The Foreign Service Journal, September 2014

60 SEPTEMBER 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS A Call for a More Strategic Approach to South Asia AFSA CONSTRUCT I VE D I SSENT AWARDS : THE WI L L I AM R . R I VK I N AWARD FOR A MID-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER The years David Holmes spent in Afghanistan (2007- 2008) and India (2008- 2010) convinced him of the need for “a more strategic approach to our policies in South Asia.” On his return to Wash- ington, Holmes served as special assistant for South and Central Asia to then- Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns (2010-2011), and was later detailed to the National Security Council staff at the White House as director for Afghanistan (2011-2012). Through this experience Holmes came to believe that the division of author- ity between the Office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Bureau of Central and South Asian Affairs “hindered our diplomatic effectiveness” and deprived policymakers of coordinated strategic advice. For speak- ing out on this issue, Holmes received the 2014 William R. Rivkin Award for constructive dissent by a mid-level FSO. “In the non-business- as-usual approach of the office of the SRAP,” his award nomination states, “David Holmes was both a dedicated team player in shaping our policies, as well as a coura- geous advocate for doing so in a more coordinated and strategic way.” He urged colleagues to reconcile differences rather than pursue conflicting prior- ities, and to take into account all the pieces of the South only a singular honor for me, but also a validation of the tremendous mentors with whom I have been fortunate to work. They not only gave me these opportunities in the first place, but also continu- ally encouraged my efforts to make a constructive contri- bution to our policy in this critical region in spite of the obstacles.” David Holmes joined the Foreign Service in 2002. He has served in Kosovo, Bogota, Kabul and New Delhi, and is currently the senior energy officer in Moscow. He is married to FSO Stephanie Holmes, and they have a son and a daughter. n Holmes, then National Security Council staff director for Afghanistan, with President Barack Obama at the White House. AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA THE..WHITEHOUSE Asian puzzle. Ultimately, he submitted a formal Dissent Channel message in February 2013 on “organizing to suc- ceed in South Asia.” As Holmes notes: “My efforts over this period, and then my formal dissent, were intended to give a voice to an important perspective that I felt lacked an advocate.” The Dissent Channel mes- sage was well received, and it provided State Department leadership an opportunity to reassess the department’s approach to this complex and critical region. In acknowledging the award, Holmes saluted his mentors: “The award is not David Holmes at the June 18 awards ceremony.