state magazine, april 2001

38
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE April 2001 State State Magazine President Praises ‘the Troops’

Upload: state-magazine

Post on 18-Nov-2014

133 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

The April 2001 issue of State Magazine, published by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, takes a look at State employees working night shifts; the Office of Special Negotiations as our Office of the Month; and Mongolia as our Post of the Month!

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: State Magazine, April 2001

U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F S T A T E

April 2001

StateStateM a g a z i n e

PresidentPraises

‘the Troops’

Page 2: State Magazine, April 2001

7 Post of the Month: MongoliaHistory unfolds along the Old Silk Road.

11 Office of the Month: Special NegotiationsThis negotiator’s role is special indeed.

15 State After DarkFor some employees, lunch break is at 3 a.m.

20 Passport, Visa CentersNew England centers exploit new technology.

23 Spouses Find Work OverseasWith planning, spouses can find jobs in their field.

25 FLO Unveils Latest Jobs BookNew resource guide gives tips on job searches.

26 Secretary Tours Foreign Service InstituteFSI visit underscores that diplomacy begins with training.

28 Open ForumFormer Defense secretary calls for changes.

34 Diplomats Need More Than DiplomacyTo succeed, diplomats must be leaders and managers.

StateContents

D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e • U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a

StateMagazine

April 2001No. 445

C O L U M N S

2 From the Secretary

6 Direct from the D.G.

D E P A R T M E N T S

3 Letters to the Editor

4 In the News

30 Medical Report

31 People Like You

32 Obituaries

36 Personnel Actions

On the Cover

President Bush visits State.

Photo by Michael Gross

7

20

Gathering information at thevisa center.

Mongolian in native dresswith local transportation.

Page 3: State Magazine, April 2001

2 State Magazine

FROM THE SECRETARYSECRETARY COLIN L. POWELL

President Bush got a warm reception here but the value of his visit went wellbeyond cheers and applause in the C Street lobby. In the Benjamin FranklinRoom, the President attended graduation ceremonies of our newest Foreign

Service class and in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs he got a briefing onMexico from five mid-level officers. I was glad he got both a good look at theDepartment’s future and a sense of how serious we are about giving our line offi-cers responsibility.

The President told me he was impressed by what he saw and heard. But I think allof us were impressed by the President. In his remarks, he offered a brief but serioustreatment of national security issues. And the promise he made—his affirmation thathe was going to be State’s “domestic constituency”—was warmly received.

It’s a promise the President has already delivered on. State operations won a 17percent increase in this budget even as other departments faced cutbacks.

As all of you know, I’ve taken these increases to the committees on Capitol Hill.Here’s what they will mean:

■ More than 360 new hires in the Foreign Service and Civil Service. With long-vacant slots filled, essential personnel can be freed up to help with training forthe first time in years.

■ $270 million will get everyone Internet access and deliver a secure cyber sys-tem to our overseas posts. (Hard as it is to believe, many of those bureaus did-n’t have a classified means of communicating with Main State or each other.)

■ $126 million to fund American and Foreign Service National pay raises, cost-of-living adjustments and offsets to domestic and overseas inflation.

■ $63 million for support of overseas bureaus by restoring equipment and vehi-cles and by making FSN wages competitive.

■ $665 million for embassy construction, plus 185 additional security personnelas well as 51 new diplomatic security agents. New embassies and a safe envi-ronment in our existing ones are a priority.

Members of Congress have been very responsive to the case we have made forthese increases. Their support—and President Bush’s—means we can make longstrides this year towards bringing “the bestest” and “the mostest” to the front linesof diplomacy. ■

President Delivers on Promise

Page 4: State Magazine, April 2001

April 2001 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Vienna RespondsIn your January feature on the

International Organizations Bureau,which included the U.S. Mission toUN System Organizations in Vienna,you overlooked the Vienna mission’stop priority: promoting U.S. nationalsecurity through the nonprolifera-tion activities of the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency.

In cooperation with our col-leagues in Washington, we are help-ing the IAEA develop a globalregime of strengthened nuclear safe-guards designed to detect and detera clandestine nuclear program suchas the one under taken by Iraq beforethe Persian Gulf War. We have alsobeen working with the ProvisionalTechnical Secretariat of the Compre-hensive Nuclear Test Ban TreatyOrganization to develop the infra-structure needed to verify a globalban on nuclear explosions.

As you reported, we are closelyengaged with UN agencies in Viennato promote nuclear safety, fight inter-national crime and narcotics traffick-ing and advance U.S. interests ininternational trade and space issues.

In your sidebar on the UNCommission on International TradeLaw, you mistakenly assignedForeign Service officer Kit Traub tothat organization. While he coversthe commission, he is a member ofour mission.

Laura KennedyActing U.S. RepresentativeU.S. Mission to UN SystemOrganizationsVienna

From Our Neighbors to the North

The sad fact is we don’t have adepartmental employee magazine,only a newsletter, Bout de Papier,published by the Professional Asso-ciation of Foreign Service Officers,which only goes to members of thatorganization.

We realize that our organizationneeds to improve its internal commu-nications by communicating withemployees on departmental matters.One of the challenges has been thedearth of vehicles to transmit infor-mation. We do not have a staff maga-zine and much of the communicatingwe do is through e-mail broadcastmessages. But e-mail overload is a

From the EditorA new word has slipped into the Department’s vernacular. When

President Bush made his first visit to State during National Security Weekin February, Secretary Powell proudly introduced him to “the troops of theState Department.” We’re likely to hear the term “troops” used often as theSecretary takes his message to the Congress and American people thatdiplomacy is the nation’s first line of defense. The President said as muchwhen he told employees who packed the C Street lobby that “You resolve acrisis before a shot is fired.”

Language, we recognize, is nothing more than symbols. The more famil-iar the symbols, the clearer the message. More people are likely to knowsomeone in uniform than in the Foreign Service. Thus the Department iswise to begin aligning its message to correspond with its mission. By doingso, the new vocabulary may prove more than just an exercise in semantics.

Our posts, as the Secretary has acknowledged, are far-flung. Mongolia,our Post of the Month, is a prime example. Symbols of endless desert,nomads, camels, goats and yaks are familiar from our history books. Theancient and the modern merge in this unfolding drama along the Old SilkRoad. I encourage you to read this article as well as our Office of the Month,Special Negotiations.

Like New York, the State Department never sleeps. In this month’s issueyou’ll meet some of the men and women who keep the Department’s lampsburning. The graveyard shift may not be for everybody, especially if youdon’t fancy having your lunch at 3 a.m. Welcome to State after dark.

With planning, spouses can find meaningful work overseas. The FamilyLiaison Office, which has traditionally focused on finding work for spouseswithin the mission, is now exploring ways for them to find gainful employ-ment beyond the embassy and consulate. If a pilot project in Mexico is suc-cessful, it will be expanded to other countries.

common complaint and “automaticdelete reflex” is an illness for whichwe have yet to find a cure.

So now’s the time for us to cast oureyes elsewhere and learn from bestpractices. We have been greatlyimpressed with State Magazine andbelieve it could serve as a usefulmodel. Our audiences are alike andour areas of interest similar. We toowant to inform, engage and presentopportunities for dialogue.

Carol BujeauActing Deputy DirectorCommunication Programs andOutreachDepartment of Foreign Affairs andInternational TradeOttawa, Canada

Letters to the EditorLetters should not exceed 250 words andshould include the writer’s name, addressand daytime phone number. Letters will beedited for length and clarity. Only signed letters will be considered. Names may bewithheld upon request. You can reach us at [email protected].

Page 5: State Magazine, April 2001

4 State Magazine

I N T H E N E W S

By Paul Koscak

President George W. Bush marked NationalSecurity Week by visiting the State Departmentto thank employees for promoting American val-ues and traditions abroad and for being the

nation’s first line of defense.“You do so much to sustain America’s position in the

world; so much to foster freedom in the world and forthat we are grateful,” the President told hundreds ofemployees who packed the C St. entrance.

Secretary Colin Powell, who joined his boss at thepodium, said that after the President’s recent visits to thetroops at Ft. Stewart, Ga., Norfolk, Va. and the WestVirginia National Guard in Charleston, National SecurityWeek was a fitting occasion to visit “the troops of theState Department.”

The audience roared with applause.The President recognized much of the unsung work

quietly performed by both Civil Service and ForeignService employees. “You solve the problems before theybecome headlines,” he said. “You resolve a crisis before ashot is fired. And when tragedy or disaster strikes, you’reoften the first on the scene.”

He said the long row of flags adorning the C St.entrance and representing the nations the United Statesmaintains diplomatic relations with is a constantreminder that the work of the Department never ceases.

“It’s sometime said that the State Department is one ofthe few federal departments that has no domestic con-stituency,” President Bush continued. “Well, whoeversaid that was wrong. Let me assure you that between meand Secretary Powell you do have a constituency.”

The President also outlined his vision for America’s for-eign policy, calling for close ties with our European allies,

engaging Russia and China with“patience, principle and consistency” andincreased trade in Africa. He predicted amore prosperous Western hemisphere“from the Arctic to the Andes to CapeHorn,” and a “clear, constant and vital for-eign policy.” He envisioned “a century ofthe Americas” and a strong partnershipwith Mexico with an emphasis on fightingdrug trafficking and organized crime.

“America will set its own priorities sothey’re not set by our adversaries withthe crisis of the moment,” he said.

During his visit, President Bushaddressed the 100th graduating class ofForeign Service officers in the BenFranklin Room. The occasion, broadcastto more than 10,000 State employees inWashington and another 37,000 at 250posts worldwide, marked the first time inmemory that a President has presided ata graduation of Foreign Service officersand specialists. ■

The author is a writer-editor for StateMagazine

President Praises Employees’Sacrifice, Commitment

Phot

o by

Ann

Tho

mas

Page 6: State Magazine, April 2001

April 2001 5

I N T H E N E W S

Graduates Get Presidential Send-OffThe Foreign Service’s centennial class launched their new careers

with an inspiring send-off from President George W. Bush.“You’ve just become part of the best diplomatic corps in the

world,” the President proclaimed. “I want you to remember thatyou’ll be the image of America, the face and voice of her val-ues….You’ll represent the strength of America, our compassion andour humility. It’s a high calling and a difficult one, and your countryappreciates your work.”

The President, who addressed the 37 graduates, their families andfriends during National Security Week, said that as they go about theirwork with “little fanfare,” most Americans will never hear about theirsuccesses. “The problem that is solved hardly makes the evening news.”

