80 APRIL-MAY 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Jean-Bertrand Aristide with Jimmy Carter in Port-au-Prince, 1990. COURTESY OF STEVE KASHKETT Katie Koehler with Ambassador to Nepal Peter W. Bodde and President Jimmy Carter at the embassy in Kathmandu, 2014. COURTESY OF KATIE KOEHLER APPRECIATION The President’s Control Officer Nepal, 2014 My first-ever opportunity to serve as control officer came during my first tour in Kathmandu, where I was serving as the pol/econ office management specialist (OMS). President Carter had visited Nepal several times to support the Carter Center. I remember telling anyone who would listen that if he came to the embassy, I wanted to be his control officer. My family has strong connections to Georgia, and I really wanted to meet him. Everyone said he wasn’t going to come, but then at the last minute, he did! So, I think they felt like they had to let me be the control officer. He gave a great speech, without notes, and shook everyone’s hands, and took photos with the Marines before he left. I remember thinking, “Wow, I don’t know why everyone complains about being control officer, this was so easy!” Ha. One of my first Foreign Service memories. Katie Koehler Vice Consul U.S. Consulate Guadalajara Monitoring Elections in Port-au-Prince Haiti, 1990 Most Foreign Service officers have stories about their experiences with prominent people during their careers. One of my most memorable ones is of Jimmy Carter, who came to Haiti in 1990, a decade after leaving office, as the head of an observer mission for the historic first free elections in that country. As the embassy political officer in charge of our election PORTRAIT BY COMMONWEALTH CLUB - SAN FRANCISCO, SAN JOSE - 2/24/2013/WIKIMEDIA
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