The Foreign Service Journal, November 2009

O n June 18, AFSA honored seven members of the Foreign Service community for their extraordi- nary work in the field, including three who were honored for their constructive dissent. These individuals serve as an inspiration to all members of the For- eign Service. However, twoAFSA constructive dis- sent awards were not given out at the cer- emony: the Herter Award for a senior FSO, and the Harriman Award for an entry-level officer. Why not? Because there was not a single nomination in either of these two categories. In trying to determine the reason for this, one AFSA staffer astutely postu- lated: “The entry-level officers are too junior to rock the boat, and the senior FSOs don’t want to jeopardize their po- sition of power.” This may well be true. And once we started thinking about it, we wanted to find out. SoAFSA is offering a challenge to the FS community worldwide: Prove this theory wrong. Prove that when your conscience calls upon you to do what is right, you T he chapel was overflowing and the ser- mon was thought-provoking. That may not always be the case at every place of worship, but when the preacher is a former under secretary of State, Ambassa- dor Marc Grossman, the congregation is full of international affairs students, and the “choir” is made up of academics and for- mer ambassadors, folks are in for an inspir- ing afternoon. The third annual Caroline and Ambas- sador Charles Adair Lecture took place on Sept. 2 at American University’s main chapel, formally known as the Kay Spiritual Life Center. Amb. Grossman was featured, along with introductory speakers Amb. An- thony Quainton, diplomat-in-residence at A.U.’s School of International Service; David Brown, dean of the Washington Se- mester Program; and AFSA’s Tom Switzer, director of communications. Also seated on the dais were former FSO and former AFSA President Marshall Adair, founder and trustee of the Adair Memorial Fund, and AFSA President Susan R. John- son. Professor Christian Maisch, academic director of the Washington Semester Pro- gram and an assistant professor at the School of International Service, coordi- nated the event. Marc Grossman’s resumé alone was probably enough to inspire the students in attendance. Currently chairman of the Cohen Group inWashington, D.C., during his Foreign Service career he served as am- bassador to Turkey, assistant secretary for European affairs, under secretary for polit- N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 49 American Foreign Service Association • November 2009 AFSA NEWS Continued on page 58 Continued on page 53 FIRST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS A Challenge to Honor Dissent BY FRANCESCA KELLY MARC GROSSMAN DELIVERS ADAIR LECTURE Is the Foreign Service Equipped to Face Challenges? BY FRANCESCA KELLY Amb. Marc Grossman speaks at American Uni- versity on Sept. 2. JENNIFER DURINA JOSH