The Foreign Service Journal, September 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2013 17 Editor’s Introduction BY STEVEN ALAN HONL EY T he Foreign Service Journal has regu- larly spotlighted the American For- eign Service Association’s extensive, multifaceted awards program ever since its establishment. But this issue marks the first time we have devoted an entire issue to that worthy cause, with special emphasis on AFSA’s four annual awards for constructive dis- sent by Foreign Service personnel. Each June AFSA confers awards for constructive dissent, exemplary performance and other distinctions in a ceremony co-sponsored by the director general of the Foreign Service. The Secretary of State or Deputy Secretary has frequently attended the ceremony, as well, which is held in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the Department of State. You’ll find extensive coverage of this year’s ceremony, which took place on June 27, as well as detailed profiles of all this year’s award winners in our AFSA News section, begin- ning on p. 63. FOCUS AFSA’S AWARDS PROGRAM Steven Alan Honley was a Foreign Service officer from 1985 to 1997, serving in Mexico City, Wellington and Washington, D.C. He has been editor of The Foreign Service Journal since 2001. CELEBRATING CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT ANDOUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE Ambassadors George W. Landau, left, and Thomas Boyatt. Donna Ayerst