Still, the President said, “our job is to support you as you sustainAmerica’s interests and ideals throughout the world.”

President Bush made his remarks after Secretary of State ColinPowell formally led the swearing in of the 100th Foreign Serviceclass since the Foreign Service Act of 1980. Just before the ceremony, Secretary Powell asked the graduates to applaudtheir families for raising, nurturing and supporting them.

There was a lighter moment.“We teach 63 different languages at the Foreign Service Institute, so this should be easy,” remarked an enthusiastic

Ruth Davis, the school’s director, as she gave a rousing, sermon-like introduction to the President. “But I don’t thinkwords can express our sincere delight with having the President of the United States with us….But I think, Mr. President,I need to give you fair warning that every junior class will be calling you to swear them in.”

When President Bush stepped to the podium he quipped: “Ambassador Davis, you remind me of my mother!”The room erupted in laughter.Secretary Powell said of the graduates, “I know the day will come when we will greet them back here as career min-

isters and ambassadors. That is my hope and expectation.”

President Bush congratulates newest members of the ForeignService.

Phot

o by

Mic

hael

Gro

ss

Once Again, DepartmentSurpasses CFC Goal

The Department of State has surpassed its 2000Combined Federal Campaign goal of $1.6 million,according to the Office of Employee Relations, whichcoordinates the annual drives.

Employees pledged more than $1.665 million, anincrease of 7 percent over 1999’s contributions. The num-ber of employees participating in the campaign alsoincreased—by 9 percent—officials said.

The Department has exceeded its campaign goals forfour of the past five years, earning the coveted PacesetterAward from the National Capital Area Combined FederalCampaign. Former Transportation Secretary RodneySlater chaired the 2000 campaign. An award ceremonyofficially recognizing individual bureaus and campaignworkers was scheduled for late March.

Secretary Relaxes Restrictions Retirees can now enter certain areas of the Harry S

Truman Building unescorted thanks to a revision in secu-rity policy by Secretary of State Colin Powell. Under thechange, effective Feb. 12, retirees may visit the basement aswell as the first and second floors with a temporary build-ing pass. To visit other floors, they will still need an escort.

“I believe these revisions will properly balance securi-ty requirements with reasonable access to the more pub-lic areas of the building,” Secretary Powell said. “I en-courage you to stay in touch with your colleagues in theDepartment and to visit us frequently.”

Retirees can use their normal credentials to obtain atemporary building pass. Those who require access toother parts of the building for official business must obtaina regular building pass. Applications for the passes can beobtained and submitted at the following union offices:American Federation of Government Employees, Room1247, and the American Foreign Service Association, 2101E St., N.W. Nonmembers should inquire at DiplomaticSecurity, Room 6316, or at the building pass office, B-226.

Page 7: State Magazine, April 2001

6 State Magazine

tracks all personnel actions. You may know it as GEMS(Global Employment Management System). Workingwith the Bureau of Information Resource Managementand many others at State, we are well on the way to mak-ing this the best tool it can be.

HR’s new web site owes its design and much of its con-tent to the creative information technology professionalsin Ruben’s shop. We wanted to make HR informationand services easily accessible to all Department employ-ees worldwide, and thanks to Ruben and his staff, wehave succeeded. This web site, which is indexed by con-tent and office, contains everything you ever wanted toknow about Human Resources. It is an incredibleresource for Department employees and human resourceprofessionals alike. If you log on at http://hrweb.hr.state.gov, you’ll see what I mean.

Next month, you’ll meet Cee-Cee Cooper, director ofour Office of Retirement. ■

This month I am pleased to introduce RubenTorres, HR’s executive director. Ruben keeps thisbureau funded and running smoothly while alsomanaging crucial Department-wide personnel

information systems. Prior to joining HR/EX in 1999, heserved as executive director of the Bureau of Finance andManagement Policy and as the deputy executive directorin the Office of the Inspector General.

Deputy Kaara Ettesvold and a hard-working team ofpersonnel and information technology specialists sup-port Ruben.

Although the core functions of most executive offices inthe Department are similar, HR/EX also has a corporaterole that affects the diplomatic readiness of the entireDepartment workforce. Ruben’s staff must ensure thatState gets the right people to the right place in a timelyfashion, and that their records are correct and current.

Getting our employees and their families to their postsquickly and efficiently is critical to our ability to supportour nation’s foreign policy objectives. Working withFMP, HR/EX has brought the account that funds thistravel “into the 21st century,” providing better and fasterservice to our Foreign Service employees.

Ruben champions technology that reduces the flood ofpaper in our offices. One of his goals is to convert the filesof every State Department employee into e-files, a projectalready under way. And his Records Management Centerhas been scanning the official personnel folders of ForeignService officers for the past two years to create imaged files.Soon, employees with a password will be able to view theirfolders electronically from any unclassified Departmentcomputer anywhere in the world.

The Executive Office provided developmental andtechnical support for our pilot 360 Review and ResumeBuilder projects. The projects embrace the OverseasPresence Advisory Panel and McKinsey recommenda-tions that the Department increase emphasis on leader-ship, management and career development. The 360Review process is already available. The Resume Builderapplication (available soon on the HR Intranet web site)will replace the employee profile (PAR), enablingemployees to tell their own career story.

The most challenging task facing HR/EX has been sta-bilizing and enhancing the Department-wide system that

DIRECT FROM THE D.G.MARC GROSSMAN

Role of HR/EX Affects Entire Workforce

Ruben Torres

Page 8: State Magazine, April 2001

L

By Alice Kerksiek

and of the fabled Gobi Desert, Mongolia conjures up images of camel caravans trekking through a seaof sand, of longhaired yaks, roaming wolves and herds of goats, sheep and horses. The Gobi bindsMongolia on the south. On the west are high, permanently snowcapped mountains, while to the east thesteppe rolls toward China. To the north is Lake Hovsgol, a pristine freshwater lake that feeds Siberia’smore famous Lake Baikal.

The sun shines more than 280 days a year, even during the most bitter cold days. Spring is windy anddusty, summer warm and green, fall gorgeous with autumnal colors and winter a collage of snow, ice, sunand blue sky. The temperature may plummet but not the hospitality of the Mongolian people, who arewarm and gracious, using first names only.

Mongolia once produced the thundering hordes of Chinggis Khan and the caravans of the Silk Road.More recently, Mongolia has been a land lost to most people. From the 1920s until 1990, it was a closedsatellite of the Soviet Union. Only since its recent steps toward democracy has Mongolia opened itselfto the world. The U.S. Embassy opened for business in 1988. From a very small, part-time operation, ithas grown into a thriving full-time embassy with 19 American employees. Forming the mission’s back-bone are more than 90 Foreign Service Nationals.

MongoliaMongoliaApril 2001 7

History Unfolds Alongthe Old Silk Road

Post of the Month:

The gers of Mongolia’snomads stand out againstthe bright green summerlandscape.

Page 9: State Magazine, April 2001

Above, Ambassador John Dinger reviews the presidential guard. Below, enjoying the annual winter picnic are, from left, JuneCarmichael, Colette Baker, Alice Kerksiek, Mark Willis and Kristy Hogan.

Located in the northeastern part of Ulaanbaatar, theembassy occupies about two acres. Staff face many chal-lenges, such as communication breakdowns,scarce recreational facilities, poor infrastructureand limited commodities. The extremes in cli-mate (summer to winter temperatures can differby almost 140 degrees Fahrenheit) cause prob-lems in the embassy’s day-to-day operations. Butmost Americans find that the beauty and fascina-tion of Mongolia more than compensate for thedifficulties.

A few short miles from the city, modern lifegives way to the nomadic lifestyle of centuriespast. Round, felt-covered tents called “gers” dotthe landscape, interspersed with herds of cattle,goats, sheep and horses and the occasional camelor yak. The few existing roads end abruptly in themiddle of nowhere. Anyone venturing out of thecity is encouraged to take extra gas, at least twotires and a global positioning system. That said,you are never alone in the countryside. Thenomads are very hospitable. They might not havethe tire you need, but they will offer you a warmger, food and interesting conversation. Unless youspeak Mongolian, however, conversation consists

8 State Magazine

Page 10: State Magazine, April 2001

oy the annual winter picnic. They are, front row, from left, Enkhbayar, Sukh,t, Battumur, Batbayar and Enkhtuvshin.

mostly of gestures, facialexpressions and smiles.And they can alwayslend you a horse to rideto the nearest town,where you may find atire.

Almost a third ofMongolia’s populationlives in Ulaanbaatar,where cultural eventsreflect Russian influence.The ballet, opera andsymphony, for example,now have a permanentplace in Mongolia’s cul-ture. Both European andtraditional Mongolianmusic is performed inmany venues. New cafesand restaurants springup overnight. In additionto the traditional muttonand dumplings, there isan ample variety of foodfrom other countries. Thecircus and the wrestling palace offer yet another kind ofentertainment. Wrestling is a national sport of Mongolia,along with archery and horse racing (the latter two are usu-ally exhibited only in the summer). The city even has abowling alley.

Democracy is only 10 years old, but the Mongolianshave made great strides toward developing an open soci-ety. The embassy encourages and supports Mongolia in

Foreign Service National employees enjGantulga, Gankhuleg; back row, Gantsog

Running up the flag as a new day beginsat the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.

its quest to build democratic institutions and a marketeconomy. The political and economic staff cooperateswith the government, nongovernmental organizations,private businesses and other missions in this endeavor.Political officers pay particular attention to human rights,law enforcement and transnational crime, women’sissues and the environment. Free and fair elections have

April 2001 9

Page 11: State Magazine, April 2001

Counting the votes duringthe elections of July 2000.

become the norm, and the people take their right to votevery seriously.

The economic and commercial staff promote policyreforms and advocate for American trade and investment.Mongolia is building a free enterprise system and is fastbecoming one of the more open markets in the region. Thegovernment is reforming basic laws concerning invest-ment, banking and accounting to strengthen the legal andfinancial environment for business. The economy remainsoverly dependent, however, on a few exports, especiallycopper and agricultural products. The challenge is to pro-duce more finished goods, further develop mineral

10 State Magazine

A monument to Gen. Sukhbaatar, founder of thIndependent Peoples Republic of Mongolia in dominates Sukhbaatar Square. The opera houin the background.

resources and find new areas for growth. The U.S. Agencyfor International Development has numerous projects thatpromote privatization, rural development, export competi-tiveness and economic, financial and judicial reform.

