The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2013 57 AFSA NEWS NEWS BRIEF 2013 George F. Kennan Award Winner Each year, AFSA participates in the graduation ceremo- nies awarding the George F. Kennan Strategic Writing Award at the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. Daniel Hirsch, AFSA Govern- ing Board vice president for State, presented this year’s award to Christina Higgins at the ceremony on June 7. Christina, a member of AFSA, joined the Foreign Ser- vice in 1999 as a public diplo- macy officer. She has served in Angola, France, Senegal and Jerusalem, as well as in several human resources positions in Washington and was the office director for Africa in the Bureau of International Information Programs.  Christina summed up her experience, “Attending the National War College this year has afforded me a valu- able opportunity to dive deep on national security issues. I wanted to take full advan- tage of the extraordinary experience and resources to prepare for my onward assignment as Deputy Chief of Mission in Djibouti. There- fore, to better understand the region, I wrote papers on Djibouti, Yemen and a longer essay on Somali state- building. “I am honored to have been recognized by AFSA for my thoughts on Somalia and U.S.-Somalia policy. My paper explores what les- sons might be learned about effective state-building from the relatively stable Somalil- and and more challenging security environment in other parts of Somalia. “Drawing on the research and writings of Somali experts and conflict resolu- tion professionals. I argue that peace efforts in Somalia have been hindered by the insistence of the interna- tional community to build a national government before ending community-level armed conflict. “I recommend a greater emphasis in policy and resources on first achiev- ing negotiated and detailed cease-fire and security agreements at local levels, before attempting more ambitious state-building at the federal level. The problem is essentially one of proper sequencing. “I would like to share my award with all my govern- ment colleagues working on the “New Deal” for Somalia. May all combined efforts indeed seize this window of opportunity to bring peace and stability to the people of Somalia.” Christina is finishing her training assignment as a member of the National War College Class of 2013. She will enjoy a year with the Board of Examiners before heading out to Djibouti as Deputy Chief of Mission in summer 2014. n AFSA State VP Daniel Hirsch presents the George Kennan Writing Award to Christina Higgins, while Acting National War College Commandant Ambassador James Foley awards the Excellence in Writing certificate. PHOTOCOURTESYOFTHENATIONALWARCOLLEGE BY PERRI GREEN, COORDINATOR FOR SPECIAL AWARDS AND OUTREACH The seventh annual Caroline and Ambassador Charles Adair Memorial Lecture, which traditionally kicks off the academic year at the American Universi- ty’s School of International Service, will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 3:00 p.m. This year’s speaker is Ambassador John Campbell. The lecture is generously funded by Marshall Adair (a former AFSA president and newly-elected retiree rep on the AFSA Governing Board) through a perpetual gift to the association’s Fund for Ameri- can Diplomacy. The lectures are designed to expose students to individuals who have spent their careers practicing diplomacy. Amb. Campbell is a veteran diplomat who spent much of his career in Africa. He will speak on the “Challenges Facing U.S. Diplomacy in Africa in the New Century.” Currently the Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on For- eign Relations, he served as ambassador to Nigeria from 2004 to 2007. The Adair Lecture will take place at the Kaye Memorial Chapel on the AU campus. For additional information, please contact AFSA Speakers Bureau Director Tom Switzer at switzer@afsa.org or (202) 944-5501. Amb. John Campbell to Deliver Adair Lecture