The Foreign Service Journal, April 2021

16 APRIL 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Brendan Rivage-Seul, an 11-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, has served in Mexico, Afghanistan, Pakistan, France and the Operations Center in Washington, D.C. launch of an Administrative Dissent Channel in 2021—the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Dissent Channel for policy—would be fitting. Some Administrative Challenges Specific administrative challenges— and ideas for solutions or alternatives— one might reasonably expect to see highlighted for department attention in administrative dissent cables are famil- iar to many of us. They include, among other things: • Lack of diversity and inclusion in the Foreign Service. • Insufficient support for “tandem” Foreign Service couples and families with two working spouses. • The shortcomings of volunteer pro- motion panels. • The shortsightedness of not conduct- ing exit interviews or tracking personnel separation data. • The institutional costs of appointing political-donor ambassadors who lack qualifications. • Integrity gaps in the department’s evaluation system. • The inadequacy of embassy medical facilities and staffing. • Insufficient hardware, software and financial support for teleworking. • The flaws of the outdated State train- ing model. • The department’s inability to con- sistently staff priority service posts with our best people. In the final analysis, it is incumbent on any new Secretary who hopes to suc- ceed as America’s top diplomat to get to know the department as an institution and its people. What are their frustra- tions and aspirations? Collective hopes for our new Secre- tary are justifiably high. We all eagerly await an announcement of the steps he will take to strengthen our institution and position us for success. The launch of an Administrative Dissent Channel would be a good place to start. n