Consular employees serve a growing number of Amer-icans living, working and traveling in Mongolia and facili-tate travel to the United States for an increasing number ofMongolians. The defense attaché works closely with theministries of defense and justice and concentrates onpeacekeeping, civil defense and border security. Off-dutyactivities include friendly marksmanship contests withMongolian associates and Chinese and Russian counter-

parts. Public affairs staff conduct culturaland educational exchange programs thatchampion democracy and rule of law andprivate enterprise, and they work closelywith Mongolian media to foster the princi-ples of free and independent media, a verynew concept in Mongolia. Young journalistsappear to be embracing this concept eagerly.

Peace Corps volunteers work with localMongolian agencies to provide technicalassistance in education, health and theenvironment. Currently, there are 82 volun-teers stationed in the country. Although theUnited States and Mongolia have knowneach other only a short while, the twocountries are developing a remarkablefriendship and discovering kindred spirits.The U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar is proudto be part of this unfolding history. ■

The author is the community liaison officer atthe U.S. Embassy in Mongolia.

e1921,se is

Page 12: State Magazine, April 2001

Office of the Month:

Special NegotiationsNegotiator’s Role Is Indeed Special

By Jon Henick

I f ironing out age-old conflicts, negotiating peace orhelping to secure the release of war prisoners soundsintriguing, working for the Office of the SpecialNegotiator might prove satisfying.

But for the many who have never heard of the office,the following chronology will help.

In 1991, when the Soviet Union broke up, 12 new inde-pendent states emerged, grabbing the headlines and atten-tion of a world already captivated by the revolutions in theformer Warsaw Pact countries and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The breakup also grabbed the attention of StateDepartment officials.

While the emergence of these nations created opportu-nities for democracy in regions freed from totalitarian

regimes, the absence of Soviet intervention also invitedrenewed ethnic strife and instability.

Those concerns proved real. Within two years, anOffice of the Special Negotiator was formed to helpdefuse tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region ofAzerbaijan. The conflict erupted in 1990 when the largeArmenian community in that region, supported bytroops from bordering Armenia, forced out the Azeriminority. These rebel forces seized control of Nagorno-Karabakh, captured large swaths of Azerbaijani territoryand linked the occupied land to Armenia. In partnershipwith other nations concerned with the conflict, the spe-cial negotiator secured funding for demining, offeredpeace proposals and reinforced a cease-fire agreement.

Meanwhile, the office expanded its focus outside theNagorno-Karabakh region and now is helping to mitigateconflicts in nearby Georgia, Moldova and Tajikistan.

April 2001 11

Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan ispopulated by ethnic Armenians and connectedto Armenia by land seized by Armenian forcesduring the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Page 13: State Magazine, April 2001

12 State Magazine

An Azerbaijani general points out frontlinefortifications to Ambassador CareyCavanaugh during a December visit to theNagorno-Karabakh region.

Photo by Ken Hillas

An abandoned mosque stands out among theruins of Agdam, Azerbaijan, whose residentswere driven out during fighting betweenArmenian and Azerbaijani forces in 1994.

U.S. efforts to promote peace when simi-lar strife erupts throughout the globe haveresulted in multiple special negotiators. Forinstance, the Department has Offices of theSpecial Negotiator for Cyprus, the MiddleEast and the Balkans.

Work in the Nagorno-Karabakh specialnegotiator office is typical of the other of-fices. It frequently keeps an action-orientedsix-person team on the road to craft strate-gy and support negotiations at the highestlevels.

Destinations include key European capi-tals as well as regions of conflict. The glam-or offered by stops in London, Paris andVienna is more than offset by travel to theself-anointed “capitals” of Stepanakert,Sukhumi and Tiraspol for negotiationswith separatist leaders and warlords.

Page 14: State Magazine, April 2001

Special negotiator staff Jessica LeCroy, left, senior adviser; Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh, special negotiator;Ken Hillas, deputy; Jessi Levine, Azerbaijani desk officer; and Jon Henick, adviser, review their region.

Phot

o by

Pau

l Kos

cak

The diplomatic variables can bedaunting. On the Nagorno-Karabakhissue, the United States is one ofthree leading nations, along withFrance and Russia, in the 12-nationMinsk Group, a coalition of nationsdedicated to resolving that conflict.For the conflicts in Abkhazia andSouth Ossetia, republics along theBlack Sea, the United States works as one of the Friends of the U.N.Secretary General. Each conflictdemands a unique mix of specialnegotiators, envoys, leaders andstates.

Conflict resolution is an integrated discipline of poli-tics, security, economics, peacekeeping, human rights,refugee assistance and international law. The Departmentdraws directly upon a dozen desk officers and the Bureauof European Affairs and frequently taps the services ofother offices and bureaus.

The special negotiator also works with State’s U.N.missions and U.S. Embassies to ensure that Americanpolicy is followed in this volatile region.

The hallmarks of those who join the special negotiatorare diligence, ingenuity, persistence and a sense of adven-ture. Newcomers quickly realize that work here can takeyou from ornate presidential offices and grand negotiat-ing halls directly to the frontlines. Working to halt cease-fire violations, the members of a team in the no-man’sland between Armenian and Azerbaijani military forceswere measured for flak jackets and issued helmets. Theycrossed a field freshly cleared of mines to bring local

Photo by Brady Kiesling

political and military leaders from each side together toexplore how to better manage the stalemate. The result:better understanding, new communications and a re-newed commitment to protecting the lives of militarypersonnel and civilians on each side.

And if that’s not exciting enough, how about navigat-ing treacherous mountain passes or crisscrossing conflictzones in questionably maintained Russian helicopters?Less dangerous, but equally emotional, are visits tosqualid refugee camps and the remnants of cities and vil-lages destroyed by the conflicts to assess damage tobridges, railroads and power lines to be restored if peaceis achieved.

Public outreach is another important task. WithArmenian-Americans numbering more than one million,there’s strong domestic interest in U.S. policy and activi-ties in Armenia and the surrounding region. Office stafftravel coast-to-coast giving speeches in churches, univer-sities and assembly halls and meeting community lead-ers. For many residents of Los Angeles, Detroit, SanFrancisco, Philadelphia and New York, developments inthe Caucasus are front-burner concerns.

The same applies to Capitol Hill. The office faces asolid stream of requests for information from members ofCongress and staff.

In summary, the Office of the Special Negotiatorknows firsthand that successfully advancing U.S. poli-cy doesn’t require above-the-fold media coverage, butdiplomats dedicated to the lofty objective of peace. It’sa worthy goal that may dramatically improve the livesof millions. ■

The author is an adviser in the Office of the Special Negotiator.

April 2001 13

Page 15: State Magazine, April 2001

Human Resources’ New Web SiteHas the Answers

‘The best serving the best’is now online.By Jan Brambilla

The Bureau of Human Resources has launched a newIntranet web site with a wealth of data on HR issuesand services. The Department’s Foreign Service andCivil Service employees alike now have worldwideaccess to information about professional develop-ment, training and quality of life issues, along with

commonly used forms and frequently asked HR questions. Although this web site was a product of HR’s “First

Impressions” initiative, to ensure that new employeeshave access to key information as soon as they arrive, long-time employees and HR professionals will benefit, too.

For many employees, knowing where to go for person-nel information always has been frustrating. In response,the bureau redesigned its web site to include a searchengine, access to information by office and function and a Customer Service Directory with the phone number, e-mail address and duties of every HR staff member. Howcan this web site help you? A few illustrations follow:

Do you use Metrochek? Are you thinking about retire-ment? Would you like to explore telecommuting? Youwill need to know if you qualify for these programs andyou will need application forms. All necessary informa-tion is available on the HR web site under “Office ofEmployee Relations” or “Office of Retirement.” You alsocan type “metrochek,” “retirement” or “telecommuting”into the search bar on the HR home page and go directlyto the information you need.

Is this your first time writing Foreign Service employ-ee evaluation reports? Go to the Office of PerformanceEvaluation’s web page to view a superb slide presenta-tion on how to write a quality employee evaluationreport, or EER.

Going overseas soon? Does your spouse want to pur-sue employment opportunities? Check out the FamilyLiaison Office’s web page for job-hunting tools in theglobal economy and with the U.S. government. There arearticles about job hunting and the Family Member

14 State Magazine

Employment Report as well as details about the MexicoCity Pilot Employment Program for spouses. FLO’s sec-tion also has the 2000 Childcare Report, which lists child-care options at U.S. Embassies and consulates abroad.

Ready to bid on your next assignment? Click on theOffice of Career Development and Assignments webpage, where you can use Bid Express to submit your bidlist or make changes to your existing bid list. Once youreceive your assignment notification and are working onthe timing of your transfer, you can access all the infor-mation you will need to prepare for departure.

Are you interested in becoming a Diplomat inResidence? Consult the Recruitment, Examination andEvaluation (REE) web site for DIR contact information.

Future upgrades to the HR web site will include inter-active personnel services, replacing paper-based forms forsubmitting requests for services and information, and theability to update and make changes to personnel records,such as retirement and Thrift Savings Plan allocations.

The Bureau of Human Resources is committed tomeeting the information needs of the State Department’sworkforce. HR welcomes feedback from its customers onsubjects you would like to see featured on this site.Maintaining a web site is always a work in progress.Feedback from HR’s customers is vital to the site’s con-tinued evolution and improvement. Please send yourcomments and suggestions to [email protected]. ■

The author is a senior adviser in the Bureau of Human Resources.

Page 16: State Magazine, April 2001

It’s 3 a.m. on a typical Sunday. You’re likely to be sound asleep,in the middle of your weekend. Whatever your thoughts or dreams,it’s unlikely they concern your job at the Department of State.

State After Dark:Lunch at 3 a.m.

Story and Photos by Kelly Adams-Smith

Yet, in offices throughout theDepartment, your colleagues are busy working. Uniformedguards patrol the building; offi-

cers at 24-hour watch centers talk withposts overseas and write reports for theSecretary and other Department princi-pals; computer specialists talkembassy employees throughnew software programs; com-municators distribute incom-ing cables; media resource staffscour the press for foreignaffairs news; and analyststranslate a surprise notificationfrom Russia about its intent todispose of nuclear weapons.

Welcome to State after mid-night!

Few people even consider jobsthat require midnight shifts. Theodd hours would be too difficultfor either them or their families.They would never get enoughsleep. Still, the State Departmentis a 24-hour-a-day organizationrun two-thirds of the time bydedicated employees willing towork while their colleagues are off.

April 2001 15

Page 17: State Magazine, April 2001

Pamela Mack, a DiplomaticSecurity special agent, monitorsthe Secretary’s movements.

