoring his extraordinary commitment to advancing the field throughout his career in the Foreign Service, as well as through subsequent diplomacy-focused efforts in the nonprofit sector.
 
During his 39-year career as a Foreign Service officer, Ambassador Harrop served as U.S. Ambassador to Guinea, Kenya, Seychelles, Zaire and Israel. He also held positions as Inspector General of the State Department and Foreign Service, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, member of the State Department Policy Planning and Coordination Staff, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Australia. While the breadth and prestige of his appointments attests to the quality of Ambassador Harrop’s diplomatic work, his excellence in the field has also been recognized officially. Ambassador Harrop received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and State Department Distinguished Honor Award, as well as the 2001 Foreign Service Cup.