Saudi Gateway– JEDDAHthe Office of Retirement Services. HR/OE formulates policies and administers...

MAGAZINE

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

SEPTEMBER 2008

Saudi Gateway–

JEDDAH

Ideals inActionAfrica Bureau marks50th anniversary.

12InformationSharingInternet tool enhancesinteragency collaboration.

24Post of theMonthHajj pilgrims mix withhip locals in culturallydiverse Jeddah.

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S T A T E M A G A Z I N E | I S S U E 5 2 6

SEPT2008

Special Section:Training andDevelopment14 FSI ‘surge’ trains offi-cers for Iraq, Afghanistan

16 Fellowship prepsDepartment’s futurefemale leaders

18 Fellows give Congressinternational perspective

22 TransatlanticDiplomats serve othernations’ governments

26 Friendship SpanBridge links Central Asian nations,boosts trade.

36 Information QuestLittle-known benefit helps managelife’s challenges.

38 Office of the MonthOffice of Emergency Managementpromotes preparedness.

42 Giving BackMarine security guards race tohelp wounded warriors.

FEATURES

ON THE COVERAn illuminated globe with a smallcrescent moon beside it stands atthe north end of Jeddah.Photograph by Corbis

2 From the D.G.

3 Letters

4 In the News

46 Education & Training

47 Appointments

49 Retirements

50 Obituaries

52 The Last Word

COLUMNS

24

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42Gotta run

2 | STATE MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2008

This month, I would like to tell you about the workbeing done by our dedicated team of professionals inthe Office of Retirement Services.

HR/OE formulates policies and administersprograms for the overseas employment of more than50,000 Locally Employed Staff serving the Departmentof State and more than 30 other U.S. governmentagencies at 170 U.S. missions abroad. The officedevelops guidance for the full “life cycle” ofemployment of host-country foreign nationals, familymembers, resident U.S. citizens, third-countrynationals and members of household:

• Recruitment• Compensation • Performance Management • Recognition• Discipline and Separation • RetirementOverseas Employment is composed of three

divisions: Compensation Management; Policy andCoordination; and Human Resources Management.

LE Staff compensation totals more than $1 billionannually. Ten compensation managers, under thedirection of Kumiah Harrison, annually review salarydata for more than 170 posts. Using recently updatedcustomized actuarial software, each year the managersrecalculate local compensation ceilings based on datadeveloped by professional wage comparatorcompanies and supplemental information submittedby the posts themselves.

By law, compensation is set according to the cost oflabor (not the cost of living). Each post’s localcompensation plan must be consistent with local laborlaw and prevailing practice: the salaries and benefitspaid by a select group of local employers with whomthe mission competes for labor. The embassy seeks tooffer compensation sufficient to recruit, retain andmotivate a fully skilled workforce. “Totalcompensation” includes much more than what isreflected in an employee’s paycheck—it includesallowances, leave, medical insurance, life insurance andsupplemental retirement benefits.

Policymaking and communications are managedfrom HR/OE’s Policy and Coordination division, led

by Deborah Hunsley.This division developsthe full life cycle of LEStaff policies, fromrecruitment toretirement. This staff offour is also responsiblefor communicating thesepolicies to HRprofessionals, missionmanagement, supervisorsof LE Staff and in somecases to employeesdirectly. The HR/OE Website is the main vehiclefor this communicationand recently underwent acomplete renovation:http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/prd/hrweb/oe/index.cfm.

The Policy and Coordination division formulates and disseminatesglobal human resource policy and guidance; negotiates interagencyagreements and approvals; and evaluates the effects of personnel poli-cies and recommendations within the Department of State and for theU.S. government’s 30 other agencies with Locally Employed Staff.

The Human Resource Management division, led by Michelle S. Long,works with posts to answer questions and help them resolve uniqueworkplace issues. This division of four International HR Managersregularly conducts nepotism reviews, adjudicates computer-aided jobvaluation appeals, responds to pay administration questions such asmulti-grade promotions and the use of Superior Qualifications Rateand provides guidance on the application of discipline, grievance,retirement, separations and related policies.

Upcoming initiatives include: • Voluntary Retirement Savings Program • Mission Awards Policy Guidebook• FAM Update• CAJE Policy Guidebook• Eligible Family Member Employment Policy Guidebook• LE Staff Handbook Template• Local Compensation Plan TemplateWe want to serve you efficiently and well. If you have any comments

or suggestions, please feel free to send them to me via unclassifiede-mail at DG Direct. ■

Office of Overseas Employment–Serving Locally Employed StaffAround the World

D.G. HARRY K.THOMAS

SEPTEMBER 2008 | STATE MAGAZINE | 3

Asunción—Yesterdayand Today

What a wonderful homecoming! On theday my wife, Marile, and I arrived homefrom our trip back to Paraguay, State Maga-zine came out with its greatest cover ever. Iserved in Asunción 51 years ago as a freshlyminted Foreign Service officer. Not themost prestigious post, but a jewel of a place.

I arrived in Asunción in 1957, a 30-something bachelor. I met Marile, theembassy Spanish teacher, a couple daysafter arrival and we were married in1958.So, 50 years, six children and eight grand-children later, the visit this time was abelated celebration of our 50th anniversary,where it all began. Here is where a piece ofmy heart will always be. In fact, I know ofno one who ever served in Paraguay whodoesn’t feel about the same.

I want to congratulate Michael Edwardsfor his excellent article. As Edwards pointsout, in the 1860s War of the TripleAlliance Paraguay lost most of its popula-tion. This was practically all of its malepopulation. My impression is that a waveof immigration came in the late 19thcentury and early 20th. These immigrantswere extremely important inreestablishing the devastated society andquickly moved into positions ofimportance. As a result, Paraguay today isa remarkably socially mobile place byLatin American standards, not that muchunlike ours.

There have been very real changes over51 years. Back then, Asunción looked likea relic of the colonial period. Today themain streets are no longer cobbled, peopleobey the many traffic lights and traffic

jams seem to consist mostly of brand newcars. Cell phones are everywhere andParaguayan ladies have taken to jeans.Even the very poor look much better, butunemployment and poverty still areserious problems.

We arrived in Asunción this time justafter presidential elections in which theColorado Party was thrown out after 61unbroken years. The new president, Lugo,was elected under a banner of change. Itwill not be easy, but some real changes areclearly needed. Paraguay is at last readyfor modernity. Lugo is committed tobringing a huge neglected segment of thepopulation into the economy.

George H. ThigpenWAE (rehired annuitant)

Systematic Review Program

Having spent more than six year of my Foreign Servicecareer in Paraguay working for both the U.S. Agency forInternational Development and State, I very much enjoyedthe May Post of the Month article featuring Asunción.

However, it is inconceivable to me that anyone coulddescribe Asunción or Paraguay without a generous mentionof Paraguayan music, something which left an indelibleimpression on both my wife and me. The Paraguayan harpmakes beautiful music, and when combined with a guitar ortwo in a conjunto, the music and songs linger in our mindsto this day, even though more than 30 years have passed.

Richard W. NewmanTucson, Arizona

Via E-mail: [email protected] /// Phone: (202) 663-1700 /// Fax: (202) 663-1769Mailing Address: 2401 E Street, NW, HR/ER/SMG, SA-1, Room H-236, Washington, DC 20522-0108

Letters should not exceed 250 words and should include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. All letters becomethe property of State Magazine. Letters will be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. Only signed letters will be considered.

Let Us Hear from You

Letters

Paraguayan Music

By adopting several green initiatives, theNational Visa Center in Portsmouth, N.H., istaking recycling and environmental sustainabilityto new levels.

NVC, part of the Bureau of Consular Affairs,was created in 1994 to centralize immigrant visaprocessing at one U.S. facility. The centerprocesses more than 500,000 immigrant visacases destined for adjudication at overseas postseach year.

Beginning last year, NVC started posting mostof its documentation on the travel.state.gov Website, rather than sending paper copies to visapetitioners and beneficiaries. Many of the previ-ously mailed packets had contained 30 pages of

material. Now, a two-page letter directs people tothe Web site. This has greatly reduced theamount of paper used, saving more than $1million annually in paper, postage and laborcosts. In the future, NVC will communicate withpetitioners and beneficiaries by e-mail ratherthan regular mail, further reducing the amountof paper used.

Furthermore, NVC’s 550 employees no longeruse throw-away foam cups for their coffee, andwooden stirrers have replaced plastic ones. Thesechanges will save 12,000 to 14,000 cups, about10,000 plastic lids and 8,000 plastic stirrers permonth. Instead, employees were given mugs,whose cost can be recouped in a few years.

NVC now annually recycles 58 tons of paper,two tons of plastic bottles, 15 tons of cardboard,

540 fluorescent bulbs and 18 tons ofwooden pallets.

Employees are also encouraged to turnoff all computer monitors, printers andcopiers at night, saving more than$6,000 annually, and a carpoolprogram started last year has attracted

increasing numbers of participants. Theprogram will soon involve a regional,

nonprofit organization that offers onlineride-matching and a guaranteed ride home.

Visa Center AdoptsGreen Initiatives

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The 48th annual BOOKFAIR ofthe Associates of the AmericanForeign Service Worldwide willbegin in October. The fair drawsshoppers and volunteers from con-siderable distances and has raisedmore than $1 million for ForeignService family-member scholar-ships and community projects.

BOOKFAIR began in 1960 witha collection of some 7,500 books.Now, it sells some 100,000 booksin many categories, collecting themthroughout the year. A large andvaried Art Corner features itemsbrought back by Foreign Serviceemployees from around the world.There are also stamps and coins.

BOOKFAIR starts October 17from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and contin-ues October 20–24 from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. for employees, spousesand guests. During two weekends,October 18–19 and 25–26, thesale is open to everyone from10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event takes placein the Exhibit Hall of the Harry STruman Building. Public accessis available through the C St.entrance, where nonemployeeswill need to pass through metaldetectors.

BOOKFAIRPlanned forOctober

Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice has inau-gurated a new CivilianResponse Corps that allowsfederal employees withvaried expertise to bedeployed to countriesdescending into or emergingfrom conflict.

At an inaugural ceremonyin July, Secretary Rice saidthe Corps will advance U.S.interests by helping to meetthe challenges posed by“weak or poorly governedstates… where criminals andterrorists can gather.” Shenoted that the initiativereturns to civilian hands aresponsibility that

previously had been oftenassumed by the U.S.military. The CRC will“build more effectivepartnerships” betweenfederal agencies and betweenthe United States andnations in crisis, she said.

The Corps will have activeand standby members fromseveral federal agencies. Theactive component willconsist initially of 100 full-time employees who can bedeployed within 48 to 72hours to a crisis situation.The standby component willinclude volunteers who haveother jobs in governmentbut will be trained and ready

to deploy, if needed. Corpsmembers will have hadexperience as diplomats,public health officials, econ-omists, lawyers and in otherfields, the Department said.

The Civilian ResponseCorps partners the Depart-ment of State with sevenother agencies, including theU.S. Agency forInternational Developmentand the Departments ofJustice, Homeland Security,Commerce, Agriculture,Health and Human Servicesand the Treasury. The Corpswas made possible byCongress’ appropriation ofup to $75 million.

SecretaryLaunchesCivilianResponseCorps

During the Civilian Response Corps launchceremony, Secretary Rice accepted anhonorary membership into the Corps.

On July 4, the U.S. Embassyin Berlin celebrated thehistoric return to its pre–World War II location next tothe Brandenburg Gate.Standing just yards away fromwhere President RonaldReagan in 1987 called for theBerlin Wall’s removal, GermanChancellor Angela Merkel,former President George H.W.Bush and Ambassador WilliamR. Timken Jr. deliveredremarks before 5,000 guests.

Chancellor Merkel said theembassy’s return to the heartof Berlin symbolized theGerman-Americanpartnership. As a tribute to the60th anniversary of the BerlinAirlift, a group of Airlift pilotsparticipated in thecelebrations. Former PresidentBush, an ex-pilot himself,evoked an aviation term to sayGerman-American friendshipis “CAVU—ceiling andvisibility unlimited.” The cele-bration went well into the

night and culminated with afireworks show.

In other activities to markthe embassy’s grand opening,former Secretary of State Dr.Henry Kissinger presentedformer President Bush with theAmerican Academy’s KissingerAward in recognition of hisstrong support for Germanreunification. The mission alsoco-hosted a high-level Transat-lantic Relations Conferencewhose American participantsincluded Dr. Kissinger,Treasury Deputy SecretaryRobert Kimmitt and SpecialEnvoy for European Affairs C.Boyden Gray.

