The Foreign Service Journal, November 2008

traveled too much, scale back the trips to only those that directly sup- port the mission of the course. If State graduates retire too soon after the course, impose a service extension requirement. And if the Foreign Service is stretched too thin, ask the armed services for some advice on how to manage the flow of officers for professional education in an era of intense operational commitment. It is time for the Department of State to assert its responsibility as “first among equals” and establish a new long-term program that draws senior officers from USAID, the Foreign Agricultural and Commercial Services, the armed forces, CIA, Homeland Security and other depart- ments. These are officers who need to learn to work together, to under- stand each others’ cultures, and to appreciate the contribution each makes to the development and execu- tion of foreign policy. Robert B. Newlin, a retired Marine colonel, attended the 32nd Senior Seminar (1989-1990). Among other assignments, he served as the Marine Corps representative to the Canadian Forces College in Toronto (1987- 1988) and as the assistant naval attaché in London (1991-1994). N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 15 S P E A K I N G O U T In 2004, State abandoned its role in educating senior officers for their place in the development and execution of U.S. foreign policy.