THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY-JUNE 2026 11 Dual Citizen FSOs While Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann’s defense of a professional Foreign Service (“Our Professional Foreign Service Is in Danger,” March-April FSJ) is laudable, his article misses a far more active and concrete threat to our diplomatic corps: the current policy of hiring dual citizens. Neumann’s concern over graduates from specific universities focuses on a speculative, future danger that is contingent on a particular political outcome. He is, in effect, sounding the alarm about a potential leaky faucet. This presupposes a collective bias that is not only unprovable but also overlooks that our recruitment process draws from hundreds of varied institutions, making a complete ideological capture highly unlikely. Conversely, the issue of dual citizenship is the house fire happening now. This is not a speculative risk; it is a current State Department policy that sanctions a tangible, legal allegiance to a foreign power. A diplomat’s loyalty must be undivided. To grant the immense privilege of representing the United States to an individual who holds a legal obligation to another nation creates an immediate and undeniable conflict of interest. It is baffling that we would focus on a potential future problem while our policy actively permits a structural vulnerability today. It is this tangible conflict of allegiance, not the speculative ideology of future hires, that poses the true danger to our fragile diplomacy. Our focus must be on the singular allegiance of our diplomats, because when they sit at the negotiating table, any hint of dual loyalty is a liability that skeptical nations can exploit, and an invitation for the diplomat’s other country to undermine our efforts and dissuade cooperation. Andrew Ford Ryan FSO, retired Burke, Virginia In Appreciation of Robin Meyer On Christmas Eve 2025, the Foreign Service lost one of its finest diplomats. Robin Meyer combined political and economic acumen with empathy, dedication, humility, patriotism, and expert leadership, building bridges across nations and inspiring colleagues worldwide to excel. News of her passing, shared on my LinkedIn page, drew more than 50 tributes from entry-level officers, former ambassadors, and locally employed staff alike. They praised her integrity, toughness, courage, mentorship, empathy, and wisdom. “She taught me many of the foundational diplomatic skills that served me throughout my career.” “A loss for the country.” “There was no one more knowledgeable, smarter, or more thoughtful than Robin.” “A light in the Department of State.” These reflections capture the profound impact she had on both policy and the people who served alongside her. Despite facing hurdles within the department and harassment and surveillance from foreign governments, she served with distinction and pride. Early in her career, Cuba expelled her for documenting human rights abuses. Later successes, such as leading the embassy as chargé d’affaires in Ecuador and arranging the first U.S.-Ecuadorian presidential meeting in 17 years, advanced U.S. foreign policy even as they drew little attention at home. Committed to ensuring the American public understood the work of its diplomats, Robin championed outreach through the department’s “hometown diplomat” program and engaged directly with foreign and U.S. students and civic groups, both in person and on video calls. After retiring, she continued to serve her community and used her diplomatic skills as a mediator, resolving conflicts and guiding people toward solutions. She approached every issue and problem with an open mind, using her experience and that of others to guide discussion and decision-making. She then presented those decisions at every level—from students to journalists to presidents—with professionalism, credibility, and, sometimes, humor. She remained humble about her accomplishments. Had she known I would write this letter, she may have tried to dissuade me, probably saying that others have done more than her. I write it anyway, because this reminder of what diplomatic excellence looks like is needed. At a time of profound change within the Foreign Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. government, Robin Meyer’s example endures. Her courage, care, commitment, and dedication to country, Constitution, and colleagues remain a model for all who aspire to be consummate diplomats. Robin Holzhauer FSO, retired Orlando, Florida
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