“TRACK II” AND THE PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMAT HONORING THE AFSA AWARD WINNERS PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION DECEMBER 2024 THE EDUCATION LANDSCAPE FOR FS FAMILIES
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 5 December 2024 Volume 101, No. 10 Focus on AFSA Awards: Honoring Excellence and Constructive Dissent Feature 22 2024 Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy A Conversation with Ambassador Marc Grossman 52 Social Entrepreneurship and the Professional Diplomat The scope has increased for “Track II” diplomacy—work to which former members of the Foreign Service are generally well suited. By John Marks 69 Navigating the Foreign Service Educational Landscape Learn about education resources available to Foreign Service families. By Rebecca McPherson 74, 76 Education at a Glance Education Supplement 38 2024 Awards for Exemplary Performance 50 Foreign Service Champions Award 32 2024 Awards for Constructive Dissent
6 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 92 Reflections Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow By Jonathan B. Rickert 94 Local Lens Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania By Nathan Tidwell Cover art—2024 AFSA award recipients at the State Department, Oct. 16, 2024. Top row, from left: Konrad Turski, Cornell Overfield, Amb. Laura Dogu, David Houston, Christophe J. Paccard, Mark Delavan Harrop, Paul Estrada, and Amb. Marc Grossman. Bottom row, from left: Mark Wilson, Emily Green, Sherri Zimmermann, Harry Kopp, Mariya Ilyas, Patricia Scroggs, and Tom Yazdgerdi. Recipients not pictured: Michael Casey, Anne Martin-Montgomery, Dana Sutcliffe, Diana Trinh, Caryl Tuma, and Dinah Zeltser-Winant (AFSA/Joaquin Sosa). Marketplace 88 Real Estate 90 Classifieds 91 Index to Advertisers 7 President’s Views An Eventful Year Comes to a Close By Tom Yazdgerdi 9 Letter from the Editor What’s Next? By Shawn Dorman 18 Speaking Out The Foreign Service at 100: It’s Time for Renewal By George Krol Perspectives Departments 10 Letters 12 Talking Points 85 Books AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 57 AFSA Awards Honor Excellence and Constructive Dissent 58 State VP Voice—Consensus Building Creates Effective Teams 59 USAID VP Voice—AFSA Wins Grievance 60 FCS VP Voice—Some Things to Celebrate 61 FAS VP Voice—Explain Yourself 65 AFSA President’s Outreach in California 66 AFSA Governing Board Meeting, Sept. 18, 2024 66 Foreign Service Night at Nationals Park 67 Foreign Policy at Chautauqua 67 AFSA Welcomes USAID and State Cohorts 68 AFSA Good Works—Member Engagement 57
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 7 An Eventful Year Comes to a Close BY TOM YAZDGERDI Tom Yazdgerdi is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. PRESIDENT’S VIEWS The centennial year of the U.S. Foreign Service and AFSA is drawing to a close, and I want to thank all our members who leveraged this milestone to advocate for a strong and appropriately funded Foreign Service. Through your local newspapers, world affairs councils, and retiree associations; by speaking to students about Foreign Service careers; and through many other activities, you helped get the word out about our proud Service and what it means for America’s continued security and prosperity. Please continue to look for opportunities for outreach in 2025. I also want to thank our great AFSA staff, who did so much to help mark this anniversary. This included creative ideas like the “100 Words for 100 Years” collection; our writing competition, which drew numerous terrific essays about the ideal Foreign Service of the future; a centennial “party-in-a-box” sent to 30 posts worldwide; and a centennial video about the Foreign Service, shown for the first time at our May 21 gala at the State Department, and on many occasions since. You can use the video for your own efforts to highlight what we do. One of my favorite AFSA events is our annual awards ceremony, held this year on Oct. 16, to showcase the commitment, talent, and courage of our members. This year we honored Ambassador Marc Grossman with AFSA’s Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award. It was given not only to recognize Marc’s spectacular diplomatic career but also for what he’s done since retiring, in particular his work on Foreign Service reform and involvement with the Senior Living Foundation. (See the interview and profiles of all the recipients beginning on page 22.) Patricia Scroggs was only the third recipient of the new Foreign Service Champions Award, which honors influential members of the foreign affairs community who have made meaningful contributions to diplomacy and the Foreign Service. Through her work as director of diplomatic fellowships at Howard University from 2006 to 2024, she was instrumental in helping transform the workforce of the foreign affairs agencies. Patricia helped manage and expand the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program, the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, USAID’s Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship, and similar programs in the Foreign Agricultural Service and APHIS. I was equally proud of all the members of the Foreign Service community who received awards for constructive dissent and outstanding performance. AFSA does not always have dissent winners who tackle the central foreign policy issues of the day, but this year both the entry- and mid-level awards dealt with the Israel-Hamas conflict. Listening to the recipients’ acceptance remarks, I was struck by their poise, commitment, and courage to constructively challenge the system on such a difficult and complicated issue. And I was gratified that AFSA could provide them a platform to do just that. Congratulations to all the winners! As we look ahead to a new administration, AFSA is ever mindful of the nonpartisan, professional nature of our Service. We serve as the institutional link between outgoing and incoming administrations and carry out the foreign policy of the duly elected president. I am hopeful that the Foreign Service will be accorded respect and proper funding, and that internal, constructive dissent will continue to be prized as a means to arrive at the best outcomes possible. Speaking of elections, AFSA has its own coming up—for the 2025-2027 Governing Board. There are both full-time and volunteer positions available. Look for the official call for nominations by AFSAnet on Jan. 15 and in the JanuaryFebruary FSJ. Candidates must file their intent to run by Feb. 14. Ballots will be distributed on March 31 and results announced on April 15. I hope that both active-duty and retired members will consider serving our Foreign Service community by serving on the Governing Board. We would like to see as diverse a board as possible, including a mix of generalists and specialists. Please check out www.afsa.org/election for more information, and write to the elections committee at election@afsa.org. As always, please let me know your thoughts at yazdgerdi@afsa.org or member@afsa.org. Wishing you all happy holidays! n