More than a quarter of amillion people crowded a streetnear the embassy July 5 forAmerikafest 2008, a festival towelcome the embassy back tothe center of a reunited Berlin.Hosted by the Federation ofGerman-American Clubs, thefestival featured culturalperformances, including

mission-supported ones; U.S.-oriented information booths;and other attractions. In anearby theater, New York dancecompanies Battery DanceCompany and Drastic Actionguided 90 inner-city highschool students in a perform-ance based on the themes ofintegration and tolerance.These events and ongoingactivities related to our returnto Pariser Platz have bolstered

our partnership with Germanyand initiated a new phase inthe bilateral relationship.

Chancellor Merkel toldAmbassador Timken that therecent series of events celebratingthe German-American relation-ship, starting with the Junevisit of President George W.Bush to Meseberg, exceededher expectations and movedthe dial on German publicopinion.


Berlin CelebratesGrand Opening

Standing side by side, Chancellor Merkel and former President George H.W.Bush survey the crowd at the embassy’s grand opening.

At the annual farewell barbeque of the U.S. Embassyin Jakarta in May, the children of Human ResourcesOfficer Matthew A. Weiller and Local Area NetworkAdministrator Ana Miller received certificates andmedals for soldiering through their parents’ unaccompa-nied tours.

Matthew Weiller served unaccompanied inAfghanistan from 2002 to 2003 and his wife, BrigidReilly Weiller, is nonimmigrant line chief in Islamabad,Pakistan, this year. Ana Miller’s husband, Earl Miller, isthe regional security officer in Baghdad.

The Weiller children said they were thrilled andhonored to receive the recognition. Their parents saidthey greatly appreciate the Department’s support forfamilies with members serving on unaccompanied tours.

Childrens’ Support forParents’ UnaccompaniedTours Wins Recognition

Gathered for a post-award photo are, from left,Ana Miller, Chargé d’ Affaires John Heffern,Andrew Miller and Alexander Miller.


To take the celebration off island, the United StatesSouthern Command, at the request of Ambassador MaryOurisman, sent the U.S. Navy’s fast frigate USS Simpson.Ambassador Ourisman then joined the ship’s captain indonating sewing machines, medical and hygiene supplies,and toys to the Salvation Army and the St. Lucia Red Cross.She later hosted more than 250 guests, including St. Lucia’sGovernor General and prime minister, on the USSSimpson for the official reception.

A four-member U.S. Navy jazz band from New Orleansand local music star Linus Modeste entertained the guests.Modeste played the country-and-western hits St. Luciansenjoy. As “The Stars and Stripes Forever” erupted from theship’s sound system, the night skies over the harbor wereset ablaze with a burst of fireworks that left guests cheering.

Ambassador Ourisman said the presence of the Navyvessel reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the region’s secu-rity and the donations highlighted the U.S. commitment toimproving the lives of people throughout the WesternHemisphere.

For the first time, the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown moved its July 4celebrations outside of Barbados using a variety of public diplomacy tools toshowcase America’s history, music and spirit of partnership with other coun-tries in the region.

The first walk-a-thon organized by aforeign consulate in post-revolutionChina was held June 22 by the U.S.Consulate in Guangzhou and raisednearly $10,000 for victims of the May 12earthquake in western China. Allproceeds from sales of $13 T-shirts,donated by a local manufacturer, wentto charity, with 70 percent going toHalf-the-Sky, a nongovernmentalorganization serving Chinese childrenwho cannot be adopted, and theremainder going to the GuangdongProvincial Charity Fund.

The walk, which took place onhistoric Shamian Island, the site of theold foreign legation, drew AssistantSecretary for East Asian and PacificAffairs Christopher R. Hill. In Beijing onbusiness, he boarded a plane forGuangzhou and joined members of theGuangdong foreign affairs office and 300 other walkers. The walk’sT-shirt, designed by the consulate’s public affairs office, featured theconsulate’s logo and a Chinese phrase meaning “Sichuan stand firm,China moves forward with enthusiasm.”

Braving the tropical heat and humidity that followed weeks ofrain and flooding, marchers completed a 1.5-mile loop around the

island. Along the way, supporters from the consulate shouted “Keepon Sichuan, keep on China.”

In his remarks at the start of the walk, Hill reminded participantsthat “as we walk together, we are joined together by this tragedy andmust help those who have suffered so much from the earthquake.

“Our message,” he said, “is America cares.”

Navy Commander Ed Kaiser, left, presents a hat and signedphoto of the USS Simpson to Caribbean businessman SirKyffin Simpson while Lady Simpson and AmbassadorOurisman, far right, look on.

Walk Raises Funds for Quake Victims

Assistant Secretary Christopher R. Hill, center, and Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office Director Fu Lang,on Hill’s right, led the walk-a-thon.

Navy Helps EmbassyCelebrate July 4

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In June at the Library of Congress,Under Secretary for ManagementPatrick F. Kennedy accepted theRestore America Hero award,presented to the Department of Stateby the National Trust for HistoricPreservation in recognition of theimportance of the Secretary of State’sRegister of Culturally SignificantProperty. The award honors publicofficials, agencies, private citizens andcorporations for significant contribu-tions to the preservation of historicbuildings, collections, documents andworks of art.

National Trust President RichardMoe commended the Department forits strong stewardship andprofessional excellence in establishinga framework for the systematic careof the 20 properties on the Register.

The action was the first time in theTrust’s 59-year history that an awardhad been given for the care and main-tenance of American-ownedproperties abroad.

Established in 2000 by the Bureauof Overseas Buildings Operations, theSecretary’s Register is the official listof the Department’s most historically

and architecturally significantoverseas holdings, buildings that havefigured prominently in the UnitedStates’ international heritage. Theseinclude chanceries, ambassadors’residences and office buildings thatare determined to be historically,architecturally or culturallysignificant. The designationestablishes a framework by whichthe Department provides profes-sional stewardship in caring forthese properties.

Under Secretary Kennedy said theRegister “serves American diplomacyby preserving structures that arecentral to the history and culture ofthe host country, signaling ourrespect for that county and itspeople.” Buildings on the Register, hesaid, are “evidence of ourcommitment to international cooper-ation and provide the stage uponwhich the vital work of diplomacygoes forward.”

In July, three properties were addedto the Register: Villa Rothschild inParis, Petschek Palace in Prague andVilla Taverna in Rome. To view them,go to http://obo.state.gov/CSP.

National Trust HonorsSecretary’s Register of

Culturally Significant Property

Under Secretary Kennedy, center, receives the award from TrustPresident Moe, left, as the event’s master of ceremonies, CarterOosterhouse, looks on.

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Honorees at the 2008 Foreign Service Youth Awardsceremony pose with then-Acting Director GeneralTeddy Taylor, back row in dark suit.

The 2008 Foreign Service YouthAwards Ceremony July 8 at Departmentof State headquarters highlighted thecontributions of Foreign Service youthand their creativity and resilience infacing the challenges of growing up inan internationally mobile lifestyle. Theawards were coordinated by the ForeignService Youth Foundation sponsorshipfrom Clements International Insurance,Diplomatic Automobile Sales andOakwood Corporate Housing.

This year’s awards included:Clements International Awards for

Community Service, given annually bythe Foreign Service Youth Foundationto recognize Foreign Service teenagers

who demonstrate outstandingleadership in community service. Firstplace was shared by Lucinda-Joi Chu-Ketterer of Beijing and Alissa and SarahJones of Gaborone. Abigail Golledge ofAccra earned the “HighlyCommendable” award.

Young Diplomats’ Essay ContestAward for excellence in writing andcritical analysis. First place for thehigh school contest went to EmmaBenjaminson of Windhoek andsecond place to E. Davis Martin ofLima. First place for the middle schoolcontest went to Andrew Moeller ofBerlin and second place to PatrickYounes of Washington.

Kid Video Awards, coordinated by theForeign Service Institute to show over-seas life from the standpoint of ForeignService children, had Melissa Nave ofPrague in first place, Victoria Laney ofCanberra in second place and NoraLogsdon and Courtney Merriman ofKyiv sharing third place.

Also honored were children whoseparents are serving or have served athigh-risk unaccompanied posts.Designed and distributed by the FamilyLiaison Office, the certificates of appre-ciation and medals given to the childrenacknowledged the sacrifice children andfamilies make when employees serve onunaccompanied tours.

Awards RecognizeForeign Service Youth


U.S. Ambassador to ParaguayJames Cason has recorded andreleased a CD of Paraguayanmusic classics sung in Guarani.Produced by impresario LuisAlvarez and featuring popularParaguayan musicians, the 16-track CD entitled “Campo Jurado”features 15 Guarani classics andthe ambassador’s original compo-sition about young soldiers facingcombat at a rural Paraguayanoutpost. To promote the CD, theambassador appeared on severalParaguayan radio and televisionshows and did a live performanceon Paraguay’s top-rated late-nighttelevision show.

All sales of “Campo Jurado”will fund scholarships for young

Paraguayans with limitedeconomic means to study Englishat the Paraguayan-AmericanCultural Center.

In June, Cason performed for asell-out crowd at Paraguay’spremier concert venue withseveral Paraguayan superstars. Hisprofessionally choreographed setfeatured all 16 songs on “CampoJurado” and included fourencores.

Prior to the performance,Paraguay’s foreign minister gaveCason Paraguay’s highest culturalhonor, the National Order ofMerit, Don Jose Falcon, for hiscontributions to Paraguayanculture. He is the first foreigner toreceive this award.

Singing AmbassadorBrings MusicalDiplomacy to Paraguay

Ambassador Casonrecords the CD in astudio.

On the morning of March 8, 1995, MarkMcCloy, a mail clerk at the U.S. ConsulateGeneral in Karachi, Pakistan, was on ashuttle bus to the consulate with coworkerswhen the shuttle was struck by a hail ofbullets from an AK-47. Consulateemployees Jackie Van Landingham andGary C. Durrell were critically wounded.McCloy, a former Marine, quickly assessedthe situation and ordered the driver to findthe nearest hospital.

Although wounded, McCloy maintainedhis composure and radioed the consulate,which relied on McCloy’s statement to piecetogether what occurred. Tragically, neitherDurrell nor Van Landingham survived theirinjuries, and both left behind a spouse andchildren. McCloy suffered injuries to hisarms and legs. One shot had gone throughhis ankle, leaving him in pain and requiringphysical therapy for several months.

After reviewing the circumstances of theattack and McCloy’s courageous response,the Department’s Awards Committee

recently determined that he should be thefirst recipient of the Department’sCertificate of Valor. Under Secretary for

Management Patrick Kennedy presented theaward to McCloy, now a Foreign Serviceinformation management specialist.

Assembled for the award’s presentation are, from left Deputy Chief Information Officer CharlesWisecarver, NEA/SEA Executive Director Bill Haugh, Under Secretary Patrick Kennedy, Mark McCloy,his wife De Ana McCloy, SCA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Camp and M BureauExecutive Assistant Frank Coulter.

Award Given for Bravery in 1995 Attack


The Bureau of ConsularAffairs has inaugurated inTucson, Ariz., the newest ofits 19 domestic passportproduction offices. UnderSecretary for ManagementPatrick Kennedy and Assis-tant Secretary for ConsularAffairs Janice Jacobspresided over the Juneribbon-cutting.

The Tucson PassportCenter focuses on thepersonalization and printingof passports, but will alsoproduce passport cards tohelp meet the demandarising when new traveldocument requirements gointo effect in June 2009.Under the WesternHemisphere TravelInitiative’s 2009 changes, all

Americans must present apassport or other acceptabledocument when entering theUnited States by land, sea orair. TPC will also produceborder crossing cards, whichare visa documents issued toMexican citizens for travel tothe United States.

At full productioncapacity, TPC will process 10million documents per year.This output is accomplishedby printing only at thisfacility. Applications areadjudicated at otherpassport agencies, andapproved applicant data iselectronically transmitted toTucson. Under SecretaryKennedy said the remoteprinting of passportsimproves bureau efficiency

and allows CA to focus onother functions, such asadjudication.

TPC is the second of twolarge passport centersStanley Inc. has built for theDepartment. The first, inArkansas, was inauguratedin June 2007. Stanley alsoprovides the staff who willpersonalize passports atTPC, under Departmentsupervision. Up to 250 oper-ators will work at thepassport-personalizationoperation.

Several Department andStanley employees receivedawards for helping put theTPC into operation. Thefacility was built and occu-pied in less than threemonths.

CA Unveils NewestPassport Facility in Tucson

MAGAZINE

Rob WileyEditor-in-Chief

Ed WarnerDeputy Editor

Bill PalmerWriter/Editor

David L. JohnstonArt Director

Advisory Board Members

James A. ForbesExecutive Secretary

Kelly Clements

Annette R. Cocchiaro

State Magazine (ISSN 1099–4165)is published monthly, except

bimonthly in July and August, by theU.S. Department of State, 2201 C St.,

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November issue is September 15.The deadline for the December

issue is October 15.

Cutting the ribbon are, third from right,Under Secretary Patrick Kennedy and, farright, Florence Fultz of Passport Services.

