The Foreign Service Journal, January 2007

were promoted in recent years while there was no seminar. Because the Foreign Service assignment process involves self- selection and considerations of hard- ship assignments, time limits on domestic assignments and language qualifications, as well as ever-chang- ing departmental priorities, an estab- lished priority process will be required to maximize selection of the best officers. Perhaps each year the director general could review the records of SFS promotees with less than average time in the Service and place these outstanding candidates on a list for whichever upcoming seminar fits the officer’s next reas- signment. Then, before the bidding cycle begins, the officers could be notified, and those sufficiently high- ranked could be designated for the seminar. Inevitably, a few of these candidates will have their current assignment extended, decide to take a high-priority alternative assignment, or even become sick. The director general would then work down the candidate list for available substitutes. Whatever system is developed, giving the director general full authority may be key. However these details are worked out, the Senior Seminar Alumni Association will do its best to make long-term interagency senior educa- tion a reality once again. John Bushnell, an FSO from 1959 to 1992, attended the 1976-1977 Senior Seminar. His overseas assignments were Bogota, Santo Domingo, San Jose, Geneva, Buenos Aires and Panama City, where he coordinated the 1989 operation to restore democ- racy. He also served on the NSC staff and as principal deputy assistant sec- retary of Treasury (International) and State (Latin America). Since retiring, he has been special assistant to the New York District Attorney. J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 17 S P E A K I N G O U T