The Foreign Service Journal - January/February 2018

AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 63 CALENDAR January 1 New Year’s Day: AFSA Offices Closed January 1 AFSA Scholarships and Merit Awards Applications Available January 15 Martin Luther King Day: AFSA Offices Closed January 16 Deadline: Sinclaire Language Award Nominations January 17 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting January 25 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Book Notes: Peacemakers by Ambassador James Pardew February 19 Presidents Day: AFSA Offices Closed February 21 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting March 5 Deadline: AFSA Scholarship Applications AFSA President’s Column Becomes Headline News At the front of every issue of The Foreign Service Jour- nal, we run a column by the AFSA president. Ambassa- dor Barbara Stephenson’s December President’s Views column, “Time to AskWhy,” was shared with the member- ship in advance of publication. The column was immediately picked up by multiple media outlets, generating interest on the Hill and ultimately chang- ing the narrative to better reflect the critical role of the Foreign Service. On Nov. 8, Amb. Stephen- son appeared on the PBS NewsHour to discuss AFS A’s concern over the rapid depletion of senior ranks at the State Department and a set of data she shared in her column supporting that claim. The column was also covered by TheWashington Post, Foreign Policy, Time, The NewYork Times, ABC News , Vanity Fair, The Hill , The Rachel Maddow Show, Vox, Bloom- berg and many others. AFSA’s long-term goal is to raise awareness of and appreciation for what the Foreign Service does for our country.We are grateful for this national media coverage that showcases the Foreign Service as an institution vital to our national security. n Ambassador Stephenson with PBS Newshour correspondent William Brangham. AFSA/ASGEIRSIGFUSSON On Nov. 11 AFSA and the American College of National Security Leaders discussed management and appropriations issues with Representative Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, and Representative Tom Cole (R-Okla.). Pictured from left to right: Rep. Tom Cole; retired Major General Peter Cooke, the director of congressional engagement for ACNSL; AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson; Rep. Rogers; retired USN Rear Admiral Mike Smith, president of ACNSL; and Mary Daly, AFSA’s director of advocacy and speechwriting. COURTESYOFREPRESENTATIVEHALROGERS’OFFICE P. 73 AFSAMeets with Chair of House Committee on Appropriations