The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2019 9 it impossible for many members to meet a requirement for seeking promotion into the senior Foreign Service. AFSA took this issue (and, during my presidency, only this issue) to impasse resolution; and, unfortunately, we did not prevail. I believe this issue should be revisited. Did the changes improve the bidding pro- cess enough to justify the added stress on the system and on individual members? And do we really believe, as HR argued in justifying the new requirements, that the only valid path to senior leadership is via at least two greater hardship tours? While I value my own experience in war zones, I would argue that we should retain the possibility for a variety of paths to senior leadership to be sure we have a broad mix of expertise in our senior ranks. The administration’s marked movement away from “expeditionary diplomacy,” as evidenced by the drawdowns described above, also argues for a fresh look. Fixing this would be an easy lift; it wouldn’t even need congressional approval. What State put in place, State can revise. As AFSA’s first Strong Diplomacy president, I would never argue for changes that weaken the corps, that undermine the strength and resilience of the Foreign Service. At the same time, I believe the extraordinary demands made on indi- vidual members of the Foreign Service deserve full recognition—and certainly should never be made harder without a good reason. I am profoundly pleased that our fellow Americans are much more aware today than they were four years ago of what America’s diplomats do and why it matters. Through the strategic partner- ships AFSA forged, through our outreach efforts, and through the work of AFSA members (especially retired members), the proud story of the Foreign Service is being told in all 50 states across this great nation of ours. Ours is a story of remarkable service and sacrifice, a story of delivering for our country in the face of unique challenges. I am proud of our collective story and more convinced than ever that what America’s diplomats do is instrumental in sustaining American global leadership and keeping us secure and prosperous at home. It has been my great honor to serve alongside you these last four years and throughout the past 34 years, working to expand the reach of democracy; to help build a Europe whole, free and at peace; to fight corruption and help build good governance; to level the playing field for American business; and to forge consen- sus on protecting the planet we share. As I pass the baton, I encourage you to both continue this tradition of exemplary service and fully own our story of taking on a uniquely challenging career and delivering for the American people. n I would like to start by thanking AFSA’s members for your support in the recent election. Our board is start- ing work with a strong mandate to address the many urgent challenges that we face as an association, as a Service and as a profession. I salute Barbara Stephenson and the outgoing board for their dedication and accomplishments. AFSA is stronger because of their efforts, our Foreign Service is stronger and American diplomacy is stronger. But there is much more work to be done. The 2019-2021 Governing Board will begin its work with a strong focus on securing funding for American diplomacy, for getting our members out into the field, and for demonstrating the critical role that our Foreign Service plays in securing America’s security, prosperity and progress. We cannot accomplish those goals without adequate resources and staffing, and so my first priority will be to work with the senior leadership of all of our foreign affairs agencies and our elected representatives to reverse the creeping cuts and the inadequate staffing of so many of our missions overseas. AFSA needs to push our agencies to reverse the serious decline in diversity, step up recruiting and outreach, and do more to explain to the American people and their elected representatives why our Foreign Service is important to our country’s future. We must also support efforts to make it easier for our colleagues to serve overseas, and to ensure that the Foreign Service is truly family-friendly.We need medical policies and rules that do everything possible to enable our colleagues to serve overseas, advance their careers and advance our country’s interests. I will do everything I can to validate the trust and confidence you have given me. Together we can achieve much. I promise you I will give it everything I have. —Eric Rubin Greetings from the New AFSA President