The Bureau of African Affairs is 50 years old thisyear, and its story is one of support for the U.S. ideal ofequality, domestically and overseas. Established at thebeginning of Africa’s decolonization process, AFquickly expanded as the number of independent coun-tries in sub-Saharan Africa mushroomed from three todozens in the space of a few years.

The Eisenhower Administration’s policy of having auniversal diplomatic presence meant that newembassies opened in rapid progression. The hectic pacestrained even the most creative management officer’stalents to build, staff and maintain diplomatic facilities

in some of the harshest conditions in the world. But putting together bricks, mortar and staffing

were easy challenges compared to addressing thehurdle embedded in American society that harmedthe nation’s image around the world: Jim Crow lawspromoting racial segregation. Early on, AF learned thatthe separation of foreign from domestic affairs isn’talways so easy. Diplomacy is a two-way street, and asAmericans went out by the hundreds to serve inAfrica, African diplomats came to the United States.They didn’t always find themselves welcomed withopen arms.

AFRICA BUREAU MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARYBY GREGORY L. GARLAND

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A group of international visitors toAF’s Washington offices gatherat a Main State landmark.


Ideals in Action

Rhetoric overseas about freedom and equalityunder the law rang hollow for Africans and othernon-whites around the world as long as state-sanctioned racial discrimination existed in America.

Case in PointIn June 1961, the new ambassador of the Republic of Chad, Adam

Malik Sow, was refused service at a Maryland restaurant while enroute from New York to Washington to present his credentials toPresident John F. Kennedy. The incident, on the primary routebetween the two cities, was only one of a series of cases of racialdiscrimination against African diplomats, who were also refusedpermission to buy or lease property in affluent neighborhoods of theDistrict of Columbia for use as official residences.

Under Secretary of State Chester Bowles then proposed creationof a Special Protocol Service Section, and AF’s then-assistant secre-tary, former Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams, provedinstrumental in setting up this new office, which would deal withsuch incidents. The head of this office, Pedro Sanjuan, accompaniedthe Chadian ambassador to his meeting with President Kennedy,where the issue was brought up.

The White House put Sanjuan and the Maryland attorneygeneral together. This was the start of a campaign led by federalofficials—including Department of State officials—to end segrega-tion in D.C. and Maryland. It was a first: The department chargedwith conducting foreign policy was interjecting itself into state andlocal politics.

The young Africa Bureau’s first major contribution to U.S.foreign policy turned out to be reminding Washington of theimportance of America’s livingup to its ideals. Rhetoric overseasabout freedom and equalityunder the law rang hollow forAfricans and other non-whitesaround the world as long asstate-sanctioned racial discrimi-nation existed in America.

It was this insight that drovethen-Secretary of State Dean Ruskto urge Congress to pass whatmost citizens considered domesticlegislation, a bill that wouldbecome the Civil Rights Act of1964 and which banned racialdiscrimination in public

accommodations. Rusk called it a landmark act of foreign policy.But he reminded members of Congress that the true power of finallyending legally sanctioned racial discrimination at home lay not inthe effort “merely to look good abroad…but because it is incompat-ible with the great ideals to which our democratic society isdedicated.”

Over five decades, AF would remain particularly aware of the linkbetween domestic and foreign politics and the power of the idealsembodied in the American system. The Cold War, which provided acrucial justification for AF’s creation, would test these ideals repeat-edly, especially in Mobutu’s Zaire and apartheid South Africa. Butthe real story of AF’s half century lies in the tension between theoften conflicting objectives of decolonization, promoting democracyand justice, confronting communism and remaining consistent withAmerican values.

Birthday CelebrationsThe Bureau is commemorating its anniversary with a cycle of

activities that began in February with a lecture by Dr. Pearl Robinsonof Tufts University, who has just completed an intellectual biographyof Ralph J. Bunche. Fittingly, the program took place in the Ralph J.Bunche Library, where Assistant Secretary and long-time friend,Jendayi E. Frazer, introduced Robinson. Other celebration activitiesinclude articles, blogs and a reception hosted by the National

Museum of African Art.Some of the organizations that

have joined in AF’s celebration areSister Cities International, the AfricaSociety, the Sullivan Foundation, theNational Council of InternationalVisitors, Florida A&M University,Howard University and theCorporate Council on Africa. Theirinvolvement demonstrates thevibrant, positive legacy of domesticoutreach undertaken by a bureaucharged with conducting what isnominally just foreign policy.

This is a powerful foundationon which to build the bureau’s nexthalf century. ■

The author works in the Office ofPublic Diplomacy and Public Affairs ofthe Bureau of African Affairs.

G. Mennen Williams, center, then-assistant secretary of state for

African Affairs, meets with DavidDacko, to his right, president of

the Central African Republic.



In addition to the normal summer spike in training activity at the Foreign ServiceInstitute, the spring and summer of 2008 featured the introduction of 10 newcourses designed for colleagues destined for assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

‘Relevantand Timely’

Employee reaction has been positive:One attendee called the “Islam in Iraq”course “intellectually challenging, relevantand timely—by far, the best course I havetaken at FSI.”

The new courses focus on these areas:Iraq and Afghanistan—FSI’s

longstanding mandatory course on IraqFamiliarization, FT610, was expandedfrom three to five days in February to addsessions on working with the military,counterinsurgency strategy and employeecompensation. In May, the DirectorGeneral required the course on ProvincialReconstruction Teams in Iraq for allDepartment personnel deploying to thosePRTs, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker insti-tuted the same requirement for all otheragency personnel at the U.S. Embassyin Baghdad.

Steve McFarland, who spent a yearleading a PRT and returned to head theFSI division offering the PRT course, said

the course prepares students for a uniquecivilian-military counterinsurgencyenvironment. FSI, he continued, constantlyfine-tunes the course by recruiting IraqPRT veterans to lecture on the rapidlychanging situation on the ground.

“As a former PRT team leader,” he said,“I enjoyed increasing the course’s focus oncounterinsurgency theory and operations,and on preparing students for the realitiesof working in a combat environment.”

FSI also pilot-tested this year “Islam inIraq,” AR193, a new course on the funda-mentals of Islam and, in particular, thereligious landscape in Iraq.

For employees going to Afghanistan, FSIadded a new one-week session ofAfghanistan Area Studies and developed anew course for those deploying to the mili-tary-led PRTs in Afghanistan.

Language—This year, FSI’s School ofLanguage Studies offered an Iraqi Arabicdistance learning course and an Iraqi

Arabic FAST course. The “Ask Dr. Hamza”Web page on the Department’s Diplopediasite (www.intelink.gov/communities/state/drhamza) provides Arabic materials toemployees and eligible family membersworldwide. FSI said one PRT leader in Iraqreached the 2+/2 proficiency level by usingdistance-learning materials and engagingin self study and interaction with Iraqis atpost. SLS offers Dari and Pashto languagetraining for those going to Afghanistan,and distance-learning products for theselanguages are in the final stages ofdevelopment. SLS is also developing aspecial Dari course for employees going toPRTs in Afghanistan.

Leadership—“Leading in a High-StressPost,” PT250, is a new one-day coursetargeted at officers and PRT leaders at theFS02 level and above who are going tohigh-stress posts. The course focuses onthe unique leadership challenges likely tobe experienced during an assignment in

FSI ‘SURGE’ TRAINS OFFICERS FOR IRAQ, AFGHANISTANBY MARTHA L. CAMPBELL

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Iraq or Afghanistan, and helps officersanticipate and prepare for them.

In 2008, the Leadership andManagement School also created a briefingfor those who work closely with employeeswho have recently returned from Iraq orAfghanistan (such as their supervisors).The course, “Working with Returnees fromIraq and Afghanistan,” PT450, is availablein three formats. For those in Washington,the briefing can be done at Main State as abrown bag lunch. For overseas locationswith several people interested in the topic,the briefing can be offered by digital videoconference. Employees outside ofWashington also will be able to participatein the briefing when it is held as a“Webinar,” a live session over the Internet,several times this summer and fall.

Personal Preparation—In May, FSIreleased the DVD “Making Sense of Unac-

companied Assignments: Insights forCouples,” which explores the dynamics ofdeciding upon, preparing for, beingseparated by and reintegrating after anunaccompanied tour. The 53-minute videoshares the strategies and issues encounteredby Foreign Service couples who enduredand grew from their separations. Theprogram is available to anyone who iscontemplating, has completed or is now inan unaccompanied assignment, byrequesting it from FSI’s Transition Center.

Another new course, the “High-StressAssignment Pre-Deployment Workshop,”MQ-940, covers the more substantiveaspects of preparing, as an unmarriedofficer or a couple about to be temporarilyseparated, for a high-threat assignment.Included in the Friday/Saturday workshopsare in-depth discussions of underlyingissues and stresses, along with strategies for

communication, relaxation and personaland professional performanceenhancement. The workshop is open to allemployees, spouses and members of house-hold who are anticipating an assignment toan unaccompanied post.

FSI said the enthusiastic support of itspartners in the bureaus of HumanResources, Near Eastern Affairs and Southand Central Asian Affairs helped the initia-tive to succeed. Details on these courses areavailable on FSI’s Web site under the “Focus:Iraq” section of the site’s opening page.

For the future, FSI is looking for otheropportunities to support employees beforeand after deployment to some of theDepartment’s most difficult postings.

The author is dean of the School forProfessional and Area Studies at the ForeignService Institute.

Steve McFarland, FSI director of stabilityoperations, walks a street in Baghdad.


Step UpTo address gender gaps in leadership and groom women for leadership

roles worldwide, the International Women’s Forum in 1994 launched itsLeadership Foundation program. The IWF says the program aims to help“high-potential women of ethnic, professional and geographic diversity…become tomorrow’s women chief executive officers and principal leaders.”

FELLOWSHIP PREPS DEPARTMENT’S FUTURE FEMALE LEADERSBY NATALIE E. BROWN

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I am honored to have been the IWF’s2007–2008 fellow from the federal govern-ment. Congress has allocated funding forthe annual participation of a federalemployee, and I have spent the past yearlearning with and from 20 amazing womenfrom six countries. This group of “wickedlysmart women”—the words of former Lead-ership Foundation President RosalindGilmore—is determined and capable ofrising to the tops of their professions andcommitted to taking other women, andmen, with them.

Above AverageThis was not the average leadership

program. We addressed matters such asdiversity and the need to change leadershipstyles as one’s career advances, as well asmoral leadership and globalization. Weexperienced an intense program that, in

three one-week sessions, challenged ourperceptions of success, dared us to becourageous and encouraged us to be moreopen. One exercise involving an electronicmaze reinforced our understanding thatprogress sometimes requires lateral or back-ward movement, and if you are going tolead, make sure you are being followed.

We also contributed to monthly newslet-ters and did public speaking. Additionally,the Leadership Foundation offered thefellows once-in-a-lifetime opportunities,including executive education at theHarvard Business School and theCambridge University’s Judge BusinessSchool, as well as being paired with anIWF mentor.

Personal DirectorsThe most significant part of the

program, and what I appreciated most, was

being given a “personal board of directors.”These five-person boards were formedduring our time at Harvard to work oncommon professional or personal goals.They generated the spark for changes thefellows made over the year. I identifiedwhat motivates me and how to better usemy talents.

As a result, I’ve raised my personal andprofessional aspirations and plotted adifferent career path. I also made fournew wonderful friends who are invested inmy success.

The IWF Leadership Fellowship wasphysically and emotionally exhausting, butintellectually stimulating. It made mebraver, more caring, less judgmental, moreopen and more aware of my personal needs.

The author is the economic counselor at theU.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan.

At the IWF Gala in Chicago in 2007, severalIWF recipients gathered for a photo, includingthe author, back row, second from the right—and the tallest person in the photo.

Capitol HillNuance

When Senator Chuck Hagel took a hardlook at the Balkans, he turned to a ForeignService officer on his staff.

Who are these FSOs and why aremembers of Congress turning to themfor advice? They are Pearson Fellows,who are assigned to a House or Senateoffice, committee or commission, typicallyfor a year.

Each year, approximately a dozen StateDepartment employees from various conesare selected as Pearson Fellows, a programnamed after former Senator JamesPearson, who drafted the legislationcreating the fellowship. The AmericanPolitical Science Association offers asimilar program; under it, Political OfficerMarilyn Ereshefsky works in the office ofRep. Jim McDermott.

Both programs give U.S. diplomats abetter understanding of the legislative,authorization and appropriations processesand help them learn the nuances of CapitolHill negotiations. The programs also givemembers of Congress and their staffs aforeign policy perspective and internationalexpertise. Moreover, the Department bene-fits through improved communication withand understanding of Congress.

Many RolesPearson Fellows serve in a variety of

roles, providing foreign policy advice,drafting legislation, preparing briefingsand hearings, writing speeches andworking with constituents. While onCapitol Hill, they have the freedom to fullysupport the members they serve. As one

Fellow put it, “The Department sent mehere to work for Congress and get arealistic view of how things operate.”