Susan Elbow, sen-ior watch officer in the OperationsCenter, prepares a message to besent via pneumat-ic tube to theSecretary’s staff.

International crises and natural disastersdon’t respect time zones. Critical mainte-nance must be done to computer and com-munications systems at all hours. Mostoverseas posts are well into their day by the time the alarm rings in the typicalWashington-area bedroom.

Night-shift work at State comes in differ-ent varieties. Employees of the InformationResource Management Bureau and theExecutive Secretariat’s 24-hour computerstaff work the night shift from 11 p.m. to 8a.m. five days a week, as do those who runthe Consular Affairs computer supportdesk and the Bureau of Public Affairs’media resource unit. Rarely do these sameemployees rotate to work the 7 a.m. to 4p.m. day shift or the 3 p.m. to midnightevening shift. The staff at the Nuclear RiskReduction Center, who transmit andreceive communications mandated by mul-tiple arms control treaties, work six to sevendays on one shift, take three days off andthen switch to the next shift, graduallyworking all three shifts over time.

Watch officers and Diplomatic Securityagents in the Operations Center, the sup-port center for the Secretary and his princi-pal advisers, typically rotate among the

16 State Magazine

three shifts every two to three days.Since its inception, the Ops Center hasworked on this rotating schedule. Itallows watch officers to spend a partof every cycle in the building duringworking hours so they do not losecontact with the rhythms of the build-ing and the needs of the Secretary.Most employees who keep these tax-ing schedules usually do so only for a13-month tour, although some CivilService employees in the Ops Centerwork rotating shifts permanently. TheBureau of Intelligence and Research’sINR Watch delivers current intelli-gence and independent analysis onforeign affairs events to senior StateDepartment officials and employsForeign Service officers who workrotating shifts and Civil Serviceemployees who work straight day ornight shifts.

Most people who work the grave-yard shift, whether constantly or on arotating schedule, actually enjoy it.They find they have more time withtheir families, especially their young

Page 18: State Magazine, April 2001

Pete Pierce, an INR watch officer,reviews intelligence reports fromabroad for the Secretary’s daily report.

children. They are able to run errands, see movie mati-nees and visit museums while the masses are at work.Their commutes are much easier since they don’t travelduring rush hour. In addition to earning a pay differen-tial, most night-shift employees also receive a covetedparking pass. They dress more casually, and there is usu-ally a special kind of camaraderie among these employ-ees not found among traditional nine-to-five staff.

Working nights offers other rewards. Pete Pierce, whohas worked midnights on INR Watch for the past eightyears, notes the added responsibility night workers have.“If a crisis breaks out in the middle of the night, I have todecide if it’s important enough to wake up my supervi-sors and colleagues,” Mr. Pierce says. “At that point, Iknow more about the crisis than anyone else, and myactions could affect the Department’s response to the sit-uation. It’s a great responsibility.”

Juanita Briscoe, a night-shift employee in the Bureau ofPublic Affairs’ media resource unit, gets special satisfac-tion from knowing that embassies depend on her, partic-ularly during VIP visits. When the President, Secretary ofState and other senior officials travel, our ambassadorsand public affairs officers greet their VIP guests on theairport tarmac with the latest news at their fingertips.This is possible because Ms. Briscoe and her colleagues atthe media resource unit have been working around theclock collecting real-time information and summaries offoreign affairs news. They know that in the age of CNN,State Department officials no longer have the luxury of ahalf day to react to international news developments.

April 2001 17

Michelle Hopkins, watch officer in theOperations Center, studies messages fromembassies during her night shift.

Page 19: State Magazine, April 2001

IRM’s Charles Miles troubleshoots acomputer system problem beforetaking his 3 a.m. “lunch break.”

Robert Riley, left, and Daniel Peters,Operations Center watch officers, chart themovements of senior Department officials.

State employees who work with computer systemsvalue the graveyard shift, too, because at night they havetime to troubleshoot and learn new programs and sys-tems. “Often day-shift employees are too busy to dealwith technical problems that arise and they leave them forthe night shift to work out,” says Information ResourceManagement employee Charles Miles. “At night, we canexperiment with solutions and keep up with new tech-nology, which is vitally important in our field.”

The Operations Center has a special calling at night.“Ops Center night staff answer calls from distressedAmericans who have heard that a loved one is in troubleoverseas,” explains watch officer Michelle Hopkins.“Watch officers must assess these delicate situations todetermine whether the callers should be referred to anembassy or a Department duty officer.” In addition,because most of the world’s population is awake whilethe Western Hemisphere is asleep, word of crises abroadoften arrives at the Ops Center during the graveyardshift. Notification of the embassy bombings in Dar esSalaam and Nairobi, for example, came in on the nightshift, setting in motion a whirlwind of activity to dealwith these tragedies. Ops Center night staff know theymust stay alert because the Department depends on themto deal with crises professionally, whatever the hour.

Of course, there are negative sides to working nights.Many night-shift workers tell tales of nearly fallingasleep at the wheel of their car en route home. Whilenight shifts make it easy to run errands outside of work,it can be difficult to get things done at work because

18 State Magazine

human resources offices, the credit union and healthunits keep normal hours. Employees who work in officesopen 24 hours often share desks and equipment, whichmakes it easier for colds and viruses to spread. Since

Page 20: State Magazine, April 2001

Lynnthatthe

Bob Tansey, left, senior watch officer at the Nuclear RiskReduction Center, and Col. Harold Kowalski, the center’sdirector, confer on messages received from abroad.

many offices reduce their staffsin the evening, working thenight shift can get lonely.

Night-shift employees havefound innovative ways to dealwith these drawbacks. TheOperations Center, for exam-ple, surveys each year’s em-ployees about the best ways todeal with the sleeping prob-lems that inevitably arise withrotating shifts. Ops Centermanagement shares the resultsof these surveys and tips fromarticles with each year’s newcrop of watch officers. TheOperations Center has a strictcleaning regime for all sharedequipment. At every shiftchange, outgoing officers thor-oughly clean all equipmentwith alcohol to reduce thespread of colds. To break up thelong night, IRM’s Charles Miles

Hill, IRM employee, smiles confidently, knowing this shift won’t last 36 hours as one did duringsnowstorm of January 2000.

sometimes works out in the basement gym during his 3a.m. “lunch” break. Most 24-hour offices keep the coffeebrewing throughout the night to prepare employees forthe morning rush, which can begin as early as 5 a.m.

Unfortunately, not all problems associated with workingnights can be anticipated. IRM’s Lynn Hill found this out inJanuary 2000. After finishing his night shift, he realized hiscolleagues were unable to relieve him because of a devas-tating snowstorm. The government was officially closed,but his office remained open. Mr. Hill ended up working 36hours straight. He took catnaps at his desk and fed himselfwith vending machine snacks and military MREs (mealsready to eat) left over from Y2K preparations.

Bob Tansey of the Nuclear Risk Reduction Centerencountered a unique problem associated with shiftwork. The supervisor of several employees on differentshifts, Mr. Tansey needed to review new procedures withall of them. Rather than ask the night-shift staff to remainon the job after their shift had ended, he called a staffmeeting for 4 a.m. and drove to the Department to lead itduring their regular work hours.

Most night-shift employees would say the benefits ofworking at State after midnight far outweigh these incon-veniences. So, the next time you wake up in the middle ofthe night, your thoughts far from your job at theDepartment of State, take a moment to remember yourcolleagues on the night shift. They are hard at work, nomatter the hour. ■

The author is a Foreign Service officer working as a watchofficer in the Operations Center.

April 2001 19

Page 21: State Magazine, April 2001

Ronald Lockechecks passportapplications foraccuracy.

Story and Photos by Paul Koscak

Getting people in and out of the country is all in aday’s work at the National Passport and VisaCenters at Portsmouth, N.H., and at the BostonPassport Agency.

That might be an understatement, so don’t be fooled: it takes a lot ofwork and dedication to process2.3 million passports and half amillion visa applications. Thoseare the figures for the three facilitiesin 2000.

Although the volume of passportapplications can seem mind boggling,producing passports is a well- organized,well-honed—not to mention well-automat-ed—four-step process: applications arrive bymail or from walk-in customers; adjudicatorsreview the applications; passports are assem-bled; and the product is inspected by qualitycontrol staff before being sent to the applicant.

The cycle takes about four weeks, accordingto Jeff Najarian, the Boston agency’s senior cus-tomer service manager. But for those in a hurry, thejob can be done in just three days for an extra $35.

20 State Magazine

Passport and

The agency, located in the Tip O’Neill Building indowntown Boston, serves Massachusetts, Rhode Island,New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and upstate New York.A staff of just 45—12 of whom are contractors—handlesthat vast area. Although the agency has been around for

74 years, the demand for more passports eachyear made the operation difficult to manage.

Workspace was cramped and the operationwas labor intensive, Mr. Najarian said.

Until now.In January, the agency opened its

doors in a refurbished workplace. Thenew 14,686 sq. ft. space was formally

reopened by Mary A. Ryan, assis-tant secretary of State for

Consular Affairs. The refur-bished facility, with its state-of-

the-art passport processingmachines, is located in the

same space it has occupiedin the Tip O’Neill Build-ing since 1988, but interms of capacity and

service, it’s light years away.Gone is the cramped waiting room

and its open service counter that couldaccommodate perhaps four people. On busy days it

Visa Centers

Page 22: State Magazine, April 2001

JovoprocStatdepu

Despite all the machinery,Ann Adam finds processingvisa applications is laborintensive.

wasn’t uncommon for lines of applicants to file out the door and wind around the building’s second-floorperimeter.

“This is a milestone in the history of the BostonPassport Agency,” Ambassador Ryan remarked at theJanuary ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with a U.S.Customs color guard and bagpiper.

The facility’s bright and spacious visitor’s area resem-bles a bank lobby, with a row of teller stations shielded bythick Plexiglas. To further enhance service, cut down onwaiting and eliminate lines, the Boston office uses anappointment system. Customers arrange appointmentsautomatically by telephone.

“You just show up 15 minutes prior to the appoint-ment,” Mr. Najarian said.

The facility is equipped with computer-driven proces-sors that create photodigitized passports. It works likethis: A photo is printed on a thin and durable film that’sbonded to the passport. The overlay is then protected bya colorful holographic image. The technology vastly re-duces the potential for fraud. Since the image becomespart of the book’s paper, forgery is nearly impossible.

