THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 41 community had access to vital resources. Zimmermann also revamped the CLO Tel Aviv WordPress site to ensure that comprehensive crisis information was available to all—an invaluable tool in the chaos that followed. Once Washington authorized the departure of eligible family members (EFMs) on Oct. 15, Zimmermann’s work did not slow down. As large portions of the community left on authorized departure (AD), she remained at post, ensuring that those who stayed were cared for and offering valuable feedback on the pulse of the community to Front Office leadership. She organized events to boost morale, hosted virtual meetings, and provided crucial updates on both the conflict and available support. Her thoughtful planning resulted in events that brought moments of normalcy amid the uncertainty, maintaining a strong sense of community among those remaining at post. Paccard’s leadership in Jerusalem after the Oct. 7 attack was also essential in helping the embassy and consulate community navigate the chaos and uncertainty. As rockets rained down and the community was forced into bomb shelters, Paccard became a vital point of contact. His calm demeanor and ability to anticipate community needs ensured that families had the support they needed during this unprecedented crisis. When AD began, Paccard stayed behind to assist with repatriating others back to the U.S. and ensuring that all those wishing to remain in Jerusalem were accommodated. He and his spouse departed for Washington, D.C., six days later. Paccard’s work did not stop there. From Washington, Paccard organized events and maintained daily communication with families on AD, ensuring they felt connected and supported. His quick thinking even saved the life of a community member who had remained behind in Jerusalem and fell gravely ill. Paccard used his established contacts to facilitate the member’s emergency hospital admission, a critical intervention that saved their life. Despite the seven-hour time difference, Paccard and Zimmermann stayed in constant communication throughout the 2.5-month AD period, ensuring that both groups—the families who stayed at post and those who left—felt informed, connected, and supported. e For Zimmermann, this marked the second time she served in the role of CLO. Her first tour as CLO was at U.S. Embassy London from 2015 to 2018, where the community also experienced multiple terror attacks. This tour at U.S. Embassy Jerusalem’s Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv began in 2020 with COVID-19 and lasted through July 2024, ending with the Israel-Hamas war. Her spouse, David Zimmermann, was an Christophe Paccard (second from right) at a charity event for the Al-Shurooq school in Beit Jala, West Bank. We worked around the clock, cared for our community, and cared for each other. This award is a profound honor, and I’m grateful to be receiving it alongside Sherri. —CHRISTOPHE J. PACCARD
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