THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 63 AFSA NEWS Awards for Constructive Dissent Ambassador Charles Rivkin presented the William R. Rivkin Award for Constructive Dissent by a mid-level officer. The 2024 award went jointly to Konrad Turski, Caryl Tuma, Emily Green, and Michael Casey for their efforts, initiative, and leadership in the face of a sensitive and evolving situation following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. In her acceptance speech, Green said: “Throughout this crisis, I had the privilege of working alongside many brave colleagues trying to do the right thing in an utterly untenable situation. My colleagues and I came together to develop a narrow, constructive dissent that we felt compelled “Together, we can demonstrate that justice, dignity, and peace are not illusions, but possibilities.” Awards for Exemplary Performance AFSA offers six awards in recognition of exemplary performance and extraordinary contributions to effectiveness, professionalism, morale, and the advancement of democracy. The Nelson B. Delavan Award is conferred on a Foreign Service office management specialist (OMS) who has made a significant contribution to post or office effectiveness and morale beyond the framework of their job responsibilities. Mark Delavan Harrop presented this year’s award to Dana Sutcliffe for her work on innovative collaborative projects at U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa, where she serves as the OMS to Ambassador Laura Dogu. Sutcliffe was unable to attend, but in her acceptance remarks, delivered by Amb. Dogu, Sutcliffe expressed deep gratitude: “This recognition is not just a reflection of my efforts; it represents the collective spirit of our team. Your support and partnership have been the driving force behind our successes. “Mission Honduras aims to be a forward-thinking leader in diplomatic initiatives, and we strive to embrace technology to improve our operations. I hope we all continue to submit in line with our values, integrity, and high standards of professional conduct. And we’re honored to work for an organization that allows for and even celebrates dissent. “It’s vital that we confront and challenge these prejudices, not just in moments of high visibility, but as a constant practice in our daily lives.” In his remarks, Konrad Turski took the opportunity to honor his colleagues at the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs and across U.S. Embassy Jerusalem. “These are some of the most inspiring people you will meet in the Foreign Service, serving under extraordinary pressure,” Turski said. He spoke about the challenges his colleagues faced, from missile barrages and airport closures to threats of violence, adding, “Despite all this, our extraordinary colleagues persevered, not despite, but because of the urgency of this crisis.” Casey and Tuma were unable to attend the ceremony. Information Management Specialist David Houston was the recipient of the F. Allen “Tex” Harris award for a Foreign Service specialist. The award was presented by AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi. A former U.S. Army captain and Afghanistan war veteran, Houston was recognized for his pioneering work in advancing U.S. foreign policy through digital assets and distributed ledger technology. Mariya Ilyas, a politicalconed Foreign Service officer, received the 2024 W. Averell Harriman Award for her leadership and intellectual courage following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. While serving in the Bureau of Political Military Affairs in Washington, Ilyas advocated for more inclusive policies, expanding Employee Consultation Services globally and elevating the voices of Muslim and Arab employees. In her acceptance speech, Ilyas said: “To dissent is not to be an idle contrarian but a passionate pragmatist—one who worries when a discrepancy emerges and identifies pathways for course correction. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma (right) presents Ambassador Marc Grossman with the 2024 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award. AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA
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