Passport renewals from throughout the country as wellas overflow work from other centers is handled in near-by Portsmouth, N.H. The National Passport Center, oneof 15 facilities nationwide and collocated with TheNational Visa Center, occupies part of the former PeaseAir Force Base. The passport center was once the baseexchange; the visa building, the base commissary.

The similarities to the Boston Passport Agency are strik-ing. One difference though: since the center doesn’t handle

Exploit New Te

nne Wirts, left, demonstrates the passportess to Mary Ryan, assistant secretary ofe for Consular Affairs, and Georgia Rogers,ty assistant secretary for Passport Affairs.

walk-ins, all passport applications arrive by mailfrom Pittsburgh’s Mellon bank. Under a TreasuryDepartment contract, the bank receives the applica-tions, cashes the checks, enters the data and then elec-tronically sends it to both Boston and Portsmouth.

The 45,000 sq. ft. passport center is busy enoughto keep two shifts humming. Last year, the facilityprocessed 2,172,746 passports. That’s nearly a thirdof the 7.8 million passports processed by theDepartment in 2000.

As in Boston, the passports are photodigitized.And also like Boston, contractors do most of thework. About 75 percent of the passport center’s staffwork for Stanley Associates. The arrangement workswell because the passport business is seasonal. Frommid-winter through the summer, the workforceswells to nearly 300. When it’s slow, employees takethree to four months off, said Ann Barrett, passportcenter director.

At the visa center, the prime contractor is Statistica,whose workers handle all clerical and administrativetasks in as many as 19 languages.

April 2001 21

chnology

Page 23: State Magazine, April 2001

22 State Magazine

Paige C. Button, left, and MaraPioro provide customer serviceat the National Visa Center.

Paige C. Button, left, and MaraPioro provide customer serviceat the National Visa Center.

“Using a private contractor works well for us,” saidElizabeth Thompson, visa center deputy director. “Sincethere are no [visa] adjudications or governmental func-tions performed here, we don’t need federal employees.”

The 70,000 sq. ft. center processes about 60,000 pieces ofmail every week. Employees create files, enter data andcommunicate with applicants. They also field thousands ofweekly telephone and written inquiries from Congressionaloffices, U.S. Embassies and Consulates, the Immigrationand Naturalization Service and the White House.

In addition to processing immigrant visas from 126overseas posts, the center is a repository for more than twomillion files, since some visas have long waiting periods.

Both facilities are having an impact on the local econo-my, jobbing out substantial printing, mailing and ship-ping needs. “We spend $75,000 in postage per year,”according to Sandra Shipshock, visa center director.“DHL handles our overseas mail.”

The biggest challenge in running the centers, Ms.Barrett said, is simply “keeping up with the increasedworkload. It’s been going up every year.” ■

Career Criminals Usually Behind Phony Applications

By Paul Koscak

Despite all the new safeguards in processing pass-ports, there still are those who will do just aboutanything to get one.

“The U.S. passport is one of the world’s most coveteddocuments,” observed Mary Ryan, assistant secretary ofState for Consular Affairs.

Knowing that, an applicant’s documents are carefullyscrutinized before a passport is approved. Evidence ofcitizenship, birth certificates and any previous passportsare checked, according to Mary Soctomah, an adjudicatorat the Boston Passport Agency.

“The majority go through without a problem,” she said.Those that don’t, however, end up on the desk of fraud

coordinator Duncan Maitland. If they seem fishy, heinvestigates. If they are, he refers them to DiplomaticSecurity. Applications with lots of blank items, post officeboxes for permanent addresses and discrepancies in sig-natures and dates are red flags for investigators, he said.

“When someone assumes another identity, it some-times catches them off guard,” he said. “They may startsigning their real name and then cross it out.”

One common thread among applicants who try to obtaina passport illegally, said Mr. Maitland, is a history of crime.

Last November Diplomatic Security agents in Bostonarrested a suspected heroin smuggler after discoveringhe had four different passports, each with a different

identity. The man was previously arrested for armed rob-bery, drug trafficking and weapons violations, saidRobert Goodrich, one of 12 special agents in the Bostonfield office who investigate passport fraud cases.

“We frequently arrest drug dealers who are illegally inthe country,” he said. “These criminals are eventuallydeported.” Last year the Boston agents removed morethan a dozen such dealers from the streets of NewEngland, he added. Other illegal aliens also seek pass-ports. A U.S. passport for such a person is like having“instant naturalization,” according to Maitland.

Many applicants are fugitives with outstanding war-rants. Others are on probation or have “past convictionsthat limit movement and make them ineligible” for apassport, Mr. Maitland said.

In one case, a Rhode Island postal clerk received anapplication that didn’t seem quite right and referred it toMr. Maitland. The man, it turned out, was a fugitivewanted by California authorities for child molesting. Hewas apprehended and convicted of both the Californiacrime and the passport violations.

Last year the Boston office, which averages 60 arrestsper year, investigated about 200 cases, notes Mr. Goodrich.Those convicted of the federal felony face up to 10 years inprison, 15 years if related to narcotics trafficking and 20years if related to acts of international terrorism.

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine

Page 24: State Magazine, April 2001

With Planning, Spouses CanFind Challenging Work Overseas

Kelly Marple, left, and her Foreign Service husband Lee enjoy theMarine Ball in Addis Ababa.

By Sarah Genton

The American work force has changed dramaticallyduring the past quarter century, with an ever-increasing number of “dual career couples.”

The State Department tries to accommodate tandem cou-ples who want to be assigned together overseas, but it’soften difficult to find meaningful work for noncareer spous-es, including those with skills that qualify them for profes-sional positions outside the embassies and consulates.

As Foreign Service employees relocate, spouses whowish to work must search for employment at each newpost. They often face downtime in their careers and lossof pay with each transfer. Family members must acceptthe fact that being flexible and resourceful is the key tofinding work opportunities in a foreign country.

The Family Liaison Office has focused on findingemployment inside the mission for family members aswell as facilitating work agreements allowing employ-ment of diplomatic spouses in the local economy. Withwork agreements in place in 138 countries and more onthe way, opportunities for family members to pursuegainful employment beyond the embassy are increasing.

“Prospects in the local economy seem to hold greaterpromise today in the expanding global economy,” saidFaye Barnes, director of the Family Liaison Office.

Jon Hawley, husband of Foreign Service nurse practitioner Charlene Burns, has market-ed his skills successfully overseas.

Reinforcing the recommendations of theMcKinsey Report and the Overseas PresenceAdvisory Panel, the office has launched a pilotspouse employment program at three posts—Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Theprogram will help spouses identify and com-pete successfully for jobs in the local economy.

As part of the pilot program, a specialist ininternational employment searches has beenhired to perform a full range of employmentcounseling. These include employee self-assessment; tips on writing resumes; resumeposting; advice on interviewing; and negotiat-ing and salary scales. Job trends by careerfields, licensing and certification requirementsfor professionals, employment resources andemployer contacts are also part of the package.The goal is to develop a comprehensive, long-term job support program for spouses inMexico. If it works in Mexico, the programwill be expanded to 10 additional countries.

April 2001 23

Page 25: State Magazine, April 2001

e”

Employment services for spouses was one of SecretaryPowell’s first quality of life initiatives, which heannounced during his first town hall meeting withDepartment employees.

Spousal employment figures heavily in the decision tobid on overseas assignments, according to Ms. Barnes.The ability of the spouse to locate employment can makeor break a tour or a career. The McKinsey and OPAP rec-ommendations were wake-up calls that intensifiedDepartment efforts to help spouses find jobs overseas,she added.

As in corporate America, success-ful job hunting requires time, effortand planning. “Career managementis the key to success,” says DebbieThompson, FLO’s employment pro-gram specialist.

Two Foreign Service family mem-bers thriving in a dual-career, globe-trotting marriage are Jon Hawley inRabat and Kelly Marple in AddisAbaba.

Mr. Hawley is no stranger to for-eign travel. He joined the Wash-ington-based consulting firm ofManagement Systems Internationalin 1993. With undergraduate degreesin journalism and international stud-ies and a master’s in South Asianstudies, he has provided technicalassistance and training in strategic planning and per-formance monitoring for the U.S. Agency forInternational Development as well as nongovernmentalorganizations in Armenia, Albania, Botswana, Ghana,Jamaica, Paraguay, Thailand and Uganda.

While on a consulting trip to the USAID mission in ElSalvador, he met and later married Charlene Burns, aForeign Service nurse practitioner at the U.S. Embassy.Next came the challenge of finding gainful employmentwhile keeping up with his wife. He notified his employ-er and USAID that he was relocating to El Salvador,where he established himself as an independent consult-ant. Building on his contacts, experience and relentlessnetworking, he landed contracts on projects in Cairo,Jamaica and El Salvador.

“I don’t have a management degree,” Mr. Hawley says,“but I do have a master’s degree in the internationalarena. I learned all the management stuff on the job, andI apply my skills to the sector I happen to be working in.”

When his wife was assigned to Rabat, he again con-tacted MSI. “I let them know way ahead of time so theycould start thinking about ways to use my expertise, inadvance.” After he worked one month as a USAID con-tractor, his employer gave him a full-time position asstrategic management specialist with the MoroccoEducation for Girls Project.

Mr. Hawley has been successful in marketing andapplying his skills in strategic planning and performance

“It’s a comof karma athat I haveable to momy wife anvery interechallengingBut it takof blarney.

24 State Magazine

monitoring in education and the environment. Hedescribes himself as a very fortunate man.

“It’s a combination of karma and skills that I have beenable to move with my wife and land very interesting andchallenging work. But it takes a bit of blarney,” he admits.“You’ve got to be able to sell yourself. This is the mostimportant skill going—the ability to convince people thatthey need you.”

Kelly Marple’s choice of careers was far more calculat-ed. With a graduate degree in government from Johns

Hopkins, she knew she had to choosean international firm to advance hercareer. Her husband, DiplomaticSecurity employee Lee Marple, wassoon to be posted overseas. With abackground in budget and loan man-agement, she joined Price-Water-house-Coopers, an international com-pany that would open doors for heroverseas. While still in Washington,she worked on projects with the SmallBusiness Administration, the Depart-ment of Veteran’s Affairs and theTreasury Department.

With an overseas move imminent,Ms. Marple told her firm that she wasrelocating. “You have to remain flexi-ble,” she says. “U.S. expertise is thebest thing going overseas. As aForeign Service spouse, I already had

housing. I had benefits. All I had to do was let an employ-er know I was in the country.” She adds, “It’s much easi-er to make the sales pitch once you’re on the ground. Youneed to tell them ‘I can help you in these ways.’”