8 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL www.sfiprogram.org SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE SFI-01268 Certified Sourcing Editor in Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: dorman@afsa.org Deputy Editor Donna Gorman: gorman@afsa.org Senior Editor Susan Brady Maitra: maitra@afsa.org Managing Editor Kathryn Owens: owens@afsa.org Associate Editor Mark Parkhomenko: parkhomenko@afsa.org Publications Coordinator and Content Strategist Hannah Harari: harari@afsa.org Business Development Manager— Advertising and Circulation Molly Long: long@afsa.org Art Director Caryn Suko Smith Editorial Board Vivian Walker, Chair Lynette Behnke, Gov. Bd. Liaison Suzanne August David Bargueño Hon. Robert M. Beecroft Gaïna Dávila Hon. Jennifer Z. Galt Mathew Hagengruber Steven Hendrix Paul Oliva Dan Spokojny THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly, with combined January-February and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board, or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by email. The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos, or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. AFSA reserves the right to reject advertising that is not in keeping with its standards and objectives. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply endorsement of goods or services offered. Opinions expressed in advertisements are the views of the advertisers and do not necessarily represent AFSA views or policy. Journal subscription: AFSA member–$20, included in annual dues; student–$30; others–$50; Single issue–$4.50. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by the Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). Email: journal@afsa.org Phone: (202) 338-4045 Fax: (202) 338-8244 Web: www.afsa.org/fsj Address Changes: member@afsa.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2024 PRINTED IN THE USA Postmaster: Send address changes to AFSA, Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street NW Washington DC 20037-2990 AFSA Headquarters: (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 State Department AFSA Office: (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 USAID AFSA Office: (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 FCS AFSA Office: (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 GOVERNING BOARD President Tom Yazdgerdi: yazdgerdi@afsa.org Secretary Sue Saarnio: saarnio@afsa.org Treasurer Hon. John O’Keefe: okeefe@afsa.org State Vice President Hui Jun Tina Wong: wong@afsa.org USAID Vice President Randy Chester: chester@afsa.org FCS Vice President Joshua Burke: burke@afsa.org FAS Vice President Evan Mangino: mangino@afsa.org Retiree Vice President John K. Naland: nalandfamily@yahoo.com Full-Time State Representative Gregory Floyd: floyd@afsa.org State Representatives Lynette Behnke: behnke@afsa.org Kimberly McClure: mcclure@afsa.org Heather Pishko: pishko@afsa.org C. Logan Wheeler: wheeler@afsa.org Whitney Wiedeman: wiedeman@afsa.org USAID Representative Christopher Saenger: saenger@afsa.org FCS Alternate Representative Jay Carreiro: jay.carreiro@afsa.org FAS Alternate Representative Zeke Spears: spears@afsa.org USAGM Representative Gunter Schwabe: schwabe@afsa.org APHIS Representative Joe Ragole: ragole@afsa.org Retiree Representatives Mary Daly: daly@afsa.org Edward Stafford: stafford@afsa.org STAFF Executive Director Ásgeir Sigfússon: sigfusson@afsa.org Executive Assistant to the President Jahari Fraser: fraser@afsa.org Office Coordinator Therese Thomas: therese@afsa.org PROFESSIONAL POLICY ISSUES AND ADVOCACY Director of Professional Policy Issues Julie Nutter: nutter@afsa.org Director of Advocacy Kim Sullivan: greenplate@afsa.org Policy Analyst Sean O’Gorman: ogorman@afsa.org FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Director of Finance Femi Oshobukola: oshobukola@afsa.org Director, HR and Operations Cory Nishi: cnishi@afsa.org Controller Kalpna Srimal: srimal@afsa.org Member Accounts Specialist Ana Lopez: lopez@afsa.org IT and Infrastructure Coordinator Aleksandar “Pav” Pavlovich: pavlovich@afsa.org COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH Director of Communications Nikki Gamer: gamer@afsa.org Manager of Outreach and Internal Communications Allan Saunders: saunders@afsa.org Online Communications Manager Jeff Lau: lau@afsa.org Manager, Outreach and Strategic Communications Nadja Ruzica: ruzica@afsa.org Communication and Educational Outreach Coordinator Erin Oliver: oliver@afsa.org MEMBERSHIP Director, Programs and Member Engagement Christine Miele: miele@afsa.org Membership Operations Coordinator Mouna Koubaa: koubaa@afsa.org Coordinator of Member Recruitment and Benefits Perri Green: green@afsa.org Counselor for Retirees Dolores Brown: brown@afsa.org Member Events Coordinator Hannah Chapman: chapman@afsa.org Program Coordinator Indigo Stegner: stegner@afsa.org OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel Sharon Papp: PappS@state.gov Deputy General Counsel Raeka Safai: SafaiR@state.gov Senior Staff Attorneys Zlatana Badrich: BadrichZ@state.gov Neera Parikh: ParikhNA@state.gov Labor Management Counselor Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: FallonLenaghanC@state.gov Senior Labor Management Adviser James Yorke: YorkeJ@state.gov Labor Management Coordinator Patrick Bradley: BradleyPG@state.gov Senior Grievance Counselor Heather Townsend: TownsendHA@state.gov Grievance Counselor Ed White: white@afsa.org Attorney Advisers Erin Kate Brady: brady@afsa.org Benjamin Phillips: PhillipsBE@state.gov FOREIGN SERVICE CONTACTS www.afsa.org