Following a tour at the U.S. Embassy inBeijing, Political Officer Eric Richardsonstarted in August 2007 as a Fellow on thestaff of the House Committee on ForeignAffairs. Concentrating on Asian issues,Richardson worked on developing acongressional response to Burma’sSeptember 2007 crackdown onantigovernment protesters. He draftedfinancial and trade sanctions legislationtargeting Burma’s military governmentand met with the monks who led antigov-ernment protests and then fled Burma.

“I learned a lot in negotiations withmultiple committees and conferences inthe Senate over the Block Burma Jade

When Senator Edward Kennedy met with world leaders this past year, he had aForeign Service officer nearby. When House Armed Services Committee Chairman IkeSkelton held a hearing this spring on cooperation between the departments of Stateand Defense, a Foreign Service officer was there, prepared to give support and advice.

FELLOWS GIVE CONGRESS INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVEBY ANDREW HYDE AND DEBY JONES


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The authors take a break fromtheir work on Capitol Hill.


Act,” Richardson said, adding that theexperiences helped him to advisecommittee Chairman Howard Bermanabout Congress’ response to CycloneNargis and the Burmese regime’s initialrefusal to accept humanitarian aid.

Political Officer Costa Nicolaidis, whoworked on the staff of Senator Bill Nelson,said he gained an invaluable insight intothe powerful role of Congressionaloversight.

‘Unique Understanding’“I developed a unique understanding of

the interaction between the executive andlegislative branches on foreign policy issuesand deepened a network of contacts that Iexpect will serve the Department in yearsto come,” he said.

Christopher Lamora, a consular officerwho worked in the office of Senator DickDurbin, said the fellowship honed hisviews of the relationship between the

Department and Capitol Hill, and on theway the Department should demonstratehow its work affects constituents.

This year’s Fellows initiated several proj-ects and made suggestions forstrengthening congressional relations. InJune, the Fellows and members of theDepartment’sCongressional Liaison Office and Officeof Recruitment and Retention hosted aquestion-and-answer session on the

Secretary of State CondoleezzaRice meets with recipients of thePearson Fellowship.

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fellowship for prospective Foreign Serviceand Civil Service employees. ReflectingHill interest, the session was also attendedby approximately 150 congressional staffmembers and interns.

Deby Jones is a Pearson Fellow on the staffof Senator Edward Kennedy, and AndrewHyde is a Pearson Fellow on the staff of theHouse Armed Services Committee, chairedby Rep. Ike Skelton.

Representatives of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, severalBureau of Human Resources offices and of the Foreign Service Institutepromoted the services available to those volunteering to serve in Iraq andAfghanistan at a June open house at Main State.

Among the HR offices that staffed tables at the open house were CasualtyAssistance, Medical Services, Family Liaison and Career Development andAssignments. The open house was the Department’s way of tellingemployees who were considering either post, “This is what we have for you,the resources,” said Nazih Daher, Associate Dean of FSI’s School of Profes-sional and Area Studies

“All of us—FSI, the Director General’s office, NEA, SCA and others—wanted to be sure colleagues interested in assignments in Afghanistan andIraq were aware of all the resources available to them as they make thesedecisions,” he said.

One attendee, Jason Khile, had already volunteered for Iraq—he willserve on the Provisional Reconstruction Team in Anbar Province. He volun-teered, he said, because “It’s important for our country.”

Open HouseServes Iraq,AfghanistanVolunteers

Jason Khile chats with FSILanguage Training SupervisorMongia Dambowic.


For example, I researched and preparedbriefing papers for the German chancellor,foreign minister, political director andspecial envoy for Southeastern Europe. Ialso served as the FO’s liaison with theGerman Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo. And Irepresented the leadership of the FO’sWestern Balkans Division at meetings withother divisions, ministries and visitingforeign delegations.

I also drafted the internal German federalgovernment documents that paved the way

for Germany’s official recognition of theRepublic of Kosovo.

The TDF began in the fall of 1996 as theFellowship of Hope. Then-Secretary of StateWarren Christopher established it as aforeign exchange program under whichForeign Service officers and diplomats fromEuropean Union institutions and memberstates would work together and learn fromone another. In 2007, the program wasrenamed and opened to include diplomatsfrom North Atlantic Treaty Organization

countries outside the EU. The programinvolves a one-year rotation in which FSOswork in an institution or ministry of foreignaffairs in an EU member nation, and EUdiplomats work in Washington, D.C. In2008–2009, the Department will host 10European diplomats. Bureaus and officesinterested in hosting TDFs should contactthe Office of European Union Affairs.

One of the most important personal andprofessional challenges any holder of a TDFfaces is achieving full integration and

In 2007–2008, I held a Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship in Germany’s ForeignOffice, working as one of two Kosovo desk officers in the Political Directorate-General. My responsibilities were similar to those of State Department desk officers.

Fellowshipof Hope

TRANSATLANTIC DIPLOMATS SERVE OTHER NATIONS’GOVERNMENTS BY CHAD S. PETERSON

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acceptance in another nation’s ministry offoreign affairs or institution, where theoperational and managerial culture may bealien to one’s own.

One senior German diplomat offeredvaluable advice in this regard. “The mostsuccessful TDFs,” he said, “are those whocan cast their American interests aside forone year to gain a better appreciation andunderstanding for how German diplomatsformulate and implement foreign policy.”

This task is not easy, but it is facilitatedby having strong oral and written languageskills (at least 3/3, although a higher profi-

ciency level is generally preferred) and in-country professional experience (althoughthis is not a prerequisite).

The first step in the TDF applicationprocess is contacting the Bureau of HumanResources’ Career Development andTraining unit and submitting a bid on thedetail/training bid list, where TDFpositions are advertised. HR’s CareerDevelopment and Assignments office thenconvenes a selection committee, and theperson selected is brought to a standard FSassignments panel. The Bureau ofEuropean and Eurasian Affairs advises on

the choice of the candidate but does notmake the final decision.

In seeking a TDF, remember that you areapplying for two assignments: the one-yearTDF and the follow-on three-yearassignment in an embassy. The nature ofone’s assignment at an EU institution orministry of foreign affairs will bedetermined by mutual interest and theavailability of assignments. ■

The author is a foreign service officer inthe political section at the U.S. Embassyin Berlin.

The author in front of Werderscher Markt 1,the office building housing Germany’s GermanForeign Office.

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In early 2007, Scott Page, chief of operations for the Bureau ofPolitical-Military Affairs’ Office of International SecurityOperations, envisaged using technology to make the reports of thePolitical-Military Action Team more accessible to other agencies,promoting awareness of political-military issues. PMAT, a primarylink between the departments of State and Defense, provides diplo-matic support for military operations during crises andcontingencies and provides political-military information to Depart-ment and interagency officials.

Page also wanted to improve PMAT’s internal administration andmanagement and enable PMAT staff to process classifiedinformation from remote locations. To achieve these goals, he

worked with the State Messaging and Archive Retrieval Toolset—or SMART—collaboration team, now the collaboration team in theOffice of Verification Operations of the Bureau of Verification,Compliance and Implementation. The team used Microsoft OfficeSharePoint 2007 technology and made PMAT the first of theDepartment’s 16 interagency SharePoint 2007 pilot-test sites.

Using SharePoint, VCI/VO helped PM build the PMAT PortalWeb site on the Department’s classified interagency network. Theportal’s home page (http://communitiesx.state.sgov.gov/pmat)provides access to links of political-military interest and to the mostcurrent PMAT Situation Report, a classified summary of globalpolitical-military events published each weekday morning and after-

INTERNET TOOL ENHANCESINTERAGENCY COLLABORATION

BY BRYCE BHATNAGAR

InformationSharing

The collaboration teamincludes from left, AntonioAntiochia, Sean Mansperger,Michael Powers, MichaelAlicea, Bryce Bhatnagarand Joseph Round.

noon. Every SITREP item is referenced, and the portal enables readers to clickon hyperlinks to these references, allowing them to access source documentssuch as embassy cables or military reports.

‘Great Tool’“The PMAT Portal is a great tool for pol-mil officers to stay abreast of

breaking issues or to use as a launching point for in-depth research,” saidPM/ISO Director Colonel David Lucia.

The PMAT Internal Management Site is an internal, password-protectedWeb page developed with SharePoint to facilitate communication amongPMAT’s different shifts. With SharePoint, PMAT’s public operations andinternal operations were consolidated into one network, increasing efficiencyand accessibility.

SharePoint also allows PMAT staff to access all PMAT working documentssuch as action folders, contact lists and standard operating procedures fromany off-site location that can connect to the classified interagency network.This is important when PMAT supports Department task forces in the Opera-tions Center or when PMAT deploys to support the Department’s continuityof operations in an emergency.

PMAT is staffed by retired Foreign Service officers and former militarypersonnel. PM/ISO’s challenge was providing training, as well as implementingnew information technologies at low cost and without interrupting PMAT’sdemanding, around-the-clock operations. The solution: Have interns developthe portal, train the staff and resolve technological glitches.

“Several interns, notably Richard Helke and Annassa Corley, worked closelywith Sean Mansperger in the VCI/VO Collaboration Team to launch the PMATPortal,” Page said. “This is a credit to all involved and to the simplicity andflexibility of SharePoint.”

In the GrooveOriginally, the VCI/VO collaboration team was one of six teams in the

Bureau of Information Resource Management that worked with the StateMessaging and Archive Retrieval Toolset. SMART is a suite of applicationsdesigned to help employees share information and collaborate, and is a top-priority information technology project. The team deployed SharePoint and anapplication named Groove, both major SMART components that had beensuccessfully deployed in the Department of Defense and other governmentagencies. Groove provides secure, peer-to-peer collaboration for small teams,even on relatively slow networks, and was initially deployed to help coordinatemulti-agency operations in Baghdad since Internet communication in Iraq isvia satellite, which is slower than other means. When Groove succeeded, theDepartment expanded its use.

However, for large numbers of users and high-speed networks, the morepowerful SharePoint 2007 is more appropriate because it lets users access andshare information quickly and easily. It also supports document management,contact lists, calendars, task lists, Web publishing and blogs, and allows users tocreate collaborative sites called “wikis,” as in the Web site Wikipedia.com.SharePoint requires no technical knowledge and little or no intervention frominformation technology personnel. It also provides control over whichdocument version is in use by a team.

In 2008, management of the SMART collaboration tools was shifted to IRM,which maintains and supports them. More information on SharePoint andGroove are at http://irm.m.state.sbu/Clearinghouse/default.aspx. Informationis also available at the SMART Web site, http://smart.state.gov; and at theVCI/VO Collaboration Team Site, http://vci.t.state.sbu/sites/vo/CollabTeam/SMARTProject/default.aspx. ■

The author is the division chief of collaboration for the Office of VerificationOperations of the Bureau of Verification, Compliance and Implementation.

The Systems and Integration Office in the Bureauof Information Resource Management is deployingMicrosoft SharePoint 2007 worldwide. SharePoint isa tool that allows collaboration throughout anorganization and across organizations. It allowsemployees to access and share information quicklyand easily. The software is easy to use, complementsthe Department’s online tools and provides fordocument management, version control, contactlists, calendars, task lists and content alerts.

Global deployment of SharePoint has been twoyears in the making. The effort began in 2006. Afterpilot-testing SharePoint on all Department networksand in 15 bureaus and posts, the Department gaveSIO responsibility for SharePoint operations, main-tenance and worldwide deployment.

In early July, SIO completed deployment ofMicrosoft Office SharePoint Server, the latest versionof SharePoint. More than 40 new SharePoint usersites have requested SharePoint, in addition to the15 pilot-test sites. Future enhancements toSharePoint likely will include customizable sites andplug-in applications known as “Web parts.”

To manage the SharePoint rollout, IRM hasestablished the Collaboration Clearinghouse,a central place for Department personnel andorganizations to request online collaboration tools.It also will advise employees on which tool—suchas SharePoint, Diplopedia or Groove—is best fora given need. To request deployment of SharePointto your organization, call the InformationTechnology Service Center at (202) 647-2000 orsend an e-mail to [email protected].

Department makesSharePoint availableworldwide


The bridge, which cost the United States$42 million, links South Asia with CentralAsia through Afghanistan, and isstimulating trade on both sides of theborder. Over the past year, the value oftrade has been more than double thebridge’s cost.

The bridge got its start in 2002 after theU.S.-led military coalition secured northernAfghanistan. Then-Ambassador Franklin

Huddle asked the U.S. Department ofDefense to fund a bridge, and U.S. Ambas-sadors Richard Hoagland, ZalmayKhalilizad and Ronald Neumann continuedthe advocacy until the bridge’s ground-breaking in 2005.