With several overseas tours behind her, the ForeignService spouse has found work with two of the six largestU.S. accounting firms. “It’s easier to sell yourself becauseyou’re there. The big six firms have the ability to fly any-one in, but if you’re already there and you have theexpertise, it’s a win-win.”

The Marples’ next move—to Ghana—should proveinteresting as she once again looks for opportunities onthe global job market.

“Spouses need to develop an overall career plan andbuild upon it as they move around the world,” saysFLO’s Thompson. “At one post, the job may not be inone’s professional field, but may add the necessary skillsneeded to take the next step. And it may be that a volun-teer position provides the opportunity to broaden skills.”

Career management, according to Ms. Thompson,involves both partners. “International moves need to becarefully researched so that both members of a dual-career couple land in a positive place. And lots of net-working has to take place.” ■

The author is publications coordinator for the FamilyLiaison Office.

binationnd skills beenve withd landsting and work.s a bit Jon Hawley

Page 26: State Magazine, April 2001

FLO Unveils Latest Jobs Book

Phot

o by

Ann

Tho

mas

Alma Powell, left, wife of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, talks with the family of Michael Ann Dean—daughterCatherine, son Phil and husband Dale—during the unveiling of the late author’s jobs guidebook for Foreign Service familymembers. The Family Liaison Office sponsored the event.

The Family Liaison Office has unveiled its newresource guide for Foreign Service family mem-bers. The 360-page publication, EmploymentOptions for Foreign Service Family Members, con-

tains practical job-huntingstrategies and career man-agement advice for jobseekers at all levels of pro-fessional development.

Michael Ann Dean, aForeign Service familymember who diedjust days before thelaunching ceremo-ny Feb. 7 at theDepartment, com-piled the guide.Her husband,retired Foreign

Service officerDale Dean, described his

wife’s work as a “labor of love.”

Director General Marc Grossman, who presided atthe event, said that to achieve diplomatic readiness,attention has to be paid to Foreign Service families.“The sacrifice and service that our families give toour country is what forms the core and basis fordiplomatic readiness.

“Paying attention to families includes employmentopportunities for spouses who want to work. Thisbook is a very important contribution,” the directorgeneral said.

Honored guests at the ceremony in the DelegatesLounge included Alma Powell, wife of SecretaryColin Powell; Stephanie Tenet, wife of CIA directorGeorge Tenet; and Ambassador Clyde Taylor of theCox Foundation.

The 2001 edition focuses especially on the Internetand the impact the technology is having on theemployment process. The guide is available throughthe Family Liaison Office, the Department’s Intranetsite at http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/flo/publicationsand on the Internet at http://www.state.gov/www/flo/publications.

April 2001 25

Page 27: State Magazine, April 2001

26 State Magazine

Secretary EndorsesTraining During FSI VisitDiplomacy beginswith training offeredat the Foreign ServiceInstitute.

Secretary Powell draws a warmwelcome during his visit to theForeign Service Institute.

By Paul KoscakPhotos by Bob Kaiser

Visiting the Foreign Service Institute inJanuary for a first-hand look at the facili-ty, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell toldmore than 600 students, faculty and staffthat training ranks high in maintainingAmerica’s diplomatic readiness.

Page 28: State Magazine, April 2001

The Secretary samples aGerman language lesson withinstructor Nikolaus Koster.

The Secretary selectedthe institute for his firstbureau-level visit to un-derscore the importance oftraining.

“You are the front-linepresence of democracy,”Secretary Powell said tothe cheering crowd. “Itbegins with the trainingyou get here.”

The Secretary said theinstitute is the foundationfor leadership, which hedefined as the ability toinfluence people.

“You’ve got to conveyyour enthusiasm,” he said.“You have to be an apostleof what you believe in.”

Secretary Powell saidsuch drive and commit-ment is needed to promoteAmerica’s values through-out the world, so “peoplecan see what’s practical ifyou believe in freedom,practice democracy andhave elections.”

Promoting Americanideals, in part, broughtdown the Soviet Union, hesaid. “We didn’t defeat the

Soviet Union by fighting them on the plains of NorthernGermany. We beat them on the field of ideas.”

To support training, about $250,000 is being set asidethis year for Department-wide professional developmentthat includes conferences and university training, saidFSI executive director Catherine Russell.

“People are using it,” she said of the money. “We couldeasily double that amount.”

Getting people trained, especially those in leadershipand management positions, is also high on Vince Battle’sagenda. He heads the Bureau of Human Resources’Office of Career Development and Assignments, whichensures that directors, deputy directors and section chiefsreceive training slots. There’s also an entry-level trainingdivision for new employees, he added.

“There is more language training,” Mr. Battle said.“Language training is longer, even for information man-agement.”

During his visit, Secretary Powell donned earphonesand joined instructor Nikolaus Koster’s German class. Helater met with FSI language teachers and staff who aredeveloping computerized teaching materials as well asworking with commercial software designers to makemastery of languages easier.

In his presentation, the Secretary signaled his interestin technology. “The power to move education, data andcapital is changing the world,” he said.

The Secretary also visited the consular training area,complete with a mock visa interview room in which jun-ior officers practice their supervisory skills. ■

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

April 2001 27

Page 29: State Magazine, April 2001

New Leadership Offers Best Hope ForImprovement: Carlucci

Management isn’t a priority at the StateDepartment, and it shows. That scathingassessment was offered by former DefenseSecretary Frank Carlucci who now heads

the Independent Task Force on State Department Reform. Mr. Carlucci, who also served as President Reagan’s

national security adviser in 1987, made his remarks to anearly full house of employees in the Dean AchesonAuditorium during a Secretary’s Open Forum, Feb. 23.

“We never put a premium on good management,” saidMr. Carlucci, who was a Foreign Service Officer from1956-1980.

As a result, the Department is plagued by obsoletetelecommunications, unsafe and unhealthy buildings, adysfunctional personnel system and a lack of clout overother agencies, he said. Much of the problem, Mr.Carlucci added, is that former Secretaries never consid-ered themselves managers.

Although the task force’s report on the current state ofState isn’t good, it did offer an optimistic blueprint forimprovement that directly involves the Secretary, thePresident and the Congress.

The President, Mr. Carlucci said, must make

By Paul Koscak

28 State Magazine

Open Forum Chairman Alan Lang, left, presents the forum’s Distin-guished Public Service Award to Mr. Frank Carlucci for “outstandingcontributions to national and international affairs.”

Phot

o:An

n Th

omas

Department reform atop national securitypriority, clarify theroles of other secu-rity agencies andissue a directivethat the “Secretaryof State is his prin-cipal adviser.” Inaddition, the ambas-sador should be recog-nized as the top officialoverseas with “the authorityto send people home when they’reout of line.”

Culturally, the Department needs to be more open, hesaid. It needs to cultivate support through a home-based constituency that reaches beyond governmentagencies.

He praised the nomination of Richard Armitage, aformer Pentagon official, as deputy secretary of State,noting that the Department needs a strong chief operat-ing officer.

Among the other task force recommendations:

■ Open a legislative affairs office on Capitol Hilland hold regular meetings with Congressionalleadership.

■ Consolidate the Department’s budget with othernational security agencies and use the DefenseDepartment, not the Justice Department, as abenchmark for funding.

■ Junk the “up or out” policy of Foreign Servicecareer progression, where employees are forced outif they don’t get promoted.

■ Contract for a new telecommunications system. “Gofor broke,” Mr. Carlucci said.

Although the task force painted a gloomy picture of thecurrent Department, Mr. Carlucci was confident thatimprovements are imminent. “Why will it work now?”he asked. “We have a Secretary of State who’s managedlarge organizations, who can articulate clear goals.” He

Page 30: State Magazine, April 2001

noted that Congress and the President are poised to sup-port the Department.

Randy Fleitman of the Middle East Bureau told Mr.Carlucci that he observed “an adversarial relationship” be-tween the Department and Congress. The approach hasbeen “ ‘any information you give Congress will be usedagainst us, so don’t give them anything.’”

“I know the consequences of not providing informa-tion to Congress is worse than providing it,” Mr. Carluccireplied. “You receive setbacks dealing with other nations.You receive setbacks dealing with Congress. But youplow ahead because you have to do it. Without their sup-port, you’re going nowhere.”

Still, Mr. Carlucci portrayed the Department’s rela-tionship with that august body as a “Catch-22.”“Without resources, you can’t do much of what’s need-ed,” he said. “Without reform, you won’t get theresources from Congress.”

Employees TakeDiplomacy to S

Colleen Hinton, who works for the corporate informa-tion security office, asked what could be done about pro-tracted decision making. “We are having the same meet-ings over and over,” she said. “When a problem isidentified we have endless meetings. When I came onboard in June 1999, I was enthusiastic. We’re still cover-ing the same things over and over.”

Secretary Powell’s policy of half-hour meetings, Mr.Carlucci said, may set an example for the Department.“Hopefully there will be a trickle down.” In business,“you take layers out of the establishment” to cure chron-ic indecision. To further his point, Mr. Carlucci said assecretary of defense he held just three 15-minute staffmeetings per week.

Mr. Carlucci suggested rewarding good managerswith promotions and the highest pay.

“We have the right leadership, the right Congress,” tomake the improvements, he said. “It’s the right time.” ■

tudents

Eastern High government teacher Reynauld Smith,center back, poses in Main State with his students,Secretary Powell and State volunteers BuddySilverman, partly obscured to the right of theSecretary, Margaret Colaianni, second from right,and Cookie Clark, far right.

Kevi

n Br

own

During the school year, about 30 Department volun-teers visit one of five District of Columbia highschools for an hour each week to discuss interna-tional diplomacy with stu-

dents participating in the ModelUnited Nations Partnership pro-gram. These visits, coordinated by the Bureau of InternationalOrganizations in cooperationwith the U.N. Foundation, helpstudents grapple with today’sglobal issues as they improvetheir public speaking, writing andnegotiating skills.

The program culminates in lateMarch with a mock U.N. SecurityCouncil session at the Depart-ment. With help from their volun-teer coaches, the students preparerigorously to understand theissues and take the roles of repre-sentatives from member nationsin a mock session conductedaccording to Security Councilrules and procedures.

It is a program that rewardsboth students and Departmentvolunteers. Employees interested

in volunteering for the program in the next school yearshould watch for the Department Notice in the early falland call Ray Wiblin in the Bureau of InternationalOrganizations at (202) 647-1803. ■

April 2001 29

Page 31: State Magazine, April 2001

Be PreparedMedical Report

By Judy Sutton

No family wantsto experience a disaster. Yet,my experience—in hospital

emergency rooms, fight-ing forest fires andassisting in flood relief—has taught me that “be prepared” ismore than a Scout motto. It’s a code thatshould guide us all.