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 9 Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal. What’s Next? BY SHAWN DORMAN LETTER FROM THE EDITOR As we go to press, we drop this final page into the December edition—our annual focus on constructive dissent and outstanding performance in the Foreign Service told through the stories of recipients of the yearly AFSA awards. It has been a remarkable year. The 2024 presidential election was just called for Donald Trump. The American people have spoken, and now we head into the transition. The Foreign Service will, of course, remain engaged representing the U.S. to the world. The American Foreign Service Association will remain on the job representing you and supporting our professional, nonpartisan institution. And the FSJ will remain a place for your voices, as it has been for more than 100 years. On the cusp of the next century of diplomatic service, let us gain inspiration from this year’s excellent award recipients, from the venerable Marc Grossman, selected for the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award; to Foreign Service Champion Patricia Hanigan Scroggs; to the constructive dissent award winners: Mike Casey, Emily Green, David Houston, Mariya Ilyas, Caryl Tuma, and Konrad Turski; and to those recognized for outstanding performance: Paul Estrada, Harry Kopp, Anne Martin-Montgomery, Cornell Overfield, Christophe Paccard, Dana Sutcliffe, Diana Trinh, Mark Wilson, Dinah Zeltser-Winant, and Sherri Zimmermann. During this centennial year for the Foreign Service and AFSA, in 10 editions of the FSJ, we have featured more than 100 of your voices, all contributing to the conversation about the past, present, and future of the Foreign Service and diplomacy. We heard from those who are in or have held critical high-level positions (Antony Blinken, Samantha Power, James Baker, Hillary Clinton, Julianne Smith, Nick Burns, to name a few), and many currently serving, making a difference on the ground in places like Ukraine, Palau, and Oman. Thank you to all who have engaged with the community through these pages. Thank you to the hundreds who responded to our FSJ Reader Survey. We will report back on the results and adjust our coverage based on your input. This month we present the Editorial Calendar of focus topics for 2025 (see box), and we invite you to consider writing for the Journal on one of these themes or on any other Foreign Service, diplomacy, or development issue. Find details about the various Journal departments and how to submit an article, letter, or photo in the Author Guidelines at www.afsa.org/fsj-authorguidelines. We are always seeking submissions for Speaking Out, Reflections, Features, FS Know-How, FS Heritage, OffRoad with the FS, Local Lens, and Book Reviews. Send your submissions, pitches, questions, and comments to journal@ afsa.org. And finally, a shout-out to this month’s Local Lens contributor FSO Nathan Tidwell for taking the centennial FSJ along to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Not sure anyone can top that, but we invite you to try—snap a photo with the FSJ from a cool location and send it over to journal@afsa.org. We welcome your responses to this edition and ideas for future articles as we prepare to kick off the next Foreign Service century in a few short weeks. Please consider writing for us in 2025. n JANUARY-FEBRUARY: A Professional Foreign Service for the Next Century MARCH: Notes to the New Administration APRIL: Vietnam: 50 Years After the Fall of Saigon MAY: Global Health Diplomacy JUNE: Spotlight on FS Fellowships JULY-AUGUST: Economic Security and Subnational Diplomacy SEPTEMBER: The U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy OCTOBER: Changing Dynamics in the Middle East NOVEMBER: FS Writing and Publishing (ITOW) DECEMBER: Recognizing Constructive Dissent and Outstanding Performance 2025 FSJ Focus Topics
10 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL LETTERS Cherishing a Marine’s Legacy I reached out to The Foreign Service Journal to see if I could obtain a copy of an article published in the September 2011 edition, “Witness to Tragedy: A Reflection on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11,” by Donna Ayerst. This article was written about my uncle, U.S. Marine Jonathan D. Gross, who died in an accident while assigned to the U.S. embassy in Mozambique in 2001. I found it while talking about my uncle to my 7-year-old son, and I thought having a physical copy of the article in my family’s possession would help cherish my uncle’s legacy. I have a difficult time putting into words just how significant finding this article was for me. I remember getting the news of my uncle’s accident 23 years ago. I was a 16-year-old kid, listening to Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” album, walking home from school and into my grandmother’s apartment, which was filled with military personnel. My grandmother, my mom, my younger sister, and my aunt were all in tears as they told me, “There was an accident.” My entire life changed from there on. Reading that September 2011 FSJ article was a lot for me to process. My uncle was my hero, the person who taught me the life lessons I’m now teaching my son, Elijah. My wife and son have never seen me shed as many tears as I did while reading the article about my uncle. This edition of the Journal sent me on a path to find out whether there was more about my uncle online. A 2017 Washington Post comment on his obituary led me to a social media conversation with a friend my uncle had made while stationed in Mozambique. I took time away from work to recharge and really process some of the family trauma I buried from the fallout of his death. I started grief counseling and made my first visit in 10 years to his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. Receiving the September 2011 edition of the FSJ helped me speak life into my uncle’s legacy, to celebrate the U.S. Marine he was and the connections he built while in service. I now have a physical copy of the magazine as a memorial to one day pass along to my son. By honoring my uncle’s values, holding on to his memory, I know his legacy can live through me and beyond. Thank you for all the work you put into The Foreign Service Journal. The impact of your work is greatly appreciated. My words can’t truly express the effect this story had on me—this was my first time ever sharing this in writing. Christian Gross Bowie, Maryland Don’t Forget New Caledonia I read the October 2024 FSJ feature story, “Making our Rhetoric Real: U.S. Diplomacy in the Pacific Islands” by John Hennessey-Niland, with interest, hoping that it would make at least brief mention of the strategic island of New Caledonia and possible Chinese interest in its future. An overseas French territory since 1853, New Caledonia holds 25 percent of the world’s