The Foreign Service Journal, May 2010

16 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A Y 2 0 1 0 compounds instead of out doing the contact and connection work that is the lifeblood of diplomacy. Freedom from having to guess what is around the next corner in the increasingly challenging and hostile environments that Foreign Service members now face. Smart Tools Achieving this kind of freedom is easier than you may think. For exam- ple, last July the U.S. Institute of Peace held a unique conference called “Smart Tools for Smart Power.” The event brought together public and private sector groups to showcase state-of-the- art simulation and serious gaming tools that USIP described as having the “ex- pertise to transform the way that peacebuilding organizations train, plan and collaborate.” White House Deputy Chief Tech- nology Officer Beth Noveck chal- lenged participants to help the Obama administration use these tools to ad- vance policy goals. That call was taken up by many of the presenters — from the Army War College to Second Life to eBay to Lockheed Martin — who stated their willingness to partner with government to do just that. Whether through USIP or some other organization, State ought to take up these offers and get those develop- ing new technologies engaged on be- half of Foreign Service officers every- where. In recent years, public-private partnerships have helped State pursue policy objectives ranging from assisting Lebanon’s recovery fromwar to foster- ing deeper and more sustained en- gagement with the Muslim world. Why not use a similar approach to help our diplomats and development offi- cials do their jobs more safely and ef- fectively? Even if Sec. Clinton and her team do pursue some of these possibilities, a lot depends on participation by State Department employees at all levels, both in the Foreign Service and Civil Service. An unwillingness to simply ac- cept the status quo has to become the norm if State is to develop a real cul- ture of innovation. Of course, no matter how sophisti- cated, technology will never be a sub- stitute for the experience, judgment and energy of seasoned diplomatic and development professionals. And not every gizmo or system used by other departments is appropriate for State or the other foreign affairs agencies. But strengthening diplomacy and develop- ment will require both expanding the use of existing technologies and devel- oping a culture of innovation that con- tinually looks for new tools and new ways to apply them. As for my former boss’s typewriter, I hope he donated it to the new Diplo- macy Center, where it can be viewed along with other artifacts of American diplomatic history. After all, we keep James Madison’s desk and Paul Re- vere’s silver on the 8th floor of Main State. We just don’t expect our officers to use them! ■ Tom Casey, a Foreign Service officer with the Department of State and the United States Information Agency from 1988 to 2008, served as director of State’s Office of Press Relations from 2003 to 2006, and as deputy spokesman and deputy assistant secretary for pub- lic affairs from 2006 to 2008. His over- seas assignments included Caracas, Lagos, Lima, Brussels, Baghdad and Tirana. After retiring as a Senior For- eign Service officer in 2008, Casey be- came director of communications for Lockheed Martin Readiness & Stabil- ity Operations. S P E A K I N G O U T CHANGE OF ADDRESS Moving? Take AFSA With You! Change your address online at: www.afsa.org/comment.cfm Or Send change of address to: AFSA Membership Department 2101 E Street NW Washington, DC 20037