The Foreign Service Journal, March 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2022 71 AFSA NEWS Book Notes Career Diplomacy Authors Harry Kopp and John Naland joined AFSA via Zoom on Dec. 9 to discuss their book, Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the U.S. For- eign Service (George- town University Press, 2021). Now in its fourth edition, this popular book offers a candid, in-depth look at the Foreign Service as an institution, a profession and a career. In the new edition, the authors have added more information about how the profession functions and how it has evolved since the third edition was published in 2017. “It’s been five years [since the last edition],” Naland explained, “and it’s amazing how many procedures have changed for hiring, promotion and assignment. The budget numbers, staffing numbers and factoids needed signifi- cant updating.” New in this edition is a chapter on diversity and inclusion, including statistics from a 2019 report from the Government Accountability Office. Interviews with current and retired members of the Foreign Service were also updated. In light of ongoing security concerns such as the pandemic and anomalous health incidents, the chap- ter on danger and duty was expanded to characterize the Foreign Service career as one that is often called on to run toward danger. Harry Kopp, a former FSO, serves on the FSJ Editorial Board and is AFSA’s unofficial historian. He is the author of two additional books on diplomacy: Commercial Diplomacy and the National Interest (American Academy of Diplomacy, 2004), and The Voice of the Foreign Service: A History of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA / Foreign Service Books, 2015). John Naland retired from the Foreign Service in 2015 after a 29-year career. He is currently AFSA’s Retiree Vice President and has had more than 100 articles and essays published in the FSJ . View the entire book talk at youtube.com/AFSAtube. n Authors Harry Kopp and John Naland. AFSAGoverning Board Meeting, Dec. 8, 2021 The board met at AFSA headquarters on Dec. 8, the first in-person meeting since July 2021. Memorial Plaques: The Governing Board agreed to include one new name on the Virtual AFSA Memorial Plaque. The board further approved the Awards and Plaques Committee’s recommendation that AFSA seek State Department approval to place a new plaque in the C Street lobby of Main State honoring all those serv- ing overseas during COVID-19, including any Foreign Service members who died after contracting the disease overseas. New Award: The board approved the establishment of a For- eign Service Champions award to recognize an organization, a member of Congress, a military official or another influen- tial noncareer member of the foreign affairs community who has demonstrably championed the Foreign Service’s role in U.S. foreign policy and has had an enduring, positive impact on both the Service and the diplomatic profession. Associate Members: The board approved the application of one new associate member. Resignation: The board accepted the resignation of Jolisa Brooks as USAID representative due to personal reasons. Ratification of Virtual Votes: In accordance with AFSA bylaws, the board ratified in-person the decisions made during virtual meetings, and actions taken in reliance thereon, held between August 2021 and December 2021. n The AFSA website features links to dozens of active blogs cre- ated by members of the Foreign Service community, and we want to ensure that all FS bloggers who would like to be listed on this popular page have the chance to join. The FS Blogs list, found at afsa.org/foreign-service-blogs, ranks consistently among the top 10 most popular pages on the AFSA website and is also linked as “suggested reading” by the State Department’s hiring site, careers.state.gov. Joining the AFSA list offers another way to generate traffic for your blog and introduce your content to active-duty, retired and prospec- tive Foreign Service members as well as to the public at large. If you have a blog to add to the list, please contact FSblogs@ afsa.org with the website URL, the agency you’re associated with, and a brief summary of the nature of the content you publish. n Calling All FS Bloggers!