deposits of nickel, as well as significant quantities of chromium, cobalt, iron, and magnesium. Since 1947, it has hosted the headquarters of the South Pacific Commission and its successor, the Pacific Community. New Caledonia has suffered several periods of violent strife between French settlers and the indigenous Kanak population, most recently beginning in May 2024. China may be fishing in these troubled waters to expand its influence, especially since we maintain no presence other than occasional consular visits from our embassy in Fiji, more than 800 miles away. We were not always absent. In anticipation of the outbreak of war with Japan, we opened a consulate in Nouméa in early 1941. From 1942 to 1945, New Caledonia was an important staging area in support of the Allies’ conduct of the war, and upward of 50,000 American soldiers were present on the island at any given time. By some accounts, James Michener began writing his celebrated Tales of the South Pacific while there. My father, Claude G. Ross, served as U.S. consul in Nouméa from 1949 to 1951, and it was there as a first and second grader in a French school that I learned the French that served me so well in my own career with the Department of State and the United Nations. We closed the consulate in 1957, reportedly as part of a costcutting exercise. I am convinced that our interests require an on-site presence as we work to protect the world’s access to New Caledonian resources and counter Chinese influence. Twice, I have written to the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 11 urging that we examine the pros and cons of reopening a consulate. On May 9, I wrote Secretary Antony Blinken with the same request—just four days before the worst violence in decades erupted between extremist Kanaks and the settler population, and it is ongoing. We need our own eyes and ears on the ground, but in the absence of a substantive response to my missives, I do not know whether my urgings have made any headway. Christopher Ross Ambassador, retired Washington, D.C. Remembering the MDBs After a more than 40-year career at USAID and the World Bank, I welcomed the FSJ focus on foreign assistance in the October 2024 edition. I was struck, however, by the lack of reference to multilateral development banks (MDBs), the largest and most technically endowed institutions delivering long-term financial support, technical assistance, and training in emerging markets. My surprise is compounded by the fact that the U.S. is often one of the largest shareholders in many of these critical development organizations. Much of this disconnect stems from the fact that management of the U.S. relationship with the MDBs rests with the U.S. Treasury rather than USAID. Nevertheless, I’ve seen firsthand how the development agencies from other major donors successfully collaborate, cooperate, and strategically influence the MDBs, while USAID often appears disengaged or uninterested. USAID, and U.S. foreign assistance programs overall, would certainly benefit from a more strategic review of how they could more effectively cooperate and utilize these major financiers of development assistance. Joel Kolker FSO, retired Falls Church, Virginia The Best Recruiting Tool Having skimmed the article “Foreign Service Proud: 100 Words for 100 Years” when it appeared in the May 2024 centennial edition of the Journal, I just now had a chance to read it more carefully and wanted to write to you immediately. I think it is the best recruiting tool for the Foreign Service that I have seen in a long time! I wonder if you might publish it in pamphlet form and make it available to recruitment offices at State and the other Foreign Service agencies, including the Diplomat in Residence program. The stories are truly inspiring and, for me at least, would be even more effective than our classic Inside a U.S. Embassy among the American students interested in diplomatic careers whom I have taught over the years. Ken Moskowitz Senior FSO, retired Yokohama, Japan, and Arlington, Virginia n Share your thoughts about this month’s issue. Submit letters to the editor: journal@afsa.org
12 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL TALKING POINTS State Hosts Global Music Diplomacy Program As part of the State Department’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative in October, 13 international musicians and music professionals participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), reinforcing music’s role as a tool for diplomacy. The initiative, launched by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in 2023, aims to promote peace and democracy through public-private partnerships to foster economic equity and expand the global creative economy. Participants from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria traveled to Washington, D.C., Detroit, Kansas City, and Los Angeles, where they engaged in workshops and collaborative sessions with American music professionals. Discussions focused on preserving musical heritage, best practices in music management, and how music can promote social awareness, empower youth, and contribute to community development. The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative complements other new programs, including the American Music Mentorship Program and the Fulbright–Kennedy Center Visiting Scholar Award in Arts and Science. At the 2023 launch event, music icon Quincy Jones received the inaugural Peace Through Music Award for his role in advancing cross-cultural understanding through music. As part of the broader initiative, efforts such as Sing Out Loud aim to integrate music into English-language learning programs, further promoting U.S. cultural diplomacy. The program aligns with the Biden administration’s Promoting Peace, Education, and Cultural Exchange (PEACE) Through Music Diplomacy Act, which supports the use of music in fostering international relationships and promoting shared values. New Crop of Foreign Ambassadors in Washington Washington’s newest cohort of ambassadors represents a wide range of countries and backgrounds from India, the world’s most populous nation, to Barbados, one of the smallest. India’s new envoy to the U.S., Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, brings 36 years of diplomatic experience, including a prior posting in Washington. Kwatra has served in numerous positions around the world, from director of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Nepal to ambassador to France and UNESCO. He was also India’s foreign secretary from 2022 to 2024. Botswana’s Mpho Churchill Mophuting, Colombia’s Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo, and Ecuador’s Cristian Espinosa Cañizares are also among the new arrivals. García-Peña, a historian and journalist, is the son of a Colombian diplomat and has spent his career in both public service and journalism. Three Nordic nations are represented by career diplomats Leena-Kaisa Mikkola of Finland, Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir of Iceland, and Anniken Huitfeldt of Norway. Mikkola and Huitfeldt bring extensive experience from various international postings, while Valsdóttir transitions from a long career in journalism and government advisory roles. Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh of Pakistan was appointed while overseeing Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council. Panama’s José Miguel Alemán Healy continues a family tradition—his father and brother both previously served as ambassadors in Washington. Other newly accredited ambassadors include David Kipkorir Kiplagat Kerich of Kenya, Elita Kuzma of Latvia, and Ralf Heckner of Switzerland. Last week I asked that President Biden withdraw my nomination as U.S. ambassador to Libya. This very difficult decision comes 32 months since the Department of State asked me to consider the position and initiated the vetting process, nine months since the Senate received my nomination, and only after the Senate recessed for the election last week having failed for six months to advance the now-26 career nominees out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. U.S. national security deserves better than this. There has been no U.S. ambassador in Libya for two years, ceding space to Russia and China who have actively sought to exploit our perceived absence and destabilize NATO’s southern flank. I passionately believe in diplomacy as our best tool to counter such malign influences. It has been my privilege to spend 26 years fulfilling this calling. ... It was the honor of my career to be nominated for this position. —Senior FSO Jennifer Gavito in a LinkedIn post, October 2024. Contemporary Quote
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 13 UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the pact’s transformative potential, stating: “We cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents.” The Pact for the Future introduces important changes, including the most significant push for UN Security Council reform since the 1960s. These reforms aim to improve the council’s effectiveness and redress Africa’s historical underrepresentation. It also marks the first multilateral commitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade. On the digital front, the Global Digital Compact sets a global framework for artificial intelligence (AI) governance, focusing on connecting all people to Gaza and Syria Case Studies at GW’s Elliott School On Oct. 15, the Middle East Policy Forum at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs met to discuss “State Department Dissent: Gaza and Syria as Case Studies.” Ambassador (ret.) William Roebuck and political scientist and former FSO Annelle Sheline, PhD, shared their experiences and reflections on dissenting against U.S. policies in the Middle East. Amb. Roebuck recounted his dissent during the 2019 Turkish invasion of Kurdish-held areas in Syria, where he was stationed as a senior U.S. adviser. Roebuck’s memo, which was leaked to the media, expressed his opposition to the U.S. response to Türkiye’s actions and highlighted the betrayal felt by Kurdish forces, who had been important U.S. allies in the fight against ISIS. Roebuck said his dissent helped repair U.S.-Kurdish relations and raised international awareness of Türkiye’s plans to depopulate Kurdish areas. Sheline discussed her resignation from the State Department, in March 2024, in protest against U.S. support for Israeli military operations in Gaza. Having served in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor until her resignation, she voiced concerns about how unconditional U.S. support for Israel was damaging America’s global reputation. Sheline pointed to the internal dissent within the department, citing the resignation of her colleague, Josh Paul, as an early indicator of widespread discontent. The event, moderated by Ambassador (ret.) Gordon Gray, included a Q&A session in which both speakers advised mid-level diplomats on how to balance personal values with career aspirations. Roebuck and Sheline stressed the importance of being honest with oneself and knowing when to take a stand or leave if one’s work conflicts with deeply held principles. Pact for the Future at UN Summit On Sept. 22, 2024, world leaders at the United Nations’ Summit of the Future adopted the Pact for the Future, marking a pivotal moment in global diplomacy. This comprehensive agreement includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, laying the foundation for modernized international cooperation designed to address current and future global challenges. T his month’s featured podcast, Conversations, is produced by the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading international policy think tank, and offers a deep dive into the complex and evolving world of international diplomacy and security. In one of the highlighted episodes, “Hostage Diplomacy,” the Lowy Institute’s Sean Turnell—himself wrongfully imprisoned in Myanmar for two years—joins national security expert Lydia Khalil to explore the rise of hostage-taking by both state and nonstate actors. This episode covers the devastating personal effects of hostage diplomacy, the geopolitical stakes, and what can be done to combat this growing threat. Another must-listen is the “South China Sea Series,” in which Michael Mazarr from the RAND Corporation joins Susannah Patton, director of the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia program, to examine U.S. strategy in the region. With rising tensions between the United States and China, this episode sheds light on the complexities of the South China Sea disputes and explores how the U.S. can address China’s growing influence and support its ally, the Philippines. Mazarr argues for strategic planning in the face of potential territorial gains by China, offering a nuanced look at U.S.-China relations. Each episode of the Lowy Institute’s podcast brings expert voices to the forefront, with a mission to give Australia a greater voice on the world stage. Podcast of the Month : The Lowy Institute’s Conversations The appearance of a particular site or podcast is for information only and does not constitute an endorsement.
