The Foreign Service Journal, May 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2013 5 May 2013 Volume 90, No. 5 FOREIGN SERVICE FOCUS DIVERSITYWITHIN THE FOREIGN SERVICE A Longstanding Commitment / 18 BY STEVEN ALAN HONL EY Diversity and Cultural Competence: Mission-Critical Elements of U.S. Foreign Policy / 21 To prioritize diversity, organizations like the State Department must think boldly, beyond the legacy paradigms of “affirmative action,”“diversity” or “inclusion.” BY ERNEST J . WI LSON I I I EW@S: Supporting and Mentoring Female Leaders / 25 Five years after its founding, Executive Women at State has become a strong advocate of gender parity and diversity. BY CYNTH I A SABOE TLG: Expanding Opportunities at State / 28 The Thursday Luncheon Group, State’s oldest employee affinity group, continues to strengthen the Foreign and Civil Service workplace through its advocacy. BY STACY D. WI L L I AMS Pride Every Day / 32 Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies has largely accomplished its original mission to combat discrimination. But its work continues. BY STEVEN G I EGER I CH Celebrating Our Past, Uplifting Our Future / 36 Publicizing the contributions of African-Americans to diplomacy and development work can help attract young, diverse talent to careers in international affairs. BY MORGAN MCCLA I N -MCK I NNEY How Are FS Women at State Faring? / 39 The importance of State’s mission demands that we ensure talented female FSOs have the opportunity to reach for, and grab, the brass ring. BY MARGOT CARR I NGTON FEATURES Fidel Castro As Moby Dick: Dispatches from the Cold War / 46 An FSO traces U.S. policy in the Americas from the 1950s through the 1980s. BY PAUL D. TAY LOR AFSA NEWS Together We Grieve / 53 As we were completing this issue, we learned of the tragic death of Anne Smedinghoff, a promising young FSO and AFSA member, in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan. VP Voice State: All Overseas Positions Should Be Language Designated / 54 VP Voice FCS: Farewell / 55 VP Voice Retiree: Getting What You Need / 56 AFSA President Addresses World Affairs Councils / 57 Benefits Series: Focus on Geriatric Care / 58 FS Books: Something for Everyone / 59 Active After Active-Duty: Finding Roots / 60 The Foreign Service Family: Remembering Carolina / 61 Husbands of Chennai / 62 AFSA Book Notes Presents a Master Class / 63 COLUMNS President’s Views / 7 Reviving the Foreign Service BY SUSAN R . JOHNSON Speaking Out / 15 It’s Time to Update the Threshold Review BY BR I AN T. NEUBERT Reflections / 77 The Ties That Bind BY L EAH EVANS DEPARTMENTS Letters / 8 Talking Points / 11 Books / 67 Local Lens / 78 MARKETPLACE FSJ Guide to Extended Stay Housing / 65, 66 Classifieds / 70 Real Estate / 73 Index to Advertisers / 74 On the cover: A photo of the Diplomatic Class of 1912 (rear) and one of new hire Foreign Service officers in Chennai today. Image composition by Jeff Lau. New hire FSOs in Chennai: (From left) First-tour FSO Rachel O’Hara; second-tour FSO Shiraz Wahaj, a Pakistani American (sitting); second-tour FSO Kris Arvind, an Indian-American; first-tour FSO Ben Embury; first-tour FSO Halima Voyles, a Pakistani-American (sitting); and first-tour FSO Daniel Lee, a Korean-American. Photo credit: James Talalay.