THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 49 Zeltser-Winant’s individual advocacy work was also deeply personal. After the passing of her tandem FSO spouse in 2022, she encountered issues with the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), which she discovered calculates payouts based on the Overseas Comparability Pay as a substitute for Washington locality pay for officers who died while serving overseas. This results in beneficiaries receiving 11 percent less payout than if their loved one died while stationed in Washington, D.C. Determined to address this inequity, she partnered with AFSA’s Legislative Affairs team to advocate for a policy change that would ensure fair compensation for all Foreign Service officers, regardless of location. This legislative effort, which was adopted as one of AFSA’s priorities for fiscal year 2024, showcases Zeltser-Winant’s determination to make systemic improvements that benefit the entire Foreign Service community. For Martin-Montgomery, winning this award symbolizes the power of AFSA representatives to effect meaningful change. Her passion for improving working conditions and resolving individual issues is evident in her everyday efforts to assist fellow officers, whether through timely answers, professional guidance, or helping them navigate the complexities of embassy life. “I find satisfaction when we can help a fellow officer feel heard, get an answer, and begin to solve an issue,” she says. Anne Martin-Montgomery is a first-tour diplomatic courier. Prior to joining the State Department, she spent 20 years working in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, supporting Asian American community service and cultural organizations in the greater Philadelphia area. She also ran a Mandarin-assecond-language school, promoting multilingual families. Passionate about representation and accountability, she has previously worked with labor organizations outside government. Through her work with AFSA, she is committed to improving the quality of life for Foreign Service members. Martin-Montgomery holds graduate degrees in anthropology and Middle East studies. She has one adult daughter. Dinah Zeltser-Winant joined the USAID Foreign Service in 2008 as a democracy, governance, and stabilization officer. She has served in Liberia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, South Africa, and Washington, D.C. She is currently posted in Thailand as the deputy regional director of the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance South and Central Asia Office. Zeltser-Winant has also served on The Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board. A former refugee from Ukraine, she has had a career shaped by her personal history and commitment to global humanitarian work. Together, Zeltser-Winant and Martin-Montgomery have created a powerful partnership, demonstrating the vibrance of pairing new FSOs with experienced officers as post representatives, thereby effectively increasing AFSA’s visibility and enhancing its role as the voice of the Foreign Service. Their efforts to improve workplace conditions, identify overlooked issues, and advocate for policy and legislative change have made a tangible difference in Bangkok and beyond, earning them well-deserved recognition as AFSA Post Representatives of the Year. Anne Martin-Montgomery and her daughter at Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand. I find satisfaction when we can help a fellow officer feel heard, get an answer, and begin to solve an issue. —ANNE MARTIN-MONTGOMERY
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