Trilateral InvolvementThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

managed construction of the bridge and

border crossing points, and the U.S.embassies in Kabul, Afghanistan, and inDushanbe, Tajikistan, worked with Afghanand Tajik customs and border policeofficials to improve operations and bordersecurity. Officers in the Economic Sectionof the U.S. Embassy in Kabul urged Afghangovernment officials to open the bridge assoon as possible after construction wascompleted, and an officer of the ProvisionalReconstruction Team in Kunduz,Afghanistan, later organized trilateral meet-ings between Afghan, Tajik and U.S. officialsat the border that tripled the bridge’s hoursof operation.

For the bridge to become the integrallink in a new Central Asian trade route, thediplomats engaged the governments andprivate sector. In April 2006, the U.S.Embassy in Dushanbe’s deputy chief ofmission accompanied a delegation of Tajikbusinessmen to Kunduz, Afghanistan, a city

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In August of last year, Hamid Karzai and IsmoiliRahmon, presidents of Afghanistan and Tajikistanrespectively, joined U.S. Ambassador to AfghanistanWilliam B. Wood and U.S. Secretary of CommerceCarlos Gutierrez at a barren border crossing innortheastern Afghanistan to dedicate the newTajik-Afghan Bridge that spans the river that isthe border between the two nations.

BRIDGE LINKS CENTRAL ASIAN NATIONS, BOOSTS TRADEBY MATTHEW ASADA AND JACKIE MCKENNAN

Friendship Span

The new bridge towers overa temporary bridge used inits construction.


60 kilometers south of the border, toexplore trading opportunities. In October2007, the embassies in Kabul and Dushanbejointly sponsored an Afghan-Tajik trade fairin Kunduz that took place shortly beforethe bridge opened to commercial traffic. InJune 2007, the U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment sponsored an internationalagriculture fair in Kunduz that drew morethan 23,000 people and resulted inestimated sales of $90,000 and more than$7 million of potential contracts.

The European Union financed and builta new Afghan commercial customs facility1.4 kilometers southeast of the bridge. That$18 million project will enable the provin-cial customs office to relocate to Sher KhanBandar and provide a facility for clearinggoods and paying customs duties. Thefacility and its connector road will befinished by November 2007.

Traffic SoarsThe bridge has created a sevenfold

increase in vehicle traffic and tenfoldincrease in Afghan customs revenues at thisport of entry since opening. A ferry used totransport 30 trucks a day from Afghanistanto Tajikistan. The bridge now averages 200trucks a day and recorded a one-day high of700 trucks.

The bridge has brought the Afghan andTajik governments closer. In May, thenations’ Ministries of Transportation agreedto launch a bus route from Dushanbe toKunduz, and the Tajik government plans toopen a consulate there.

Meanwhile, the border town of SherKhan Bandar is booming. An Afghaninvestor has committed $1.5 million to $5million in a public-private partnership todevelop a 1,600-shop bazaar that will focuson cross-border trade. Restaurants, hotels,gas stations and transportation companiesare springing up to cater to the newtravelers. In Kunduz, investors areoptimistic and have built five- and six-storybuildings throughout the city.

While the bridge will eventually operatenonstop and accommodate 1,000 vehiclesper day, it is currently open only forcommercial traffic 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondaythrough Saturday. Border crossing pointswere completed in April, and the Afghansinaugurated their facility in May. However,neither the Afghans nor Tajiks have movedinto their facilities. The Afghan customsand border police are still negotiating whichagency will occupy the new dormitoryfacility and have access after hours. No Tajikministry has yet accepted the U.S.-builtborder crossing point and barracks fromthe U.S. government.

No PedestriansAfghanistan says it is willing to facilitate

pedestrian use of the bridge, but Tajik offi-cials have balked, citing health concerns forpedestrians crossing a 670-meter-longbridge. Trucks and private vehicles withvalid road licenses for both countries, andpassengers with visas, may use the bridge.All others still must use the pedestrian ferry.

The toughest issue on the Tajik side is

reconciling the need for security with thepressure on the government to expandaccess and allow trade. Fearing an importa-tion of illicit goods and crime, Tajik officialsrefuse visas to Afghan traders. To protectTajikistan’s highways from the damagecaused by cargo traffic, in May the nation’sMinistry of Transportation imposed weightlimits for cargo trucks. The restriction putsome truck drivers out of work becausethey cannot afford to drive half-emptytrucks. Local media reported that in March,$2.3 million worth of cargo transited thebridge. After the weight limit was imposed,only $1.4 million worth of cargo crossed.

The bridge is the centerpiece of a newCentral Asian trade route and couldbecome Afghanistan’s most convenientborder crossing point in terms of facilities,ease of transportation and security of trans-portation routes. Cars can now travel fromthe bridge at Sher Khan Bandar to Kabulwithin seven hours on smoothly pavedroads. This route is one of the safest andmost secure in the country and is an idealsupply route for the international commu-nity. The planned construction of a $3billion railroad from Sher Khan Bandar tothe Afghanistan-Pakistan border willenhance the bridge’s importance. ■

Matthew Asada was a member of a provi-sional reconstruction team in Afghanistanand organized the meeting that increased thebridge’s hours. Jackie McKennan is the publicaffairs officer at the U.S. Embassy inDushanbe.

President Karzai, in shawl, and President Rahmon, in blue suit and red tie, with Secretary Gutierrez, in gray suit with blue tie, center, at the bridge opening.

Saudi families walk through themosque by the sea followingFriday prayer.


JeddahConsulate touchedby terrorism buildsnew bridges

By Gerry Kaufman


From its beginning as a fishing village morethan 2,500 years ago, Jeddah has grown intoSaudi Arabia’s commercial hub and the urbancenter of the Kingdom’s western region. Abustling port city with a population of fourmillion, Jeddah is among the wealthiest cities inthe Middle East.

For more than a millennium, Jeddah hasheld an important position in the Islamicworld as the gateway to the holy cities of Meccaand Medina. Jeddah annually receives millionsof Muslim travelers from all over the globe ontheir way to complete the Hajj pilgrimage toMecca. Each year, many settle here and becomeresidents, contributing to the city’s multi-ethnic flavor.

Thanks to its heritage as a crossroads, Jeddahhas a reputation for being more relaxed, openand culturally diverse than most Saudi cities.Residents love to stroll along the waterfrontcorniche and visit its distinctive sculpturegarden. Shopping is a favorite pastime, andJeddah boasts traditional souks, enormousmalls and chic boutiques along fashionableTahlia Street.

Just north of the city are several privatebeach resorts where expatriates scuba dive andsnorkel among the vibrant flora and fauna ofthe Red Sea coral reefs. Hip young localsfrequent the city’s trendy restaurants, cafes andlounges. The city’s official slogan is ,or “Jeddah’s Different!”

Elsewhere in the western region, the ancientcity of Mada’in Saleh, near Medina, is theKingdom’s first United Nations-designatedWorld Heritage site and the largest conservedvestige of the Nabataean civilization south ofPetra, Jordan.

New construction is booming in the westernregion, illustrated by the development of thenew King Abdullah Economic City 90 milesnorth of Jeddah. When completed, the city willbecome the region’s largest seaport on the vitalRed Sea shipping route. Saudi Monarch andCustodian of the Two Holy Mosques KingAbdullah recently inaugurated the new KingAbdullah University of Science and Technologyin Thuwal, 50 miles north of Jeddah. Set toopen in September 2009 with ambitions tobecome a world-class, coeducational,international graduate-level researchinstitution, the university is developing globalresearch partnerships with top American scien-tists, researchers and organizations.

Front-row seat Jeddah has been at the center of U.S.-Saudi

diplomatic relations since their inception 75years ago. The first U.S. Embassy in SaudiArabia opened in Jeddah in 1944, where it

remained for the next 40 yearsuntil the embassy moved in1984 to Riyadh’s newdiplomatic quarter. Jeddah’sformer embassy compoundbecame the U.S. ConsulateGeneral. When King Abdullahretreats to his favored seasidepalace and all his cabinetministers take up residence inJeddah every summer, manygovernment functions shift tothe former capital.

The consulate general hostsfrequent visits by VIPs, such asFirst Lady Laura Bush, VicePresident Dick Cheney andmany Cabinet-level officials,including Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice. Consulatestaffers also assist the embassyin supporting major visits,such as two Presidential visitsto Riyadh this year.

The city took center stage inthe global energy crisis when72 oil-producing and oil-consuming nations, includingthe United States, sent high-level delegations to Jeddah toattend the Kingdom’semergency oil summit in June.

The consulate general is theU.S. diplomatic link to theOrganization of the IslamicConference, headquartered inJeddah. In February, PresidentBush appointed Sada Cumberto be the first U.S. specialenvoy to the OIC. With amembership of 57 states spreadover four continents, the OICis the world’s second-largest intergovernmentalorganization after the United Nations.

New war front On December 6, 2004, the consulate general

was thrust into the front lines of the Global Waron Terror when Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked theconsulate and entered the compound. Theensuing three-hour gun battle left eight dead—including four consulate employees and amember of the consulate’s guard force—andseveral others wounded.

The attack devastated the consulate, whichturned its efforts to repairing the physicaldamage to the facilities and psychologicaldamage to employees. That these brave menand women—a number of whom werewounded in the attack—returned to work and P

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Clockwise from above: U.S.Sports Envoys KermitWashington, left, and PurvisShort, second from left, bothformer National BasketballAssociation players, shoothoops with Consulate employ-ees and their children at aFamily Fun Day. A paraglidersymbolizes the U.S.-Saudi part-nership at the American Cultureand Commerce Festival in Abha.Jeddah’s King Fahd Fountain isthe world’s tallest sea-waterfountain, with a 1,000-footplume. The Jeddah Corniche isreflected in the blue waters ofthe Red Sea.

A vehicle negotiates a narrow streetin Al-Balad, an area containing manymosques and souks.


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For more than a millennium, Jeddah hasheld an important position in the Islamicworld as the gateway to the holy citiesof Mecca and Medina. Jeddah annually

receives millions of Muslim travelersfrom all over the globe on their way tocomplete the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

The landmark Island Mosquesits on Jeddah’s Corniche.

continue to work at the consulate is a testament to their strengthand dedication.

The healing process is ongoing, but the recovery has broughtmany significant improvements to the compound. In addition tophysical security upgrades, the consulate implemented $4 million inwellness projects and facilities improvements, relocated manyoffices and working quarters for staff and constructed a new generalservices office building that opened earlier this year. The regionalsecurity office brought a renewed sense of mission to the batteredlocal guard force by emphasizing training and physical fitness.

The human resources staff worked tirelessly to assist the victims’families and ensure that next of kin received assistance. To boostmorale, the consulate built a new recreation center on thecompound, which was named Heroes Hall in memory of the injuredand those who gave their lives in service to the U.S. government.

Focusing outwardRecognizing that the effects of the 2004 attack extended beyond

the walls of the consulate compound, the consulate general steppedup regional outreach efforts in the Kingdom’s western consulardistrict. About two years ago, then-Consul General Tatiana Gfoelleraccepted a Saudi governor’s proposal for the consulate to conductan event showcasing American culture in his province’s capital city

of Abha, in the mountainous southern region of Assir, home to 11of the 19 September 11 hijackers.

Held last November, the American Culture and CommerceFestival in Abha featured sessions on studying in the United Statesfor high school and university students and teacher-training work-shops for local English teachers. Participants had a chance—inmany cases, their first—to meet American diplomats, ask questionsand exchange ideas.”

In a country with no cinemas, Assiris flocked to the festival’sAmerican Documentary Film Series, which featured Arabic-dubbedand subtitled films provided by the Department’s Office of BroadcastServices. The festival culminated in a live concert with Americanmusicians and traditional Assiri folk dancers. Some 8,000 visitors,including 1,500 students, attended the festival over four days.

Other consulate sections have embraced a decidedly regionaloutlook, as well. Over the past year, the political and economicsection sent officers to places like Taif, where they observeddevelopments in agriculture and tourism, and to Jizan, where theKingdom is building a new industrial economic city. This regionalapproach has provided additional windows into political andeconomic trends in the western region and represented the UnitedStates to Saudis in remote locales with little or no previous experi-ence with Americans. Meanwhile, the Foreign Commercial Service


Above: An ornate archway leads to Al Falah school in Al-Balad, the historic center of old Jeddah. Right:

Shoppers stroll through the covered souk in Al-Balad.

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has helped more than 450 U.S. companies conduct morethan $20 billion in business transactions in Jeddah andthroughout the western consular district.

The consular section has worked to strengthen theconsulate’s links to the small American community inJeddah and regularly assists Americans in distress—partic-ularly women and their families. It helps them to obtainfreedom of travel and repatriate to the United States, andhas played a key role in resolving several recent refugeecases. The American citizen services section is fully engagedduring the peak Hajj pilgrimage season, given the markedincrease of American Hajj and Umrah visitors—upward of20,000—to the Kingdom’s western region in recent years.

