The Foreign Service Journal - November 2017

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2017 15 AFSPA Foreign Service Benefit Plan afspa.org/fsbp AFSPAAncillary Programs afspa.org Blue Cross Blue Shield www.axateleconsultation.com/ fep Clements Worldwide clements.com/FSJ Hirshorn Company hirshorn.com Patriot’s Colony patriotscolony.org SDFCU sdfcu.org/meetplatinum Senior Living Foundation slfoundation.org ‘Secretary values and wants employee feedback’ and expect people to believe that if, at the same time, you’re demol- ishing the system that affords employ- ees the ability to provide feedback.” Consular Officers Assist Hurricane Evacuations W hen disaster strikes, the Bureau of Consular Affairs is often called on to provide assistance to American citizens in trouble abroad. Following Hurricane Irma, which dev- astated many islands in the Caribbean, consular personnel traveled fromWash- ington, as well as from U.S. embassies in Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Colombia to help with the evacuation. They assisted in evacuating more than 2,500 American citizens from areas hardest hit by the hurricane. FSO Paul Mayer went to Puerto Rico to help organize the evacuation. His post on State’s “Dipnote” blog and on Facebook, “Not All Heroes Wear Capes: Assisting American Citizens in Carib- bean,” has been shared hundreds of times. U.S. Ambassador to Russia Confirmed The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Jon Huntsman as the U.S. ambassador to Russia on Sept. 29, and he presented his credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 3. Ambassador Huntsman takes up his post at a time when relations between the United States and Russia are strained, following a series of diplo- matic “tit-for-tat” incidents stemming from allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Though Amb. Huntsman had previ- ously stated that he had no doubt that Russia had interfered in the election, he struck a conciliatory note following the credentialing ceremony: “I look forward to working to rebuild trust between our two countries and to strengthening the bilateral relationship based on coopera- tion on common interests.” The confirmation of Amb. Huntsman is the latest high-profile appointment by the Trump administration. However, in Washington, D.C., and all around the world, key U.S. diplomatic posts remain unfilled. Consular personnel at the airport in Puerto Rico. PAULMAYER