The Foreign Service Journal, December 2018

AFSA NEWS THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2018 69 THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION AFSAAwards Honor Foreign Service Excellence AFSA’s 50th annual awards ceremony took place on Oct. 10 at the U.S. Diplomacy Center at the Department of State, where almost 200 guests gathered to recognize the winners of this year’s awards for excellence in the Foreign Service. Awards were given for lifetime contributions, con- structive dissent across all levels of the Foreign Service and exemplary performance. Eleven recipients and four runners-up were recognized; please see additional cover- age of each winner begin- ning on p. 75. Lifetime Contributions AFSA’sAward for Lifetime Contributions toAmerican Diplomacy, established in 1995, honors those who havemade extraordinary contributions to diplomacy and the diplomatic profession over many years. Nominees all have at least a decade of service to diplomacy and foreign policy develop- ment, and they are considered on the basis of their accom- plishments while on active duty and in retirement. Past winners include George H.W. Bush, Thomas Pickering, Ruth Davis, Nancy Powell, George Shultz, Richard Lugar, Sam Nunn and George Landau. (See Ambassador Landau’s obituary in this month’s “In Memory” on p. 91.) This year’s Lifetime Con- tributions Award winner was Ambassador (ret.) Ronald E. Neumann. See the Journal’ s AFSA award recipients Marisol Garcia, John Warner, Kelly Billingsley, David Bargueño, Margaret Kennett, Pat Butenis and Karen Fifield at the awards ceremony on Oct. 10. Not pictured: Ambassador Tom Shannon, Ambassador Ron Neumann, Roshni Nirody, Joseph Conners and Elena Augustine. AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA interview with Amb. Neu- mann on p. 21. Constructive Dissent Awards AFSA’s constructive dissent awards are unique within the U.S. government. Each year for close to a half- century, AFSA has given these awards to Foreign Service officers and specialists across all levels of the FS who have had the courage to dissent within the system. This year the Christian A. Herter Award for a mem- ber of the Senior Foreign [This] distinction is made sweeter by AFSA’s understanding that dissent, and the energetic debate that underlies it, is an essential component of our duty. It is as important a part of our duty as discipline and obedience. Dissent, as understood and practiced in the Foreign Service, is not just about personal integrity. It is also about professional integrity, and the integrity of our policy making process. –Tom Shannon December 1 AFSA Scholarship Applications Available December 5 12-1:30 p.m. Luncheon: 196th A-100 Class December 6 4:30-6:30 p.m. AFSA Holiday Happy Hour December 13 12-1:30 p.m. Luncheon: 150th Specialist Class December 19 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting December 25 Christmas Day – AFSA Offices Closed January 1 New Year’s Day – AFSA Offices Closed January 15 Time TBD Panel Discussion: “Economic Diplomacy Works” January 16 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting January 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – AFSA Offices Closed January 22 12-1:30 p.m. “Retirement Planning 5 to 10 Years Out” March 15 Deadline for AFSA Scholarship Applications CALENDAR