Northern Californians waiting in linefor portable generators will testify thatresidents of the Third World aren’t theonly ones forced to adjust to disrup-tions in vital services. And while earth-quakes, droughts and terrorist attackscan be devasting, less catastrophic events—labor dis-putes, economic forces or simple technical glitches—also can sever services.

Are you prepared to survive without these services fortwo or three days? Are you posted in a place with limit-ed services in the best of times?

Now is the time to take stock and prepare an emer-gency response plan. Where do you begin?

How about with a first-aid course? During home leave,your family can sign up for a short basic course. Perhapsyou can enroll at your current post. Ask your health unitstaff to suggest a place where you could receive depend-able training.

Having first-aid skills is not the end of preparedness. Itis the framework for the rest of your preparations. Thenext step is to make a risk assessment, a search aroundyour environment for the most likely emergency events.Your post report may aid in your search, and the post dif-ferential report, if you have one, may be even more help-ful. Ask yourself:

Is this an earthquake risk area?Is the area subject to flooding or severe wind damage?Is this a tornado, cyclone or hurricane area?Is there a threat of terrorist attack?Is there any possibility of being stuck in the car for long

periods of time under severe conditions?What kind of factories are within a 5- to 10-mile radius?

Do they involve heavy metal byproducts, chemicals orother hazardous materials?

Is there a nuclear power plant in the vicinity?

30 State Magazine

The answers tothese questionsshould guide youin your prepara-tion. For all emer-gency situationswhere basic serv-ices are disrupted,you should have a “72-hour kit” ofbasic essentials. It

should be easy to carry and include,among other things, two liters ofpotable water for each person per day;water purification tablets; three daysof nonperishable food for each per-son; waterproof matches; a first-aidkit; flashlights with spare batteries; apocket knife; money in small denomi-

nations; and other necessities you might take on a brief trip.Finally, how do you avoid emergencies? You don’t

have any influence over typhoons, terrorist acts or earth-quakes, but you can avoid injuries in automobile acci-dents by wearing your seatbelt.

Practice the plan. Each member of the household needsto know what to do in the event of an emergency. Includethe children in the planning and in the practice, too.

There is good information available on emergency pre-paredness on the Internet. Here are some of the better sites:

• www.prepareamerica.com/preparedness.html—pamphlet on preparedness

• www.emprep.com—emergency supplies and kits• www.burgoyne.com/pages/gpope/epm/—LDS

online manual for preparedness• www.nursehealer.com/Safety.htm—basic prepared-

ness• www.lunchpail.com/poorman/—basics of survival

on the cheap• www.uwex.edu/ces/news/handbook.html—

floods, fire, drought and winter storms• www.earthquake.com—links to global earthquake

info and preparedness• www.redcross.org—online registration for Red

Cross First Aid Classes in your Zip code• www.Amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com

for books on preparedness ■

The author is the Foreign Service health practitioner at theU.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

Page 32: State Magazine, April 2001

People Like YouPeople Like You

Chuck Hunter, center, harmonizes with the Harmonizers during a recentrehearsal in Alexandria.

Phot

o by

Pau

l Kos

cak

He Doesn’t Sing for His Supper, Just for JoyWhen Chuck Hunter isn’t working, he’s harmonizing.Mr. Hunter is a member of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in

America. He directs the Washington, D.C., chapter’s chorus, and he’s also assistant director of the AlexandriaHarmonizers, another barbershop group.

“Whenever you hear chords lock and ring without instruments, it can make the hair stand up,” Mr. Hunter saidabout the music’s appeal.

Maybe that helped the 19th century barbers do better work. Actually, a shave, a haircut and some songs to bootbecame standard at some shops. But the musical style didn’t start there.

Immigrants to America brought hymns, psalms and folk songs often sung in four parts with the melody set in thesecond-lowest voice. The style also borrowed from the minstrel shows of the mid-1800s, when white singers in black-face performed songs and sketches. As vaudeville eclipsed the minstrel shows, the close-harmony quartets remained,often as a “four-act” combining music and ethnic comedy.

The “barbershop” style of music was further refined during the 1870s by black southern quartets who improvised har-monies. Black quartets “cracking a chord” were common at places like Joe Sarpy’s Cut Rate Shaving Parlor in St. Louis orin Jacksonville, Fla., where “every barbershop seemed to have its own quartet,” writes historian James Weldon.

“The music enjoyed a golden age from 1890 to 1930,” Mr. Hunter said.The Harmonizers keep him busy. In addition to the group’s weeknight meetings and week-

end rehearsals, there’s an ambitious performance schedule. The group has appeared at WolfTrap in Vienna, Va., the Kennedy Center and at New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

“We work hard to entertain our audiences with a varied repertoire,” he said of the organ-ization. “We’re going for our fifth gold medal in Nashville.”

In 1998, the Harmonizers won their fourth gold medal in Atlanta. A District resident and former U.S. Information Agency employee, Mr. Hunter directs

press relations for the Department’s Bureau of Public Affairs and Diplomacy. He moves toJerusalem in 2002.

“I’ve already been in touch with a barbershop group there,” he said. “It gives you a ready-made family.”

April 2001 31

Page 33: State Magazine, April 2001

O B I T U A R I E S

Jeannette Christian, 75, a retiredCivil Service employee, died ofcancer Jan. 28 at her home inDallas. Ms. Christian served as sec-retary to three U.S. directors of theStrategic Arms Limitation Talks, asadministrative assistant to the U.S.Ambassador to the former SovietUnion and as assistant to theambassador-at-large for culturalaffairs during the Reagan Admin-

istration. Her service involved extended periods abroadin Moscow, Helsinki, Geneva and Vienna.

Vina R. Hall, 74, a retired ForeignService secretary and communica-tions operator, died Jan. 9 inAbilene, Texas. Ms. Hall joined theForeign Service in 1965 and servedin Vientiane, Manila, Taipei,Brasilia, Abidjan, Montevideo andKarachi. She retired in 1989.

Bernard J. Humes, 93, a retiredForeign Service officer, died Jan. 12of a heart attack at his home inFairfax, Va. Mr. Humes, a recog-nized authority on internationalpostal matters, was the U.S. repre-sentative on the four-power postalcommittees in Berlin and Frank-furt. He served in Frankfurt aschief of the regional courier officebefore retiring in 1967. During

World War II, Col. Humes was chief of Army and AirForce postal operations in the European Theater.

Arthur Hummel Jr., 80, a retiredForeign Service officer who servedas U.S. Ambassador to fournations, died Feb. 6 at his home in Chevy Chase, Md. Born inChina of missionary parents, Mr.Hummel was teaching English inBeijing when World War II brokeout. He was interned in a Japanesecamp until 1944, when he and acolleague escaped and joined the

32 State Magazine

Chinese Nationalist guerrillas in the provinces. He joinedthe Foreign Service in 1950, serving with the U.S.Information Agency in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Rangoon.He was deputy director of the Voice of America andAssistant Secretary of State for East Asian and PacificAffairs. After serving as U.S. Ambassador to Burma,Ethiopia, Pakistan and China, Mr. Hummel retired as aCareer Ambassador in 1985, the senior diplomat in theU.S. Foreign Service.

John N. “Hutch” Hutchison, 89, aretired Foreign Service officer, diedof emphysema Feb. 20 at his homein Sebastopol, Calif. He was laborinformation officer for theMarshall Plan, headed the pressand publications division of theU.S. Information Agency andserved in Paris, London, Manilaand Wellington. During World WarII, he was Gen. George Patton’s

press officer, handling the controversial general’s rela-tions with war correspondents.

Mary Stevenson Johnston, 86, a retired Foreign Service offi-cer, died Oct. 31 in New York. She joined the Office ofWar Information in London during World War II andlater transferred to the Department. Ms. Johnston servedin Sofia, Conakry, Lagos, Canberra, Athens, Manila andWashington, D.C., before retiring in 1966.

William B. Kelly, 83, a retiredForeign Service officer, died Dec. 7of prostate cancer in Colorado. Mr.Kelly joined the Foreign Serviceafter serving as an officer in theU.S. Navy during World War II. Heserved 29 years at diplomatic postsin Europe, Southeast Asia andCanada.

Page 34: State Magazine, April 2001

O B I T U A R I E S

Margaret W. Kerr, 88, wife of the late Foreign Service offi-cer Peyton Armstrong “Andy” Kerr, died of emphysemaFeb. 6 in the home of her daughter in Reston, Va. Mrs.Kerr joined her late husband on assignments to Tokyo,New Delhi, Rangoon, Tehran and Washington, D.C. Shealso accompanied him on World Bank assignments toSeoul and Bogota.

Dorothy Wallace Martin, 91, widowof the last U.S. Ambassador to SouthVietnam, Graham A. Martin, diedDec. 21 of congestive heart failure ather home in Winston-Salem, N.C.Mrs. Martin accompanied her hus-band on Foreign Service assign-ments to Paris, Geneva, Bangkok,Rome and Saigon. He was ambassa-dor at their last three posts.

Alice Morrissey McDiarmid, 91, a retired Civil Serviceemployee, died July 13, 1999, of a heart attack in FallsChurch, Va. Ms. McDiarmid joined the Department in1942 and worked in the International Organizations divi-sion. She attended the events leading to the founding ofthe United Nations and contributed to the drafts of theU.N. Charter, the statute of the International Court ofJustice and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.From 1960 until her retirement in 1970, she worked in theoffice of the Legal Adviser.

Lucy E. Mello, 75, a retired CivilService employee, died March 3,2000, at Western MassachusettsHospital in Westfield. Ms. Mello, atelecommunications supervisor for30 years, retired in 1985.

Mary Meloni, 76, a retired ForeignService secretary, died Feb. 6 ofcancer in New Port Richey, Fla. Ms.Meloni joined the Foreign Servicein 1966 and served in Vienna,Sofia, Tegucigalpa, La Paz, Port-au-Prince, Nassau, Mexico City,Managua, Guatemala City andBeijing.

Marsha Nelson, 55, a Foreign Service office managementspecialist, died Jan. 27 in Richmond, Va. Ms. Nelson joinedthe Foreign Service in 1970 and served in Moscow,Canberra, New Delhi, Vienna, Wellington and The Hague.