14 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Record-Breaking Voter Turnout 100 Years Ago The electorate cast the largest vote in American history—between 30,000,000 and 32,000,000 as compared with 26,675,000 votes in 1920. This record-breaking ballot may be attributed to a number of causes. The organized appeal, made by both Coolidge and Davis as well as by the American Legion to go to the polls as a patriotic duty regardless of partisanship, must have considerably increased the vote. A large number of women who did not avail themselves of the franchise in 1920 doubtless discharged their duty on November 4 after four more years of political education. The radio for the first time in history had a tremendous effect on the size of the votes by broadcasting political speeches to millions of homes and thus creating a more personal interest in the speakers and the issues of the campaign than was formerly possible through the newspapers alone. On the evening before the election by means of linked radio stations, Mr. Davis’ voice from New York was heard in Boston, Chicago, Louisville, Denver, Seattle, and San Francisco, and two hours later the President made his final statement which was also carried throughout the United States by the same medium. —The “Presidential Election” by Gerhard Gade in the December 1924 edition of The American Foreign Service Journal. the internet, anchoring digital policies in human rights, and safeguarding the online space for children. The pact also tackles pressing global issues like climate change by committing to keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C and accelerating the transition to renewable energy. The Declaration on Future Generations establishes new mechanisms to ensure future generations are considered in today’s decision-making, including the possible creation of a UN envoy for future generations. A document summarizing the summit’s achievements is available at https:// www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future. Putin Hosts BRICS Summit Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed leaders from BRICS nations and Global South countries to Kazan on Oct. 22, 2024, for a summit aimed at challenging Western influence. Russia sought to demonstrate that efforts to isolate it over the Ukraine war have failed. The BRICS bloc, originally comprising Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, now also includes Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, expanding its geopolitical and economic footprint. As BRICS expands, it seeks to coordinate policies on economic development and global governance, with a focus on reducing reliance on Western-dominated institutions like the U.S. banking system. Notably, the bloc has proposed creating an alternative payment system and financial institutions such as the New Development Bank to rival the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. However, BRICS members face internal divisions, particularly over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Further, China-India tensions are ongoing, and countries like Brazil and India maintain close ties to the West. Despite challenges, the bloc’s collective GDP now accounts for more than a quarter of the global economy, and its population represents almost half the world. With more than 40 countries expressing interest in joining BRICS, the group’s influence continues to grow, albeit with questions about its cohesion and long-term goals. Crocker Urges Caution in Israel’s Strategy In an interview with Politico, former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker expressed serious concerns about Israel’s ongoing military strategy following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Oct. 16, 2024, warning of potential overconfidence in its pursuit of a prolonged occupation of Gaza. Amb. Crocker, a retired Senior FSO with extensive Middle East experience who has served as U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan, cautioned that Israel’s victory claims may be premature. Reflecting on historical parallels, he stated: “I was in Lebanon in 1982 when the Israelis invaded. ... That invasion and subsequent occupation created Hezbollah. This invasion is not going to end it.” Crocker suggested that despite Sinwar’s death, guerrilla warfare by Hamas and Hezbollah will persist unless Israel shifts its approach. “If that adversary feels defeated, he is defeated. If he doesn’t, he’s not,” he explained, suggesting that Israeli decapitation strikes are not likely to result in a lasting peace. Crocker also expressed concern about the possibility that Iran will ramp
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 15 up its nuclear ambitions in response to Israel’s actions: “The more vulnerable the Iranians look on non-nuclear options ... the greater the impetus will be in Tehran to opt for that nuclear capability.” As Israel continues its military campaign, Crocker urged caution: “If they talk themselves into believing that their incredible feats of arms and intelligence actually constitute a victory, then that is very dangerous.” He highlighted the need for diplomacy and a potential cease-fire to avoid further escalation. OIG Report Highlights Staffing Shortfalls A September 2024 report from the State Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has identified both strengths and challenges within the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM). The OIG’s evaluation covered the bureau’s executive direction, foreign policy priorities, staffing, resource management, and information systems, with particular attention given to the bureau’s ability to respond to increasing workloads tied to critical global issues. The report commended PM’s leadership, noting that both the assistant secretary and the principal deputy assistant secretary effectively communicated department priorities while fostering resilience among staff. The OIG found that the bureau’s staffing did not keep pace with the rapid growth in its workload. Efforts to address these staffing needs were deemed inadequate, highlighting gaps in the department’s workforce planning processes. The report also flagged concerns in contract and grants management, noting that contracting officers failed to perform sufficient oversight and that many assistance awards lacked full and open competition.
