The Foreign Service Journal, September 2005

American Foreign Service Association • September 2005 AFSA NEWS FSA’s dissent awards are unique in government service,” then-AFSA President John Limbert remarked at the 2005 AFSA awards cer- emony. “They are not about perfor- mance, nor are they about being right on an issue. Rather we present them to Foreign Service colleagues who have chal- lenged the system fromwithin and have questioned conventional wisdom, regard- less of the personal consequences.” In thanking Director General W. Robert Pearson for co-hosting this year’s awards ceremony with AFSA, Limbert went on to say, “How remarkable it is that the chief management and chief labor officer of the Foreign Service should share a podium to honor dissenters.” Director General Pearson, in his remarks, noted that AFSA and manage- ment have “done an enormous amount in the past two years to change the Foreign Service tomeet tomor- row’s challenges.” 2005 AFSA AWARDS CEREMONY AFSA Honors Dissent and Performance BY SHAWN DORMAN DAS JOBS GO TO MID-LEVEL FSOS AFSA Protests Out-of-Step Assignments BY SHAWN DORMAN A fter hearing that three of the covet- eddeputyassistantsecretarypositions in the Bureau of European and EurasianAffairswouldbe awarded tonon- seniorForeignServiceofficers (oneFS-2and two FS-1s), AFSA raised objections with seniordepartmentmanagement—inwrit- ing and in person — and urged that the appointments not bemade. (See theAFSA president’s column, p. 5.) AFSA did not object to the individuals involved, but to the message sent by the appointments. Putting mid-level officers inDAS positions under- mines theentireassignment system, accord- ing to AFSA. “Career DAS positions are senior posi- tions for good reason,” said then-AFSA President JohnLimbert, “They are filledby former chiefs of mission and others with Inside This Issue: BRIEFS: AGGELER ...............................2 STATE VP: THE REAL FS.....................3 USAID VP: FUTURE PERFECT.............4 FIGHT FOR AUTHORIZATION BILL.....6 NEW AFSA SCHOLARSHIP.................7 Q&A: RETIREE SPOUSE BENEFITS.....8 FS VOICE: SICK OVERSEAS................9 Continued on page 7 Continued on page 4 AFSA Welcomes New Governing Board Acting AFSA President Louise Crane passes the AFSA gavel to incoming AFSA State Vice President (and Acting President) Steven Kashkett at the AFSA Governing Board transition lunch on July 15. “ A Sen. Richard Lugar (center) accepting the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award, presented by Deputy Secretary Robert Zoellick (right) and AFSA President John Limbert.