The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2003

Delavan Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Laura Baer “H er dedication, interpersonal grace and professional excel- lence have sustained this post during themost trying times,” writes Embassy Islamabad’s economic counselor. “She is an extraordinary example for all of us in the Foreign Service and her performance in Islamabad warrants extraordi- nary recognition.” During two of the most challenging years ever for Embassy Islamabad— includ- ing the aftermath of 9/11, Operation Enduring Freedom in neighboring Afghanistan, two war scares with India, the March 2002 terrorist attack on a church that took the lives of twomembers of the embassy community, and several evacu- ations (including evacuation of her three children)— Economic Section OfficeManagement Specialist Laura Baer served as a constant source of strength for the mission. As Pakistan was trans- formed into a front-line state in the war on terrorism, Baer became the obvious choice for coordination of the flood of high-level visitors and 200 temporary-duty personnel. She worked day and night to support the numerous visits by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Treasury Secretary and over 40members of Congress. Baer played a central role in the embassy’s response to the tragic church attack, serving as the de facto crisis secretariat, relaying infor- mation to embassy staff and families and tracking down unaccount- ed-for staff. Embassy staff and families found comfort and strength in her calmdemeanor as news of the death of twomembers of the embassy community came in and the full depth of the tragedy was realized. Her extraordinary professional skills and performance attracted assignments usually reserved for FSOs. In 2001 and 2002, Baer coor- dinated theMission ProgramPlan review and drafted reporting cables relating to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. She was an essential resource for newcomers to post, as she expertly oriented themon everything from life in Islamabad to the drafting of cables. Her carefully cultivated contacts in the Pakistani bureaucracy ensured that almost any appointment needed would be secured. When the commissary was without Americanmanagement due to the evacuations, Baer served as acting general manager and cut costs in response to sharply decreased business. Displaying creative problem-solving skills and sensitivity to the needs of others, she launched a successful charity drive to donate unused food to a local orphanage. The commissary avoided a financial loss, the orphanage received needed assistance, and the embassy projected a positive image to the local community. Baer joined the department 20 years ago, and has served in Damascus, Brussels, Khartoum, Rabat, Paris and Islamabad. Her next posting is Beirut. “I love my job,” says Baer, “and the people I have worked with who are the very best of the Foreign Service. After all these years, I am as thrilled going to Beirut this summer as 20 years ago when I went off tomy first assignment in Damascus.” 6 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2003 AFSA’S 2003 EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS These awards honor exemplary performance and extraordinary contributions to effectiveness, professionalism and morale. The Tex Harris Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALIST Charles A. O’Malley C harles O’Malley served in New Delhi, India, from 1999 to 2002 as the information programs supervisor. He also served the community as the AFSA representative at this large embassy, and it is in that position that he was instrumental in calling attention to the serious and deleterious work environ- ment and poor morale at post. His activism led to improvement in the situation. As an active AFSA rep, O’Malley kept his finger on the pulse of staff morale. He kept his constituents informed by setting up an AFSA page on the embassy’s Web site, which fast became a well-appreciated source of useful information. Embassy New Delhi was already one of the busiest missions in the world before it became a front-line state in the war against terrorism. In the fall of 2001, following the arrival of a new chief of mission, embassy morale began a dra- matic decline. Demands from the ambassador exacer- bated pressures already imposed by the tense political climate. Some staff members requested their tours of duty be cut short. Many of those that did not curtail argued that the front office’s requests were diverting resources and attention from more urgent tasks. The work environment deteriorated further. Out of concern for the staff and the impact poor morale was having on the mission’s ability to meet important national secu- rity objectives, O’Malley alerted AFSA headquarters to the situa- tion. His action focused AFSA’s attention on what had largely been anecdotal evidence forwarded to AFSA via individual e- mails and phone conversations. He later briefed the Inspector General’s staff as well. It was O’Malley’s balanced, non-polemical approach that made the difference. It was clear he bore no personal grudge; his was an concerned but objective voice. When department staff went to post to investigate the actual state of morale, O’Malley was one person every visitor needed to meet, and his voice was heard. The department’s focus on New Delhi had an impact; work- ing conditions and morale improved. O’Malley credits AFSA with keeping him on track, “during a time when many others encouraged me to drop the issue for fear it would hurt my career.” This case serves as an example of how AFSA can help focus the problems of individuals into a coherent call for change for the whole mission, a call that management must answer. O’Malley has also served in Bujumbura and Singapore, and is currently serving in Bridgetown. He was the AFSA representa- tive in Singapore and is playing the same role in Bridgetown. He joined the Foreign Service as an information management spe- cialist in 1994 following 10 years as a U.S. Navy cryptologic tech- nician. He tells us, “My career with the Department of State has been amazing and I cannot possibly imagine myself doing any- thing else, anywhere else.” He and his wife Salvacion Agero O’Malley have a 7-year-old son. Charles O’Malley Laura Baer AFSA’S 2003 DISSENT AWARD WINNERS Continued from page 5