The Foreign Service Journal, December 2022

44 DECEMBER 2022 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL food, medicine, and baby sup- plies. Undeterred when Wash- ington determined that no funding was available through the Foreign Service National Emergency Relief Fund, Mr. Rajic raised more than $30,000 from colleagues throughout Mission China to create nearly 300 care packages, supplying every local staff member and their families. Consulate General leadership say that the logistical challenge of this feat cannot be overstated; Mr. Rajic’s hours of phone calls and countless entreaties to local government officials resulted in middle-of-the-night pickups and the delivery of truckloads of essential supplies. It was clear from the many emotional responses to the care packages that, at their moment of greatest need, local staff knew the mission was looking out for them. Like so much else at post in Shanghai, it would not have happened without Mr. Rajic’s initiative, determination, and genuine care for his com- munity. Mr. Rajic believes his childhood wartime experiences in Banja Luka informed his ability to confront the demands of the pandemic. “The memory of the shortages imposed by the war in Bosnia had mentally and emotionally prepared me for many of the challenges that we faced under lockdown,” he tells the Journal . He says he is honored to have been a part of a dedicated group of colleagues: “I view this award as not only an individual recognition, but a team Shanghai recognition. Together we were able to maintain a strong level of morale and cohesion while alleviating some of the discomfort our community faced.” Born in Bosnia, Denis Rajic came to the United States in 1995 toward the end of the Bosnia War. His first exposure to the State Department came during his visa interview at the U.S. embassy in Zagreb, which sparked his determination to one day join the diplomatic corps. Prior to entering the Foreign Service in 2009, he worked as operations manager for a trade show company and as executive assistant in a government com- munity relations firm. He holds a B.S. in anthropology, and a B.A. as well as an M.A. in interna- tional relations. He has served in Taiwan, Syria, Indonesia, Korea, Afghanistan, and China. In 2021, he received the State Department’s Office Manage- ment Specialist of the Year Award for his help sending urgently needed medical supplies from China to the U.S. in 2020. Nelson B. Delavan Award for an Office Management Specialist Runner-Up Judit Kaczor Above and Beyond in Colombo and Doha O ffice Management Specialist (OMS) Judit Kaczor demon- strated exceptional dedication and unwavering support for the U.S. mission in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during staff- ing challenges, economic and political turmoil, food and fuel shortages, and violent protests. Due to a staff shortage, she was pulled fromher section to assist the front office, where she remained for two and a half years. Her attention to detail and ability to anticipate front office needs quickly made her invaluable to both the executive teamand themission. Among her many achievements, colleagues highlighted Ms. Kaczor’s initiative in updating the executive handbook to help new officers learn reporting expectations; initiating a new mis- sionwide procedure for processing Diplomatic Notes to facilitate tracking and archiving; training and mentoring other office management staff; and proactively preparing for the incoming ambassador while maintaining support for the chargé d’affaires and acting deputy chief of mission. Despite her busy schedule, Ms. Kaczor also served on the embassy’s Green Team to help the community meet the State Department’s goal of combating climate change and volunteered to become a Disability Action Group representative at post. When the request for volunteers to support Operation Allies Denis Rajic dons PPE (personal protective equipment) to retrieve essential travel documents for American citizens trapped in Shanghai during a 2022 citywide standstill order.