THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2026 9 Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal. LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Diplomacy Beyond 250 BY SHAWN DORMAN As the United States commemorates 250 years of independence, here at the Journal we turn our attention to a less celebrated but equally vital founding story: the birth of American diplomacy. In 1776 the Continental Congress sent Benjamin Franklin to Paris to win the support that would be critical in securing the new nation’s independence and establishing its place in the world. That mission launched a tradition of diplomatic service that continues today. Here, we present an outstanding selection of articles from some of the best (now former) diplomacy practitioners that look at the state and evolution of U.S. diplomacy from various vantage points. FS alum and FSJ Editorial Board member Katherine Ntiamoah opens the conversation with a Speaking Out on “Shaping the Next 250 Years of U.S. Diplomacy: Vision, Humility, and Action.” Senior FSO (ret.) Jennifer Davis leads the focus with a powerful piece on the challenges to democracy in the United States and elsewhere, and lays out why a healthy democracy is essential to effective U.S. foreign policy. Newly retired Senior FSO Kelly AdamsSmith explains the evolution of the role of the National Security Council and its currently diminished position and staffing. Veteran VOA reporter Elez Biberaj recounts the vital role of U.S. broadcasting and warns of what happens when it falls silent. Newly retired Senior FSO Steve Adams-Smith offers a brief history of and recent changes to the Foreign Service hiring process in “Are We Seeing the Reemergence of the Spoils System?” Recently retired FSO Tom Selinger uses excerpts from the oral history collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) to illustrate the legacy of Benjamin Franklin through the diplomats who followed in his footsteps. And, finally, James Graham Wilson and Lynette Evans-Tiernan from the State Historian’s Office give us a glimpse into how U.S. diplomatic history is compiled in the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) volumes. This edition of AFSA News headlines a special May 1 event that the history books will undoubtedly recall as an unfortunate moment. It was the first Foreign Service Day ignored by the State Department, leaving AFSA to hold the annual memorial ceremony honoring diplomats who died in the line of duty at association headquarters rather than at the site of the AFSA Memorial Plaques inside the State Department. History Notes Looking back on 250 years and considering the future of diplomacy, you can discover the full history of AFSA and of the Foreign Service in our searchable FSJ Digital Archives that go back more than 100 years (www.afsa.org/fsj-archive). In the Special Collections, we offer curated sets of articles from the archives on specific themes (e.g., humanitarian assistance, dissent, diplomatic tradecraft, FS families, China, Africa, climate, trade, public diplomacy, and reform). Read the story of U.S. diplomacy as told by those who were there, in the room. AFSA’s History Timeline, going back to 1776 and newly updated, was originally published in AFSA’s history book, The Voice of the Foreign Service. Now you can find it at https://afsa.org/afsa-history -timeline. Meeting the Moment This is a time of turmoil for U.S. diplomacy, and the professional career Foreign Service faces unprecedented threats. This is the time for every member of the Foreign Service community, past and present, to meet the moment and do what our AFSA president asks in his column: “Stand with AFSA.” AFSA is the primary organization looking out for you and your agency, throughout your FS career and beyond. Your membership is the number one contribution you can make to keep AFSA in the ring (not to be confused with the new eyebrow-raising State initiative “cage fights for diplomacy”). You can renew your membership (and update your mailing address) at https://afsa.org/membership. If you’re not receiving your FSJ, that may mean your membership has lapsed since payroll and annuity deductions came to an abrupt halt following the anti-union executive order of March 27, 2025. As always, we want to hear from you and add your voice to the conversation. Write to journal@afsa.org. n
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