The path aheadThe consulate general continues to cultivate new

relationships throughout the region. At the same time, it ispreparing for imminent change.

A two-year, multi-million-dollar project to build a newconsulate compound in north Jeddah will provide upgradedfacilities for work, residence, recreation and outreach to thelocal community. As U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia FordM. Fraker explained at the official groundbreaking in May,the new facility is “designed to blend in with the beautifulnatural landscape, reflect renowned Arab architecturaldesign and incorporate the latest in ‘green’ technologies.”

He said he expects the new consulate general to becomea landmark in U.S.-Saudi relations. If the recent past is anyindicator, the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah is ready torise to the challenge. ■

The author was until recently the information officer at theU.S. Consulate General in Jeddah.


At a GlanceCountry Saudi Arabia

Capital Riyadh

Total area 2,149,690 sq km

Approximate size One-fifththe size of the United States

Government type Monarchy

Unification September 23, 1932

Population 28.1 million

Language Arabic

Religion Muslim

Currency Saudi riyal (SAR)

Import commodities Machineryand equipment, food, chemicals,motor vehicles and textiles

Export commodities Petroleumand petroleum products

Internet country code .sa

Jeddah

If daily living seems like swimmingupstream in a river of information, the IQ:Information Quest service, provided free toall Department of State employees, mightbe considered a funnel: It winnows theinformation into a stream consisting ofonly that which the employee needs.

IQ’s range of services encompasses legaladvice, including three free consultationswith an attorney; financial advice on suchmatters as college and retirement planning;disaster support, including help withrescheduling appointments and conductingtransactions; and relocation services thatprovide data on the employee’s prospectivenew location. There’s also a pre-deployment

package of services that includes free legalwork, such as drawing up a simple will, andprovides discounted rates for preparingother documents, such as a financial powerof attorney. The Care Connect Program,meanwhile, helps employees facing majorlife stresses such as the birth of a baby orhaving aging parents.

Despite offering so much, the IQ serviceis not well known. Mary Jean Dixon, theDepartment’s liaison to Lifecare Inc., thecompany providing the service, said thatwhen she mentions IQ to a group of asmany as 60 relatively new employees under-going orientation only four or five will haveheard of it.

IQ’s information services are detailed onthe HR Web page: http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/prd/hrweb/er/worklife/dependentcare/iq/informationquest.cfm, and are availableon the Web site Worklife4you.com (inthe blue “registered users” box enter“statedepartment” as the user name and“infoquest” as the password). The personal-ized services can be gained by e-mailing arequest to [email protected] or bycalling (866) 552-4748.

Lifecare also regularly presents live infor-mational programs at sites within theDepartment. For instance, it has donepresentations on adoption, prenatal careand caring for elderly parents. The presen-

LITTLE-KNOWN BENEFIT HELPS MANAGE LIFE’S CHALLENGES BY ED WARNER

Mary Jean Dixon is theDepartment’s liaison withLifecare Inc.

tations are archived by BNET, which meansemployees can access them at any time viatheir desktop computers.

A May presentation on “The SandwichGeneration,” those caring for children andelderly parents, elicited praise from GinaPinzino, a post management officer in theBureau of Near Eastern Affairs. She said theprogram was “absolutely superb.”

About a year ago, IQ’s personallytailored services were expanded to includemore extensive advising by financialplanners and lawyers and those who canassist with relocation or recovering froma disaster.

This year, Lifecare began a service thatcan be used by employees or familymembers who are stricken with significanthealth problems while overseas or in theUnited States. At no cost, Lifecare will setup a personal Web site that familymembers and friends can use to organizeways to help the person who became ill.The contacts are given an access code tokeep the information private, said Dixon,who works in the Employee RelationsOffice of the Bureau of Human Resources.

Dixon said Department offices servingemployees’ families, health and transitionsare working with Lifecare to find ways IQcan be used for services they don’t offer,especially for those facing deployment toIraq or Afghanistan. Thus was born IQ’sPre-Deployment Planning Package, whichalso has a downloadable Financial RecordKeeper that allows employees to list andorganize the locations of their importantlegal and financial documents. Some of theinformation available on Worklife4you.comis in broad categories such as Adult Care orEducation. For instance, there’s a “StudentFinancial Aid 101” primer for college-bound students or their parents. There areeven tips on buying a washing machine,getting better gas mileage and avoidinge-mailed spam.

Dixon emphasized, though, that thesegeneral topics are just a start and theemployee with a concern can proceed fromthe Web page’s general information to, say,a consultation with a Care Connectionspecialist via e-mail or telephone. Theparent of a college-age child, for instance,can proceed via a consultation with a Life-

care specialist from the site’s Educationsection to a list of recommended colleges,loans or grants tailored to the applicant’sinterests and the family’s pocketbook.

One IQ service user, Cheryl Fernandes, apolitical officer at the U.S. Embassy inAbuja, Nigeria, said she received“outstanding and professional service”when seeking a short-term, drop-in daycareprovider for use during her family’s three-day stay in the Washington, D.C., area. TheLifecare adviser, she said, was responsiveand knowledgeable and “took an activeinterest in finding out the particulars ofour situation and truly listened to ourunique situation and request.”

For the Department, the IQ servicemakes business sense. Employees who areworrying over family life matters can beless productive, Dixon said.

“If you can transfer that burdenknowing that your cares are in capablehands, you will function better as anemployee,” she said.

The author is deputy editor of StateMagazine.


Gina Pinzino liked theLifecare presentation on“the Sandwich Generation.”

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OEM develops mission domesticemergency plans, policies, procedures andcapabilities so the Department can respondto and recover from any emergency. Itsplanners meet with Department employeesto discuss emergency preparedness duringOEM-sponsored town hall meetings or“R U Ready” seminars. There, the mostcommonly expressed concern is what theDepartment is doing to safeguard

employees in a terrorist attack, naturaldisaster or other crisis. Employees want toknow what to do if a fire breaks out or anoffice receives a bomb threat. For instance,should they shelter in place or evacuate thebuilding? They also want assurance that theDepartment is listening and responsive andwant to be part of the planning process.

Planners from OEM’s Planning andPreparedness Division meet regularly with

representatives of the Department’s bureausto help them develop and test their BureauEmergency Action Plans. The plans define abureau’s critical mission and identify thepersonnel and other resources needed tocontinue essential functions in emergencies.

Vital Role“Bureau plans are vital to the

Department’s Continuity of OperationsProgram,” said BEAP Coordinator CarolBoyer. “Integrating responsibility for conti-nuity and planning into all aspects of dailyoperations reduces our vulnerability andensures continuity.”

PPD emergency planners also developbuilding-specific Facility EmergencyActions Plans that describe how to respondto a range of domestic emergencies thatmight affect a facility. FEAPs addressbuilding evacuation, sheltering in place andspecific protective actions for persons withspecial needs.

Five years ago, the Bureau of Administration’sOffice of Emergency Management was establishedto consolidate the Department’s domesticemergency planning activities. Before the officewas established, the Department’s domesticemergency planning was scattered amongdifferent bureaus and offices, which provedinadequate for the rapidly changing post-9/11environment, said Robert Becker, OEM’s director.

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROMOTES PREPAREDNESSBY ERIC VORE

Get Ready

OEM Director Bob Becker,left, takes a break withArthur Mock, DCP director,in Becker’s office.

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Another PPD initiative is theFloor Warden and MonitorProgram, which trains volunteerwardens and monitors to helpfellow employees evacuate orshelter in place in a designatedpart of their buildings. The FloorWarden and Monitors Trainingcourse was developed jointly byPPD and the Foreign ServiceInstitute. PPD also trains bureauassembly-point coordinators,who take a roll call of theirbureau’s employees to ensurethey have exited the buildingsafely after an evacuation.

PPD’s “evacuation chair”program serves employees whohave special needs and requireassistance in an evacuation. Theprogram encourages such

Above: Emergencyplanner AnnemarieBreckenridge joinsDCP’s TommyThompson in theOEM’s emergencycommunications area.Left: Dan Blake,director of the PPD,meets with staffmember Tom Martin,right, in his office.Below: In OEM’semergency manage-ment center, are fromleft Tom Martin, TomLott, John Schaible,Maggie Morse andthe author.


September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwideinitiative sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security toencourage all Americans to prepare for emergencies at home,work and school. The Office of Emergency Managementencourages all State Department employees to take four simplebut important steps to help prepare their families for any type ofemergency.

Get a Kit. Get an emergency supply kit that will allow yourfamily to survive at home for at least three days if you areforced to shelter in place during an emergency. A basic kitshould include water, nonperishable food, a battery-poweredradio, flashlights and a first aid kit.

Make a Plan. Plan in advance what you and your familywould do in an emergency. Your plan should include how tocontact each other if you are separated, shelter-in-place proce-dures and how to safely evacuate your home andneighborhood, should the situation require it.

Be Informed. Learn more about the threats, natural andman-made, that could affect your community, and how you canprepare for and respond to those threats.

Get Involved. Help your community become betterprepared to respond to disasters through volunteer work. Forexample, you can get first-aid, CPR and other safety-and-health-skills training from your local Red Cross chapter. Youcan also learn how to support local emergency responders anddisaster relief efforts, and promote community safety throughthe Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps program.

The following Web sites provide more information about thefour steps to emergency preparedness: www.ready.gov,www.citizencorps.gov, www.redcross.org/preparedness, andhttp://eprepare.a.state.gov/, which has information onemergency preparedness for children, emergency supply kits,family evacuation plans, home safety and links to additionalinformation sources.

employees to identify themselves and provide the names ofat least two buddies willing to assist them, information thatis kept in strict confidence. PPD emergency planners thentrain the employees and their buddies on use of the evacua-tion chairs.

Emergency Center In 2007, PPD opened an Emergency Management Center

in the Harry S Truman Building to act as the focal point forresponses to domestic incidents. In an emergency, the EMCworks with representatives from A’s Office of Operations, theBureau of Diplomatic Security and other Department entitiesto coordinate the response. It also communicates with theOperations Center and the DS Command and SecurityControl Centers and uses the Alert Management System andthe Text Messaging System to keep employees informed.

OEM’s Diplomatic Contingency Programs Division isresponsible for the Department’s national-level continuity ofoperations and government planning. Continuity programsare implemented when a terrorist attack or other catastrophemakes the Department unable to perform its primary,mission-essential functions from its headquarters andannexes. DCP, with the assistance of bureau executive direc-tors, coordinates the Mission Critical Team, the Department’scadre of continuity personnel, which would deploy to aremote site when a national security threat endangersDepartment operations.

DCP also maintains a secure continuity communicationssystem with diplomatic posts overseas and, in partnershipwith the Bureau of International Organizations andgeographic bureaus’ executive offices, manages the RegionalEmbassy Support Team program, which would providetemporary administrative support to an embassy affected bya catastrophe.

DCP’s critical role in the Department’s continuityprograms was highlighted during the recent Eagle Horizon2008 exercise. During the exercise, DCP and MCT personnelwere deployed to a remote site to continue performing theDepartment’s mission-essential functions. MCT memberscreated simulated responses to problems presented by theexercise, which was part of an annual series of continuityexercises required of all executive branch entities.

PPD also has developed the online Domestic EmergencyManagement Course (PD-538) with the Foreign Service Insti-tute to help employees learn about potential hazards in theirhomes and communities, and what they can do to plan andprepare for them. The course can sharpen disaster responseskills through its realistic emergency scenarios.

The division also sponsors the R U Ready seminar series tokeep employees informed about current issues in emergencyplanning, and has hosted town hall meetings on domesticemergency preparedness, pandemic influenza and the nationalcapital region evacuation plan.

Other sources of preparedness information are OEM’semergency preparedness Web site, http://eprepare.a.state.gov/,and COOP Talk, OEM’s bi-monthly newsletter. ■

The author is a writer-editor in the Office of EmergencyManagement’s Diplomatic Contingency Programs Division.

Tips for FamilyEmergency Preparedness

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MARINE SECURITY GUARDSRACE TO HELP WOUNDEDWARRIORSBY SERGEANT BRIAN K.SCHLEIKER

GivingBack

The Wounded Warrior Project wasfounded in 2002 by John Melia, who as aMarine in the early 1990s was injured in ahelicopter crash that killed four of hisfriends and injured 14 others. Melialaunched the project in his basement inRoanoke, Va., recruiting at first just hisbrother, father and two friends andraising an initial $5,000. They begandelivering WoundedWarrior Backpacks toWalter Reed ArmyMedical Center inWashington, D.C., andBethesda NavalHospital in Bethesda,Md. The backpackscontained neededitems for thereturning woundedsuch as underwear,socks, telephonecalling cards andCD players.

