THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2025 61 AFSA NEWS a Foreign Service engineering officer, was 54 years old and is survived by his wife and young daughter. Landau promised the audience that the department would place the USAID memorial wall in a location of dignity and visibility, stating: “I will make sure with every breath in my body that this plaque gets put in a place of honor and distinction in this State Department building.” Following the presentation of the colors by the United States Armed Services Color Guard, attendees observed a 20-second moment of silence—part of a rolling tribute joined by U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, from Ouagadougou to Sydney, from Paris to Paramaribo. The ceremony concluded with the laying of a wreath at the memorial wall and a performance of the national anthem. In closing, Yazdgerdi thanked all in attendance for honoring their colleagues: “Your presence speaks to the strength of our Foreign Service family, and to the profound impact of a life dedicated to diplomacy and peace.” n Global Rolling Moment of Silence at U.S. Embassy Abidjan (top right) and at U.S. Embassy Paris (bottom right). U.S. EMBASSY ABIDJAN U.S. EMBASSY PARIS AFSA Governing Board Meeting March 19, 2025 President Tom Yazdgerdi welcomed retired FSO Lisa Heller as the new director of professional policy issues. The board agreed on the winner of the 2025 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy award. The board agreed to grant blanket authorization to the Office of the General Counsel to decline assistance to members seeking to grieve department regulations that were negotiated by AFSA. The board agreed that “Foreign Service Alumni” is an acceptable alternative name for the Retiree category. The board ratified authorization of an appropriation of up to $100,000 from the Legal Defense Fund. The board agreed to appropriate up to $33,000 from the Legal Defense Fund to support a request for a temporary restraining order regarding USAGM. The board agreed to request an increased liability limit of up to $3 million for director and officer (D&O) insurance. n AFSA Welcomes April Orientation Class On May 5, the American Foreign Service Association welcomed the April 2025 Orientation Class with a celebratory lunch at AFSA headquarters. The event offered a warm introduction to the association and an opportunity for incoming Foreign Service professionals to connect with colleagues and AFSA staff. This diverse class of approximately 105 specialists (and no generalists) includes Diplomatic Security agents, diplomatic technology officers, medical professionals, office management specialists, and more, bringing a wealth of experience from federal service, the private sector, and beyond. Many members of the class speak multiple languages and have backgrounds ranging from the military and Peace Corps to avia- tion, education, and even the music industry. AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi offered brief remarks about AFSA’s role in advocating for Foreign Service members and supporting them throughout their careers. AFSA is honored to be part of their first steps into service. n
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=