16 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The OIG made 21 recommendations aimed at addressing these deficiencies. The bureau agreed with 20 of the recommendations. Full details of the report can be found at https://www.stateoig.gov/report/isp-i-24-16. New Appointments to State Modernization Commission President Joe Biden has announced his intention to appoint four new members to the State Department’s Commission on Reform and Modernization, a panel tasked with addressing the challenges of modern diplomacy. Established by the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the commission has 18 months to deliver its findings to Congress and the president. The appointees are all former State Department officials with extensive experience. They include retired FSO Ambassador Michael Guest, who previously served as deputy executive secretary and principal deputy assistant secretary for legislative affairs; Ambassador (ret.) Pamela Spratlen, who previously led the investigation into anomalous health incidents; Caroline Tess, a former deputy assistant secretary for Mexico, Canada, and regional economic policy who is currently executive director at National Security Action; and Ricardo Zúniga, former principal deputy assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs. The commission is charged with making recommendations to improve the department’s organizational structure, personnel training, and global facilities. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Richard Verma have voiced their support for the commission’s work, aligning with Blinken’s ongoing efforts to modernize the agency to meet current global challenges, such as cybersecurity and strategic competition with China. The commission received $2 million in funding for its work in the Fiscal Year 2024 omnibus spending bill. These new members will join others appointed by Congress, including Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) and former Deputy Secretary of State and Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan. “Embassy 2050” to Future-Proof U.S. Embassies Northwestern University, in partnership with the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations and Chicago-based architecture firm Krueck Sexton Partners, has developed a comprehensive five-year plan, “Embassy 2050,” that reimagines more than 280 diplomatic locations. Led by sustainability expert Kimberly Gray and the State Department’s Curtis F. Clay, the project aims to enhance the resilience of embassies and consulates worldwide in the face of global challenges such as climate change, technological advancements, and resource scarcity. Gray emphasized the urgency: “Climate change isn’t just a threat; it’s a threat multiplier.” The project’s final designs, completed this summer, are now being considered for implementation in the State Department’s six-year capital plan. The report includes recommendations for transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing water sustainability, and creating personalized indoor environments to improve comfort and reduce energy use. The initiative seeks to ensure the long-term safety and operational continuity of U.S. diplomatic facilities. n This edition of Talking Points was compiled by Mark Parkhomenko.
18 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL SPEAKING OUT George Krol retired from the Foreign Service in 2018 after a 36-year career during which he served as ambassador to Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan; and as deputy assistant secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs. He spent most of his career dealing with the states that emerged from the former Soviet Union, including postings to Russia and Ukraine. He resides in Rhode Island, where he is an adjunct professor at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport and an associate of Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. S ince retiring from the State Department at the end of 2018, I have read with great interest the numerous reports and articles regarding reform and the future of the U.S. Foreign Service, including those featured in the pages of the FSJ during this year’s centennial. I served in the Foreign Service for 36 of its 100 years; those long years have given me some ideas about how to improve the Service. Getting Back to Basics First, we need to define the essential work and value of the Foreign Service. Aside from the important and necessary administrative and legal (i.e., consular) duties members of the Foreign Service perform, the professional diplomat has four major functions: (1) to facilitate communication with the host government; (2) to understand in depth the host government and society; (3) to persuade the host government to take stances in support of U.S. policies and interests, and (4) to represent the United States and its policies publicly to broader audiences in host countries. The State Department should prioritize training Foreign Service officers in these core missions from day one. As many before me have noted, the department does not do enough to equip officers with the basic skills needed to perform these duties at the start and throughout the course of their careers. Too often, officers are thrown into sometimes-murky pools of diplomacy abroad, where they can struggle to keep afloat. Yes, embassies can and should train officers in the field; but our embassies are often too busy and understaffed to make this training a priority. Moreover, most FSOs have no training in how to train other officers. As a section head, deputy chief of mission (DCM) and even ambassador, I often asked myself why I was spending so much time being a copy editor for officers who seemed unfamiliar with basic principles of grammar, or why some officers seemed to have no idea how to negotiate and work in another culture outside the embassy’s perimeter. A six-week orientation class (that we knew as A-100 when I joined) does not produce competent diplomats ready to hit the ground running when they arrive at a U.S. mission abroad. Other agencies of the U.S. government require their entry-level officers to undertake many months or even years of basic tradecraft training before deployment, as do many other foreign diplomatic services. Officers need instruction in the basics of diplomacy, ideally using relevant case studies to prepare them before they go abroad. I know I could have used such training before my first assignment to our embassy in Warsaw in 1982 under conditions of martial law. Before arriving at post, I got six months of Polish language training, a couple sessions of area studies, a week of consular training, and a stern lecture from Diplomatic Security. Economic reporting and cable writing did not figure in the mix. I agree with the reports that call for officers, especially those who aspire to enter the Senior Service, to hone their basic skills and add new ones like management and leadership throughout their careers. Unfortunately, the department does not make most such training mandatory. For those who do participate, a two-week course in leadership training does not a leader make. The Foreign Service at 100: It’s Time for Renewal BY GEORGE KROL What is needed is stricter enforcement of existing rules regarding Foreign Service recruitment, training, and service.