Soon, the programwas getting calls fromboth medical centerspleading for morebackpacks. Today, theproject claims toprovide one of the highest levels ofservice for each dollar donated, comparedwith other programs serving woundedwarriors and their families.

On the WebWith a plan in place, I set up a Web site

that embassy personnel could use to makecontributions and track our progress. Inthe weeks leading up to Memorial Day,embassy personnel donated more than$1,200 via the Web site to supportwounded service members.

On Memorial Day weekend, the

Marines set up a traditional three-mileMarine running course and a shorterwalking course. Memorial Day featuredtypical Costa Rican clear skies and perfecttemperatures. After the run, everyonereturned to the Marine House for a deli-cious breakfast provided by the Marines.

The event allowed the MSGs in SanJose to donate nearly $2,000 from the

embassy community to the WoundedWarrior Project.

We Marines were grateful toparticipants and to those who generouslydonated to help us do what we could forour fellow Marines, soldiers, sailors andairmen. This was one more demonstrationof the camaraderie between theDepartment of State and the MSGs. I’msure I speak for all military memberswhen I say semper fidelis! ■

The author was a Marine Security Guard atthe U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica.

To commemorate Memorial Day 2008, I sat downwith my detachment commander, Kevin Reavis,and discussed having the Marine Security Guardsof the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, host arun/walk event for embassy personnel, with a break-fast afterward at the Marine House. Profits from thebreakfast would go to the Wounded Warrior Project.It was a small way for the six MSGs in San Jose togive back to our brothers and sisters who werereturning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ready for the walk/run are, first row from left, Sgt. Jamie Cody, SophieOrlando, Allison Munoz, Carson Reavis, Beau Munoz and SamLingenfelter. In the second row, from left, are Deputy Chief of MissionPeter Brennan, Amy Orlando, Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Reavis, ValerieReavis, Public Affairs Officer Magda Siekert, Andrea Knop andMaricela Urbina. In the third row from left, are Tony Hammond,Regional Security Officer Stephen DeWitt, Paul Knierim, Nurse AmySwartzbaugh, Samuel Lopez, Cpl. Michael Ouellette, Sgt. AundreDudley, Nathan Lingenfelter and Roy Fernandez.

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Medical

An embassy nurse is a substitute parent, personal counselor, bestfriend and health care provider all rolled into one. She or he is theperson who helps you in a medical crisis, answers your child-carequestion or gives you a shoulder to cry on when you are homesick.

The embassy nursing corps is an accessible and professionalgroup of women and men who provide around-the-clock medicalcoverage to more than 40,000 American government employees andfamily members working overseas. The nurses provide occupationalhealth services and guidance to thousands of locally employedhost-country nationals, as well.

Fiona Hamid, this year’s winner of the Department’s annualMarjorie Yamamoto Harwood Award for excellence by a locally

employed staff nurse, was recognized for the inspiring and confi-dent patient management she has provided during many years

under the harshest conditions. The respect she has earnedfrom health professionals with whom she has relationships in

Sudan, and the resources she has identified, have been invalu-able to the U.S. mission.

This theme of inspiring and confident patient management isechoed by other nursing award nominations. Maria Fernandez,an embassy nurse in Asunción, was recognized “for 25 years ofdedication and caring for her embassy community—and foralways being right there, right when and where you need her.”

Nurses at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad were cited fortheir response to the deadly bombing incident in which fiveAmerican citizens were injured in March 2008. “Each nursedemonstrated exceptional professional skills, compassion,patience and the ability to reach across cultural barriers to

best serve their patients.” Cherilyn Williams was nominated “for exceptional

performance” in carrying out her nursing duties at the healthunit of the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai, and for“providing extraordinary care and support to a critically illTDY employee.”

Finally, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja cited the “day-to-daystories of patient care that Yemi Olotewo provides. She always

goes the extra step to make herself available for patients, such aspaying more money for her home so that she can live closer to

the embassy and be able to get to patients more quickly.” These nominations highlight the unique environment embassy

nurses work in, which is not easily comparable to that of a nurseworking in the United States. For example, Paula Julia, an embassynurse in Ouagadougou, is one of a handful of Western trainednurses in the entire city. In her 26 years as the mission nurse, sheforged excellent working relationships with community physicians,including the French embassy’s physician. In an emergency, sheknows whom to contact and how to get a patient medical care inthis challenging-to-access and difficult-to-understand medicalsystem. She has gained the trust of local physicians so she can domedical evacuations with their assistance. She provides the closestthing to American medicine that it is possible to find in a poor,remote country.

By contrast, SaShiela Suppiah, the medevac coordinator at theU.S. Embassy in Singapore, works in a first-class medicalenvironment. Her role is to connect medevac patients on shortnotice with the local health care system’s best health care providers.She is the expert on whom to call for complex specialty care. Notonly does she make it easy for patients to get the care they need, butshe also coordinates each case to make sure follow-up plans aremade, medical-clearance updates are done and patients are ready toreturn to post.

These nurses’ professional duties vary widely, as do theirbackgrounds in nursing, medicine and social services. What doesn’tvary is the constancy of the reassurance they offer in medical situa-tions in every part of the world, the connections they make forpatients with local health systems and the assurance of professionalnursing care they provide wherever the Department’s MedicalProgram operates. ■

The author, a Foreign Service health practitioner, is ContinuingMedical Education Program director in the Office of Medical Services.


AROUND THE WORLD AND AROUND THECLOCK, EMBASSY NURSES ARE THEREBY PATRICIA A. BEITH

CareGivers

Award-winning nurse Fiona Hamid, right, shows a newly hired employeethe exam room of the medical unit at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum.


Learn

Security Oct Nov Length

MQ911: Security Overseas Seminar 12 2,16,30 2D

MQ912: Advanced SecurityOverseas Seminar 6,20 10 1D

MQ914: Youth SecurityOverseas Seminar 17 1D

Foreign Service Life Skills Oct Nov Length

MQ104: Regulations Allowances andFinances in the ForeignService Context 26 2D

MQ110: Deputy Chief of Mission Spouse 16 3D

MQ115: Explaining America 3 1D

MQ116: Protocol and the U.S.Representation Abroad 17 7 1D

MQ200: Going Overseas for Singlesand Couples Without Children 31 4H

MQ210: Going Overseas for Families 31 4H

MQ220: Going Overseas–Logistics for Adults 31 4H

MQ230: Going Overseas–Logistics for Children 31 4H

MQ250: Young Diplomats Day 30 1D

MQ703: Post Options for Employmentand Training 5 1D

MQ802: Communicating Across Cultures 10 1D

MQ803: Realities of Foreign Service Life 13 1D

MQ854: Legal Considerations inthe Foreign Service 21 2.5H

MQ916: A Safe Overseas Home 7 2.5H

MQ940: Pre-Deployment Preparationfor High Stress Assignments 16 20 2D

MQ950: High Stress AssignmentOutbriefing Program 9,23 6,20 2H

Career Transition Center Oct Nov Length

RV101: Retirement Planning Seminar 9 4D

RV103: Financial Management andEstate Planning 10 1D

RV104: Annuities, Benefits andSocial Security 11 1D

RV105: Mid-Career Retirement Planning 14 24 2D

Student Records Available Online!Need your class schedule or an unofficial transcript of training

taken through FSI? Visit the FSI Registrar’s Office Web page on theDepartment of State OpenNet at http://fsi.state.gov/admin/reg.

American Presence Posts TradecraftFSI initially offered this course last year in response to the need

for training for personnel assigned to American Presence Posts. Thetraining focuses on the specific skills and knowledge APOs need tobe effective in this multi-dimensional assignment. Throughadvanced sessions on leadership challenges, trade and economicissues, consular issues, management procedures, policydevelopment, and public speaking and media training APOs willhone their skills for this new approach to transformationaldiplomacy. For further information contact SPAS, at (703) 302-6940and for course information go to http://fsi.state.gov/admin/reg/default.asp?EventID=PD610.

National Security ExecutiveLeadership Seminar

The Leadership and Management School launched a new coursein FY2007, the National Security Executive Leadership Seminar.NSELS is a training and networking opportunity for StateDepartment and interagency officials and is part of theDepartment’s contribution to the broader training of National Secu-rity Professionals. The seminar’s policy focus is the National SecurityStrategy of the United States. Participants explore critical challengesto American interests and the leadership skills needed for success inthe interagency process. Participants are FO-1/GS-15 level or aboveand are nominated by their home bureau or agency for the springor fall NSELS offerings. For more information, contact FSI’s Leader-ship and Management School, Policy Leadership Division at(703) 302-7117 or [email protected].

Provincial Reconstruction Teams TrainingFSI offers courses for members of the Iraq and Afghan Provincial

Reconstruction Teams. The courses provide the basic professionalskills and knowledge, including national and provincial governmentstructure and U.S. policy needed to function in an interagencyorganization in a combat environment. For further informationcontact SPAS at (703) 302-6940 and for course information go tohttp://fsi.state.gov/admin/reg/default.asp?EventID=AR421.

Distance LearningLearn at Your Own Pace, When and Where You Want! FasTrac

Distance Learning Program is available to all State Departmentemployees, FSNs and EFMs. With your FasTrac password, you mayaccess the entire catalog of over 3,500 courses, from home or office.To view the complete catalog, visit the FasTrac Web site athttp://fsi.state.gov/fastrac.

An extensive menu of FSI-developed distance learning courses isalso available to eligible participants on the FSI LearnCenter. Formore information, visit the FSI Web site at http://fsi.state.gov andclick on “Distance Learning.”

Length: H = Hours, D = Days, W = Weeks

Dates for FSI Transition Center Courses are shown below. Forinformation on all the courses available at FSI, visit the Scheduleof Courses on OpenNet at http://fsi.state.gov. See Department

Notices for announcements of new courses and new course datesand periodic announcements of external training opportunitiessponsored by FSI. For additional information, please contact

the Office of the Registrar at (703) 302-7144/7137.


AppointmentsU.S. Ambassador to JordanRobert Stephen Beecroft of California, acareer member of the Senior ForeignService, class of Counselor, is the newU.S. Ambassador to the HashemiteKingdom of Jordan. Previously, he wasexecutive assistant to Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice. Prior to that, heserved as executive assistant to Secretaryof State Colin Powell and as specialassistant to Deputy Secretary RichardArmitage. His other overseasassignments include Riyadh andDamascus.

U.S. Ambassador to theRussian FederationJohn R. Beyrle of Michigan, a careermember of the Senior Foreign Service,class of Minister-Counselor, is the newU.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federa-tion. Previously, he was ambassador toBulgaria. He has served two previoustours in Moscow, including as deputychief of mission. His other overseaspostings include Prague and Vienna. Heis married to Foreign Service officerJocelyn Greene; they have two daughters.

U.S. Ambassador toZambiaDonald E. Booth of Virginia, a careermember of the Senior Foreign Service,class of Minister-Counselor, is the newU.S. Ambassador to the Republic ofZambia. Previously, he was ambassadorto Liberia. Prior to that, he served in theBureau of International OrganizationAffairs as director for West Africa. Hisother postings include Libreville,Monrovia, Brussels, Bucharest andAthens. He is married to retired ForeignService officer Anita Booth; they havethree children.

U.S. Ambassador toNicaraguaRobert J. Callahan of Virginia, a careermember of the Senior Foreign Service,class of Minister-Counselor, is the newU.S. Ambassador to the Republic ofNicaragua. Previously, he was the firstpublic diplomacy fellow at the School ofMedia and Public Affairs at the GeorgeWashington University. Before that, hewas director of public affairs at theOffice of the Director of National Intelli-gence. His other overseas postingsinclude San Jose, Tegucigalpa, London,La Paz, Athens, Rome and Baghdad.He is married and has two sons.

U.S. Ambassador toCosta RicaPeter E. Cianchette of Maine, abusinessman and civic activist, is thenew U.S. Ambassador to the Republic ofCosta Rica. Until recently, he was apartner in a private investment firm. Hewas owner and president of a publicaffairs management and businessconsulting firm. He was a two-term staterepresentative and a Republicancandidate for governor of Maine in2002. He served as Maine generalchairman of the Bush-Cheney 2004campaign. He is married and has twochildren.

U.S. Ambassador to IsraelJames B. Cunningham of New York, acareer member of the Senior ForeignService, class of Career Minister, is thenew U.S. Ambassador to Israel.Previously, he was consul general inHong Kong. Prior to that, he was deputyU.S. permanent representative andacting permanent representative to theUnited Nations. His other postingsinclude Stockholm, Rome and the U.S.Mission to the North Atlantic TreatyOrganization in Brussels. He is marriedand has two children.

U.S. AlternateRepresentative for SpecialPolitical Affairs in theUnited NationsRosemary Anne DiCarlo of the Districtof Columbia, a career member of theSenior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is the new U.S. AlternateRepresentative for Special Political Affairsin the United Nations. Previously, she wasdeputy assistant secretary in the Bureau ofEuropean and Eurasian Affairs. She servedas director for United Nations Affairs onthe staff of the National Security Council.Her overseas assignments include Moscowand Oslo. She is married.

