14 MAY-JUNE 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL to others. His legacy of love will continue to guide and inspire us always. With love, prayers, and deepest sympathy from all of his familia at HECFAA. The HECFAA Board I first got to know Moises in January 2019 when he worked in Matamoros. During the “20/32” labor movement, Moises and the pol/econ team produced excellent reports on the first significant push for labor rights in a Mexican border city in decades. These reports played a key role in informing the participants in the negotiations of what became the U.S.-MexicoCanada Agreement, which includes the strongest labor chapter of any trade agreement. I greatly enjoyed reading Moises’ informative April 2020 FSJ article on the history of the Matamoros consulate, and we had many fascinating conversations about diplomatic history. We also chatted extensively about our experiences at posts in Mexico and the Caribbean and as desk officers for Latin American countries. I also happily provided some small input for his “Mission Microhistories” article in the July 2023 edition of State Magazine. Not surprisingly, given his journalism background, he excelled at the written word. I will miss him. Hasta siempre, compañero. Jason Vorderstrasse FSO, retired San Diego, California I had the privilege of serving with Moises Mendoza at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. I can’t remember exactly when I first met Moises, and I suspect that’s true for many people who knew him. One day he was a stranger, and the next he felt like an old friend. Someone who made the mission warmer. Someone whose smile in the elevator could calm a stressful day. Moises had one of the most demanding jobs at the mission. As the staff assistant to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, he was responsible for assembling the ambassador’s daily briefing book. It was far from glamorous work. But when the process ran smoothly—as it did under Moises—it was easy to miss how much judgment, discipline, and care it required. Moises was like the air traffic controller of the mission—the person who kept everything moving smoothly and safely. But that only tells part of the story. Moises did more than keep things moving. He ensured information coursed reliably throughout the mission. He helped decisions take shape and people stay connected. He rarely called attention to himself yet quietly set the pace and rhythm of the building. Moises was the heart of the mission. Later, as an officer in the political section, he fought to protect women and children trapped in conflict—and he represented the best of U.S. diplomacy: thoughtful, steady, and grounded in respect for others. He showed that real strength often comes quietly, caring for those most in need. To Moises’s family: Please know that the kindness he showed, the heart he put into his work, and the powerful example he set—all of that lives on in the people he shaped and the standard of excellence he left behind. Chris Lu U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management and Reform (2022–2025) Arlington, Virginia The Pickering and Rangel Fellows Association (PRFA) mourns the loss of our friend, colleague, and brother, Moises Mendoza. Moises was an active 2014 Rangel Fellow, devoted PRFA board member, and a steady force behind many of PRFA’s key milestones. Moises played a foundational role in shaping PRFA into the organization it is today. He led the effort to formally register PRFA as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, establishing the legal and structural framework that allows us to serve our fellows with integrity and sustainability. As a steward of our finances, he ensured donor funds were managed responsibly and spent only in clear alignment with our mission. His diligence was never about recognition, it was about responsibility. It was about doing things the right way. Moises served PRFA the same way he served every community he encountered, with integrity, enthusiasm, and deep respect for his team. He believed in people. He trusted the process. And he knew institutions matter because they both shape and protect lives. His impact extended far beyond PRFA. Across foreign affairs spaces, Moises purposefully strengthened systems, supported colleagues, and moved ideas into action. He understood that meaningful change often happens in small, steady increments, in the daily discipline of showing up thoughtfully and acting deliberately. Moises embodied President John F. Kennedy’s words: “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” Moises was one of those people. He was also never quiet in reminding each of us that we could be those people too. Since taking the oath to serve as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service,
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