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 19 Such training, along with courses focused on diversity and ethics, seems to have become mainly a box-checking exercise. The short courses for DCMs and ambassadors are simply not enough to develop seasoned leaders, not to mention the absence of required management training for all first-time section chiefs. Too often in embassies the blind are leading the blind. Why? Well, now we get to the nub of the problem: Foreign Service culture. Changing the Culture Many reports point to Foreign Service culture as a problem, but I’ve seen none that suggest what should be done about it. Too many officers, anxious to rise rapidly up the ladder, skip “tedious” intermediary home and foreign assignments. They focus on Washington networking over acquiring deep foreign area and management experience that take years in the field to develop. For the ambitious officer, training and overseas assignments can be seen as obstacles rather than skill-building requirements for promotions. In my own career, I purposefully sought a progression of increasingly senior desk and embassy jobs in a conscious effort to learn all aspects of the Foreign Service, from desk officer to office director to deputy assistant secretary in Washington, D.C., and from consulate reporting officer to embassy section chief, DCM, and ambassador at various posts overseas. The department did not require this progression, but it certainly made me a better, more effective officer and enriched my career. Unfortunately, it seems the Foreign Service is largely dominated at the highest ranks by those who, having spent a tour or two at embassies early on in their careers, got on the Washington fast track that catapulted them from executive assistant to senior positions, including rewards of ambassadorships, without having acquired intermediary hands-on experiences at embassies or desks. While some of these officers made the leap because of extraordinary abilities, others appear to have benefited from their network of relationships within the political levels of the department and the executive branch, setting unfortunate examples that many ambitious officers seek to follow in pursuit of what they consider career success. Too often, it seems to me, the department makes exceptions to the rules governing the Foreign Service, enabling and even encouraging this counterproductive culture. And, perhaps most discouragingly, those who benefited from this culture often become Foreign Service mandarins, exerting tremendous influence from their perches on the seventh floor. I do not see the culture of the Foreign Service changing if these officers continue to dominate. Looking back, I see in my own career the great value of service in Washington, D.C., as a necessity for understanding and working with and within the Washington policymaking and political world, but that experience served to complement rather than substitute for an extensive range of overseas assignments. To build a truly effective Foreign Service, emphasis should be placed on ensuring officers spend the bulk of their careers abroad, learning and practicing the diplomatic trade, rather than in domestic assignments where they can lose—or never effectively attain—that unique perspective FSOs can and should provide policymakers. Restoring Discipline The rules and regulations governing our Service, as established by the Rogers Act and subsequent reforms, do not need much change. The traditional “eight-year rule”—which states that an officer cannot be domestically assigned for more than eight consecutive years— provides a framework for a balanced career encompassing both overseas and D.C.-based assignments, while established performance standards set requirements for acceptable work. What is needed is stricter enforcement of existing rules regarding Foreign Service recruitment, training, and service. I used to think the Director General would have the ultimate authority to enforce the rules, but it appears that this authority, if it ever existed, has eroded, leaving an office that first and foremost takes its orders from the seventh floor rather than defending and maintaining the integrity of the Service as a professional, nonpolitical institution. I do not fault the courageous people who have held that unenviable position, but they need clear, independent authority to govern the Service without political influence or the influence of senior FSOs holding seventh-floor positions. I find it rather ironic that some senior seventh-floor FSOs have called for reforms after leaving office but were apparently unable to implement reforms while they occupied positions of authority and influence in the department. Of course, to be fair, reform is always easier said than done, especially when reform itself is not among the highest priorities of the department’s senior political leadership. Frankly, I do not believe the Foreign Service bureaucracy can reform itself on its own. By their very nature, bureaucracies are averse to change; they are the institutional keepers of the prevailing culture. Change usually must come from
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