U.S. Ambassador to SloveniaYousif Boutrous Ghafari of Michigan, abusinessman and philanthropist, is thenew U.S. Ambassador to the Republic ofSlovenia. He was founder and formerchairman of a firm of architects,engineers and consultants. He served aspublic delegate-designate at the U.S.Mission to the United Nations for the59th U.N. General Assembly. A native ofLebanon, he was a founding member ofthe Partnership for Lebanon, a public-private effort to help Lebanon revitalizeitself economically. He is married and hasthree children.

Under Secretary forPublic DiplomacyJames K. Glassman of Connecticut, agovernment official and journalist, is thenew Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy.Previously, he was chairman of the Broad-casting Board of Governors, which overseesall U.S. government nonmilitaryinternational broadcasting. He was a seniorfellow at the American Enterprise Institute,president of the Atlantic Monthly Co.,publisher of The New Republic and execu-tive vice president of U.S. News & WorldReport. He was an investing columnist forThe Washington Post and hosted programson the Cable News Network and the PublicBroadcasting Service.

U.S. Ambassador toEcuadorHeather M. Hodges of Ohio, a careermember of the Senior Foreign Service,class of Minister-Counselor, is the newU.S. Ambassador to the Republic ofEcuador. Previously, she was principaldeputy assistant secretary in the Office ofthe Director General. Before that, shewas ambassador to Moldova. She servedas deputy chief of mission in Madrid,Lima and Managua. Other assignmentsinclude Bilbao, Guatemala andVenezuela.

U.S. Ambassador to KosovoTina S. Kaidanow of the District ofColumbia, a career member of theSenior Foreign Service, class ofCounselor, is the new U.S. Ambassadorto the Republic of Kosovo. Previously,she was chargé d’affaires and chief ofmission in Pristina. Before that, she wasdeputy chief of mission in Sarajevo.Earlier, she was special assistant forEuropean Affairs to Deputy SecretaryRichard Armitage. Her other postingsinclude Skopje and Belgrade.

Assistant Secretary forDemocracy, Human Rightsand LaborDavid J. Kramer of Massachusetts is thenew Assistant Secretary for Democracy,Human Rights and Labor, in whichcapacity he also serves as Commissioner-Observer on the Commission onSecurity and Cooperation in Europe andmember of the Congressional ExecutiveCommission on the People’s Republic ofChina. Previously, he was deputyassistant secretary for European andEurasian Affairs. He also served in theOffice of Policy Planning and as senioradvisor to the Under Secretary forGlobal Affairs.


AppointmentsAppointmentsU.S. Ambassador to BulgariaNancy E. McEldowney of Florida, a careermember of the Senior Foreign Service,class of Minister-Counselor, is the newU.S. Ambassador to the Republic ofBulgaria. Previously, she was deputy chiefof mission in Ankara, Turkey. Prior tothat, she was DCM in Baku and directorof European Affairs at the National Secu-rity Council. Her other assignmentsinclude Cairo, Bonn and the StrategicArms Reduction Talks in Geneva. She ismarried and has two daughters.

U.S. Ambassador to GhanaDonald Gene Teitelbaum of Texas, a careermember of the Senior Foreign Service,class of Minister-Counselor, is the newU.S. Ambassador to the Republic ofGhana. Previously, he was deputy chief ofmission and chargé d’affaires in Pretoria.Before that, he was director of AfricanAffairs at the National Security Council.His other postings include the DominicanRepublic, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Lebanonand Uganda. He is married.

U.S. PermanentRepresentative to NATOKurt Douglas Volker of Pennsylvania, acareer member of the Foreign Service, isthe new U.S. Permanent Representativeto the North Atlantic Council, with therank of ambassador. Previously, he wasprincipal deputy assistant secretary forEuropean and Eurasian Affairs. Heserved as acting senior director for Euro-pean and Eurasian Affairs at theNational Security Council. His postingsinclude the private office of then-NATOSecretary General Lord Robertson,Hungary and the United Kingdom. He ismarried to Foreign Service officer KarenVolker and has two daughters.

Boynton, Robert W.Brescia, Rena K.Burns, R. NicholasDanaher, Scott I.Dudley, Wilma J.Ellison, Darrell KevinFisher, Anthony O.Ghee, Cassie L.Hamilton, James PatrickHiggins, N. LoyKennedy, Gloria F.Kite, Carolyn D.Kong, Kathy S.Kramer, Peter M.

Lutter, John E.McGrath, Edward PaulMiller, Clifton L.Park, Maureen E.Perry, Blossom N.Philip, Maria I.Rowe, William NeilSende, MarilynSheely, John T.Shemanski, Donald RichardStanley, Kenneth L.Vancio, William J.Wood, Wanda L.

Adams, Thomas C.Benson, MargeryBoras, GeorgeConnolly, Eileen L.Fischer, Dale A.Guhin, Michael A.Imes, Leslie AvaKessler, John Christian

King III, John L.Laoeng, Elsa D.Lynch, Marjorie A.Melchiorre, Maria C.Merchant, Sandra FayeMiksinski Jr., Thaddeus A.Reese, Anne H.Rice, Aundrea M.


FOREIGN SERVICE CIVIL SERVICE

retirements

Susan L. Callahan, 62, wife of retired Foreign Service officerJames J. Callahan, died June 4 in NorthFalmouth, Mass. She taught English inBeirut, Amman, Sanaa, Manila andBaghdad during her husband’s

assignments. She studied archeology at the American Universityof Beirut and worked on a site next to ancient Tyre. She was thecommunity liaison officer in Baghdad and a consular associate inLagos and New Delhi. She and her husband also served two toursin Pretoria.

Samuel C. Case, 81, a retired Foreign Service officer,died March 4 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., after a long illness. Heserved overseas in Iran, Turkey, Yemen, Sierra Leone and Pakistan.He retired in 1981 and lived in Iowa until 1999 when he and hiswife moved to Morro Bay, Calif.

Paris A. Davis, 36, a StateDepartment employee and husband ofForeign Service specialist Robyn Davis,died suddenly of a heart attack May 8 inAbidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He was a fraudinvestigator in the consular section. He

and his wife, an office management specialist, also served inGuatemala City and Lome. His father, Howard Davis, works forthe Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He loved adventure.

Peter Jon De Vos, 69, a retired Foreign Service officer, diedJune 9. He lived in Grant-Valkaria, Fla. Hejoined the Department in 1962 and servedoverseas in Recife, Naples, Luanda, Brasiliaand Athens, before becoming ambassador

to five countries: Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Liberia, Tanzaniaand Costa Rica. After retiring in 1997, he taught at the Universityof Chicago before moving to Merritt, N.C. He and his wife retiredto Florida in 2006. He enjoyed collecting seashells, bird watchingand fishing.

Steven L. Farley, 57,a State Department employee serving on aprovincial reconstruction team in Iraq,died June 24 in a bomb explosion in SadrCity, Iraq. He served 34 years in the Armyand Navy. After 9/11, he served on the

staff of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. Hevolunteered to go to Iraq, first with the Department of Defense in2007 and then with the State Department in 2008. He was a civicactivist in his hometown of Guthrie, Okla.

Helen Lyman, 72, a retired Civil Service employee, diedJuly 6 from cancer. She lived in Chevy Chase, Md. Sheaccompanied her husband, Ambassador Princeton Lyman, onoverseas postings to South Korea, Ethiopia, Nigeria and SouthAfrica. In 1990, she joined the Department as an instructor incomputer applications, in which capacity she traveled toembassies in China, Turkey, El Salvador, Swaziland, Switzerland,South Korea, Namibia, Israel and South Africa.

Carol J. MacLeod, 71, a retired Foreign Serviceemployee, died June 10 of lung cancer. She lived in Boston, Mass.Her overseas postings included Germany, Ivory Coast, Mexico,Honduras, Japan, Belgium and the Dominican Republic. Sheretired in 1994. She enjoyed reading, walking along the CharlesRiver, opera, ballet, politics, foreign affairs and her two cats.


Michael G. McCann, 82, a retired State Department employee, diedMarch 3 of congestive heart failure inFarmington, Mo. He was a Marine duringWorld War II and a special agent with theFBI before joining the Department in

1957 to serve as an advisor to foreign police agencies. His overseaspostings included Tehran and Rio de Janeiro. He consulted withnational police forces in Chile, Egypt, Greece, Honduras, Panama,Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand andVietnam. He retired in 1981.

James L. Reinhart, 92, a retired Foreign Service officer, died April24 in Rockville, Md. He lived in Berlin,Md. He served as an FBI special agentbefore joining the Foreign Service in 1964.He served abroad in Venezuela, Bolivia,

Vietnam, Panama and Pakistan. He retired in 1977. Known for hisquick wit, he enjoyed crossword puzzles and reciting old ballads.

Henry Rosenbaum, 88, a retired Foreign Service officer, diedAug. 3, 2007, in Lancaster, Pa., after a longillness. He served in the Army duringWorld War II. His overseas postingsincluded Guinea, Zaire, Niger, Burundi,

Kenya and Tunisia. He retired in 1978 and worked for an interna-tional firm surveying Fortune 500 companies.

Kurtonia “T Kay”Summers, 44, a Civil Serviceemployee, died May 22 in Annandale, Va.,after a brief illness. She served in the mili-tary for eight years, including duringOperation Desert Storm, before joining

the Department in 1995. She worked for the Bureau of Informa-tion Resource Management in the Main State Messaging Center.

Theodore A. Wahl, 86, a retired Foreign Service officer, died April19 in Media, Pa. He had suffered a seriesof strokes. He served in the Army AirCorps during World War II and joined theDepartment in 1947. His overseas postings

included Qingdao, Chongqing, Oslo, Dhahran, Istanbul, Beirut,Riyadh and Manila. After retirement, he worked as a consultantfor the Multinational Force and Observers, the Sinai peacekeepingforce, before settling in Swarthmore, Pa., and later Media.

Mary Jane “Jane”Williams, 92, a retired ForeignService secretary, died Jan. 28. She lived inVictoria, Texas. She was a secretary withthe Air Force for 14 years before joiningthe Department. She served as executivesecretary to ambassadors in Rome, Bogotá,

Zagreb, Buenos Aires, Madrid and Kabul.


Obituaries


The growing U.S. diplomatic presencein Iraq and Afghanistan requirescontinuous Department-wide collaborationand cooperation. In 2008, the ForeignService Institute responded with typicalgusto to the increased demand for itsunique services. On top of the usualsummer spike in training activity, FSIintroduced 10 new courses specificallydesigned for colleagues acceptingassignments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new courses focus on four primary

areas—Iraq and Afghanistan, Language,Leadership and Personal Preparation. Oneimpressed graduate called the “Islam inIraq” course “intellectually challenging, rele-vant and timely.”

State colleagues—Foreign and CivilService and Foreign Service Nationals—are ahardy lot, accustomed by training and trait tosolving unexpected problems independentlyand quickly. However, even the hardiest indi-vidual sometimes hits an unmovable objectthat requires a little help. One little-knownbenefit managed by the Office of EmployeeRelations could be the boost needed to getaround that unmovable object.

Information Quest offers services rangingfrom free legal consultations to financialadvice, and helps employees and familiesdealing with delicate situations such ascaring for aging parents or working throughthe adoption process. It’s a good resourcefor those rare times when life puts just alittle bit too much protein on your plate.

It may not be the most exciting topicaround, but in this day and age, it could beone of the most important—what shouldyou do when the unexpected happens?Where should you go when a fire breaks outor someone receives a bomb threat? Whotakes the lead in a terrorist attack or anatural disaster?

Established in 2003, the Office of Emer-gency Management was charged withconsolidating the Department’s domesticemergency planning, which until then hadbeen entrusted with individual bureaus andoffices. Today, OEM develops missiondomestic emergency plans, policies, proce-dures and capabilities that enable theDepartment to respond to and recover fromany emergency.

Such centralized planning and the accom-panying educational outreach giveemployees the information they need toprotect themselves and to keep the Depart-ment operational during potentialemergencies. Preparing for the worst maynot be exciting, but it is absolutely vital.

Last but never least, a final salute toour colleagues en route to their finalposting: Susan L. Callahan; Samuel C. Case;Paris A. Davis; Peter Jon De Vos; Steven L.Farley; Helen Lyman; Carol J. MacLeod;Michael G. McCann; James L. Reinhart;Henry Rosenbaum; Kurtonia “T Kay”Summers; Theodore A. Wahl; and Mary Jane“Jane” Williams. ■

Coming in October• State Battles Worldwide AIDS • Helping the Hardship Transition

• Making Strides with UNESCO ... and much more!

Relevant and Timely

Rob WileyEditor-in-Chief

THE LASTWORD

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