Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
MAGAZINE
Picture
Perfect
A Day in the Life
Of Mission Mexico NOVEMBER 2008
NOV2008
S TAT E MAGAZINE | ISSUE 528
Dramatic lighting makes Queen’s University
in Belfast glow on a winter night.
07
Standing
Firm
12
Daring
Ruse
24
Post of the
Month
Nation’s first black Embassy works with Peace and prosperity
diplomat broke Colombia to gain come to Belfast,
many barriers. hostages’ rescue. Northern Ireland
38
34 08
FEATURES COLUMNS
08 ‘The Last 3 Feet’ 18 Candid Cameras 2 From the D.G.
Washington Foreign Press Center Mission Mexico captures a day
celebrates 40 years of service. in its life. 3 In the News
38 Medical Report
10 Explaining America 22 Dial 7-2000 40 Education & Training
Foreign Press Centers help foreign Department consolidates IT help desks.
media cover U.S. elections. 41 Appointments
42 Retirements
14 Partners in Progress 32 Evolving Role 43 Obituaries
Public-private effort brings develop- Economic officers adapt as foreign
ment to Brazil. policy changes. 44 The Last Word
ON THE COVER
16 Constant Change 34 Office of the Month Hands reach out to snap a photograph
LES meets the challenges of the Office of Foreign Missions helps of a scenic view in Mexico.
U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. foreign missions on U.S. soil. Photograph by Getty Images
D.G. HARRY K.
THOMAS
OCR Director John M. Robinson, left, talks with Luis E. Arreaga, director of
the Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment, while in the back-
ground, Paul Schafer, manager of Accessible Electronic and Information
Technology Projects, talks with Somer Bessire-Briers, the Department’s
diversity outreach manager, who helped organize the reception.
Rob Wiley
Editor-in-Chief
Ed Warner
Deputy Editor
Bill Palmer
Writer/Editor
David L. Johnston
Art Director
James A. Forbes
Executive Secretary
Kelly Clements
Annette R. Cocchiaro
In July, a small unit of the Department States Information Agency with a mission to reporting tours throughout the United
called the Washington Foreign Press Center provide the 160 Washington-based foreign States, the WFPC provides the nearly 2,000
celebrated its 40th anniversary with a discus- correspondents and visiting journalists with foreign correspondents based in Washington
sion about the center’s history, an address by background information to better inform with accurate information about U.S. policy
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and their reporting and provide a platform for and society.
Public Affairs James P. Glassman and a U.S. policymakers to engage with the world’s For 40 years, WFPC and its sister office in
reception that brought 300 journalists, press media. Its mission unchanged, the center New York have “shown that open discussion
officers and current and former employees now is part of the Department’s Bureau of of democracy, tolerance and personal
together to reflect on the center’s importance Public Affairs. freedom is a genuine path to better lives for
to U.S. public diplomacy and to foreign all,” Under Secretary Glassman said in his
correspondents. Promoting Accuracy keynote address at the anniversary
The WFPC, a unit of the Foreign Press Through press briefings, roundtable celebration. “We have an important role as a
Center, opened in 1968 as part of the United discussions, one-on-one interviews and facilitator and a convener.”
PHOTOGRAPHS: ED WARNER
Active WFPC members agree that the how Americans—normal Americans— The WFPC also provides a space where
center opens doors that might have other- vote,” she said. “It contradicted many things Foreign Service and Civil Service employees
wise remained closed. you see published in the media or hear on and political appointees can forge
Paulo Sotero, a Brazilian journalist based Arab television every day.” relationships with foreign correspondents.
in Washington since the 1980s, explained WFPC Director Gordon Duguid said the “It’s a gathering spot for building the
that when he arrived the WFPC provided center tries to ensure that foreign relationships that allow us to affect how the
him with the access every journalist needs. correspondents have the most accurate United States is presented to audiences
“It was very difficult at that time and information and know the context in which overseas,” said former FPC program officer
remains difficult for a Latin American U.S. policy is made and how U.S. society is Marti Estell.
correspondent to have access…but [the organized. Several officers and directors who have
WFPC] was a place where you had an “The context is vitally important to worked at the FPC mentioned the
opportunity to learn more about the United ensure that their reporting gives their importance of these relationships in
States,” said Sotero, now director of the readers, viewers or listeners information advancing U.S. objectives, and Duguid
Brazil Institute at the Wilson Center. about how and why the United States takes agreed, noting famed correspondent Edward
a particular course of action,” Duguid said. R. Murrow’s “last three feet theorem.”
Conducting Tours Murrow once said, “The real art in this
Matthias Rueb, correspondent for Executive Outreach business is not so much moving information
Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, The WFPC, he said, is a platform for the or guidance or policy five or 10,000
said WFPC’s reporting tours are the center’s entire Executive branch to engage foreign miles…[but] moving it the last three feet in
greatest attraction. media. The center works closely with other face-to-face conversation.”
“I have been on several trips—for departments and agencies to feature brief- “The most important aspects of public
example, one to the U.S. border regions— ings that provide all angles of a given issue. diplomacy are the face-to-face encounters,
and I would have never been able to arrange Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez is listening to journalists, engaging them on
a trip with the Border Patrol on my own,” a frequent briefer. their concerns and gaining a productive,
Rueb said. “Before traveling abroad on behalf of the professional relationship that helps you
Joyce Karam, correspondent for Middle United States, I always visit the Foreign move the message,” Duguid said. ■
Eastern daily Al Hayat, said the tours helped Press Center to brief reporters about the
her better understand U.S. society. purpose of my travel,” Secretary Gutierrez The author is media relations officer for the
“We went to Virginia and Maryland with said. “It is a great way to reach foreign audi- Western Hemisphere in the Washington
the help of the Foreign Press Center to see ences with our message.” Foreign Press Center.
Explaining America
FOREIGN PRESS CENTERS HELP FOREIGN MEDIA COVER U.S. ELECTIONS
BY STACY MacTAGGERT
debates, bringing more than 1,000 foreign media from 132 coun- The pinnacle FPC program this year was the Elections Embed
tries to election events in 15 states and to five debates. Participants Program, in which the FPCs partnered with the International
included the U.S.-based foreign press, the FPCs’ daily constituents Center for Journalists to bring 50 reporters to the United States.
and media members from overseas who were nominated by a U.S. The reporters were embedded at local newspapers and radio
embassy to attend an FPC tour. