The Foreign Service Journal, June 2014

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2014 17 the clearance process altogether is quite risky and generally not advisable. The second determination is whether you are acting in a private or official capacity. The latter term implies that an action is part of one’s official discharge of duties on behalf of the State Department. It is important to note that the presump- tion of private capacity can be overcome by a number of factors, including rank, relationship to the subject matter or the potential for harm to foreign affairs (see 3 FAM 4172.1-6(B)). Individuals who have put together materials in their private capacity that are “of official concern” are required to submit them for clearance. For cur- rent employees in the United States, the reviewing office is the Bureau of Public Affairs (paclearances@state.gov ). For current employees stationed overseas, the point of contact is the chief of mission. And for all former employees, the review- ing office is within the Bureau of Adminis- tration’s Office of Information Programs, A/GIS/IPS/PP/LA to be precise. The purpose of the review is solely to “ensure that classified material and other material protected by law are not improperly disclosed and that the views of employees are not improperly attributed to the U.S. government” (3 FAM 4172.1-1a). The review should not address any other issue. The first determination that must be made is whether your material is “of official concern.”