Elmo G. Poole, 76, a retired ForeignService Reserve officer, died Jan. 21in Elmhurst, Ill. Mr. Poole was aspecial agent with DiplomaticSecurity in St. Louis, Dallas, SanFrancisco, El Paso and Wash-ington, D.C. He was regional dir-ector in charge of DiplomaticSecurity at the Chicago office ofthe U.S. Passport Agency from1966 until his retirement in 1983.

Stanley Rubin, 62, a Civil Service employee, died Jan. 11 ofbrain cancer at his home in Bethesda, Md. In a Civil Servicecareer that spanned three decades, Mr. Rubin worked withthe U.S. Information Agency’s Bureau of Programs (laterthe Department’s Office of International Programs).

Charles J. Weiss Jr., 79, a retiredForeign Service Reserve officer,died Nov. 19 at Malcolm GrowHospital at Andrews Air ForceBase, Md. Mr. Weiss joined theDepartment in 1964 after retiringfrom the U.S. Air Force. He serveda tour as the chief of technical secu-rity in Frankfurt and spent theremainder of his 13-year careerwith the Bureau of Diplomatic

Security in Washington, D.C. During World War II, Mr.Weiss was a pilot with 15 combat missions to his credit.Shot down over St. Nazaire, France, he guided his crip-pled fighter to a southern England field and survived thecontrolled crash.

April 2001 33

Page 35: State Magazine, April 2001

Diplomats Need More Than DiplomacyTo Succeed

William Weech, executive programstrainer, leads a group of students inthe course “Starting Right; A SeminarFor Program Directors.”

Photo: Bob Kaiser

By Vladimir P. Sambaiew

Today, good diplomats not only need to see the bigpicture of world events, they also must be leadersand managers. It’s an ideal combination yester-year’s diplomat may find—-no pun intended—-foreign.

Throughout the past few decades, the ability to moti-vate and lead has become as important as influencinghost governments and foreign officials. We may enjoythe thrill of being a hit at a large international confer-ence, but most of us will spend more time running sec-tions and offices.

Each day, we set priorities, make decisions, manageresources, motivate people and act as role models.Today, most diplomatic offices abroad are complex enter-prises representing numerousagencies and employinglarge host nation staffs.They’re a far cry from thedays when many missionshad only one American and afew local assistants.

That’s why people skills anddiplomacy go together. Weneed to persuade and cooper-ate with others abroad and athome to get our point across.Communications must beshort, to the point and clearlyunderstood.

Leadership, by contrast, is adifferent story. During a recentForeign Service Institute visit,Secretary of State Colin L.Powell defined leadership asthe ability to influence andmotivate. “You’ve got to con-vey your enthusiasm,” hesaid. “You have to be an apos-tle of what you believe in.”

34 State Magazine

Leadership is an art. Management, a skill. But they’reboth equally important diplomatic tools.

A sense of expediency wouldn’t hurt either. Civil wars,terrorism or a health crisis in distant nations can easilybecome top news requiring a quick U.S. policy response.

In our hemisphere, border issues loom. They are oftendifficult and involve crosscutting political, economicand environmental interests in the United States,Mexico and Canada. They require the cooperation ofmany agencies such as customs, immigration, lawenforcement, agriculture as well as state and local gov-ernments.

Take global warming, for instance. Everyone’s got anopinion, it seems. Competing national interests, the

Page 36: State Magazine, April 2001

media and differing scientific claims make it tough todraw conclusions. All we can do is stay informed and useour best professional skills to support American interests.The trained diplomat, however, will do a better job.

Dealing with issues that don’t easily lend themselvesto solutions means that training is critical. We can’texpect our employees to learn only on the job or to “wingit” when so much is at stake. While training is not apanacea, it’s an important way to grow professionally.After all, you’re learning from the best practices of othersto avoid common mistakes.

The Foreign Service Institute is one of the best sourcesof that training. “FSI exists to train the men and womenof the United States of America to defend our nation’sinterests and provide international leadership,” is howDirector Ruth Davis puts it.

Not everyone needs a course in advanced negotiations orspecialized arms control issues. But we all can benefit fromtraining in languages, area studies, public diplomacy and,of course, leadership and management, to name just a few.

FSI offerings are available on the Department Intranetat http://fsiweb.fsi.state.gov (http://99.4.241.2/).

T

International VisAmerican Culture

Director General Marc Grossman summarized what ittakes to be a 21st century diplomat during a recentGeorgetown University speech.

Diplomats, he said, need to not only speak the lan-guage but understand the culture. They must get themost from their employees while developing them totheir fullest potential.

They must have the negotiating skills to deal effec-tively with governments, the media and the businessworld. And they must be comfortable sitting down at acomputer.

The challenges facing the United States abroad requirea high level of diplomatic professionalism and readiness.That’s why the State Department needs employees whoare leaders and highly qualified across a range of skills. Astrong commitment to training is one important way thatwe can realize the full professional potential of our manytalented employees. ■

The author, a Foreign Service officer, is studying French atFSI before reporting to Paris as the economic counselor.

itors Experience Up Close

wo foreign groups—one older and experienced, theother younger, but both anxious to learn—visited theUnited States to observe the American legal system

and explore what citizenship means thanks to the Bureauof Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Latin American judges, lawyers, constitutional schol-ars, ministry and senior law enforcement officials andjournalists—24 in all—examined “the culture of lawful-ness” to increase their understanding of the U.S. criminaljustice system, according to a bureau news release.

The officials learned how courts and cases are man-aged, how juries work and how the legal system is usingalternative ways to settle disputes.

The group began its tour in Washington, meeting withNan R. Shuker, an associate judge on the Superior Courtof the District of Columbia and Gary Weaver, a professorat American University’s School of International Service,who gave them an overview of American society, cultureand the federal system.

To learn more about the state courts and the history ofAmerican legal and judicial systems, the group traveled

to Richmond and Williamsburg. Williamsburg is home tothe National Center for State Courts, considered one ofthe best training centers in the country.

Then it was off to San Francisco to examine municipalcourts, jury selection and the role of prosecutors and pub-lic defenders and on to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to observecriminal and civil trials.

In another Bureau effort, more than 100 high school stu-dents from the emerging nations of the former SovietUnion participated in a democracy education workshopknown as The Future Leaders Exchange. The goal is to pro-vide the students an understanding and appreciation ofdemocratic fundamentals such as civic responsibility, citi-zen empowerment, volunteerism and community action.

During their stay the students met with Departmentofficials and members of Congress. The program, whichbrings specially selected students from the newly inde-pendent countries to the United States for nine months,offers first-hand exposure to American society and a mar-ket economy. More than 8,000 students have participatedin the program since 1993. ■

April 2001 35

Page 37: State Magazine, April 2001

36 State Magazine

Civil Service Retirements

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

Danzig, MarkDoraiswamy, BalajiGentile, Alan E.Junker, Delvin W.Malott, Frank StephenParker, James R.Proctor, Nickolas W.

Reiersgard, LindaFrances

Roy, J. StapletonSchermerhorn, Lange Shanahan, Joseph M.Williams, Domenica G.

Foreign Service Retirements

Foreign Service GrievanceBoard Summary

In this issue, State Magazine continues pub-lishing summaries of selected ForeignService Grievance Board decisions. Our aimis to help employees better understand theimportant role the board plays in resolvingdisputes between employees and the De-partment, as well as to highlight examples ofboard decisions that might be of particularbenefit to employees and supervisors.

Reported cases will provide general infor-mation about matters that can be grieved,remedies available through the grievanceprocess and significant board precedent. As aprinciple of good management, disputes andgrievances should be resolved through dis-cussion among the parties or mediation atthe lowest possible level. An employeewhose grievance has been denied by theagency or has not been resolved within the90-day statutory period for agency review,however, may appeal to the Foreign ServiceGrievance Board.

Further information on the grievanceprocess is available in 3 FAM 4400-4470 andat the grievance staff (HR/G) home page onthe Department’s OpenNet at https://hrweb.hr.state.gov/grievance/index.html.

Grievance Dismissed as Time-BarredA Foreign Service officer grieved the absence of adequate per-

formance evaluation reports in his personnel file covering a periodof service, 1990 to 1993, in a highly classified operation.

During that time, he received very general and nonspecificunclassified evaluations along with separate evaluation reports thatcould be reviewed only by promotion panels composed of speciallycleared persons. But in 1993, the Department ceased convening suchspecial selection boards.

The Department dismissed the grievance as time-barred underprovisions of the Foreign Service Act that then provided that a griev-ance is forever time-barred unless filed within a period of threeyears after the occurrence.

The grievant argued that the “occurrence” was his failure to bepromoted by the fall of 1997. He contended that in 1993, when thespecial selection boards were abolished, he could not have guessedwhat harm lay ahead. He thus had no basis for a grievance until1997, when the effects of the 1993 action—the inadequacy of his per-formance file and consequent nonpromotion—became apparent.The grievant also charged that each successive decision by a selec-tion board after 1993 could be seen as a further act of harm againsthim, starting the three-year limit anew.

The board dismissed the grievance appeal as time-barred. Theboard decided that the act that caused the absence of significant per-formance evaluations from the grievant’s personnel file was the pre-1993 practice of special boards reviewing officers such as the grievantwhile bland evaluations were placed in their personnel files. Thewithdrawal of this personnel practice in 1993 was the “occurrence”giving rise to the grievance. By way of analogy, the board cited theprinciple enunciated by a federal court (Abramson v. University ofHawaii) in distinguishing causes from the effects of causes: “Theproper focus is upon the time of the discriminatory acts, not upon thetime at which the consequences of the acts became most painful.”

In May 2000 the time limitation for filing most grievances wasreduced to two years.

Berinson, RobertBolten, Eric JonBuckheit, Patricia J.Bynum Jr, Square H.Coles, Jamie D.Croissant, June

Davis, CornellFrench, Mary MelKing, Elizabeth R.Krisher-Cliver,

Margaret A.Lettice, Paula G.

Loy, Frank ErnestMendelsohn, Allan I.Pincus, Ann TerryRosenstock, Robert B.Schifter, RichardSherman, Robert M.

Soltis, Marjorie AnnStevenson, Barbara A.

Page 38: State Magazine, April 2001

Diplomacy Is America’s FirstLine of Defense.Diplomacy Is America’s FirstLine of Defense.

We are America’s first line of defense. We are the men and women of today’s State Department.

We represent the diversity that is the United States.

We protect and defend the rights of Americans abroad. We keep America secure and prosperous.

We are the people who take on the global challenges of American diplomacy in the 21st century.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE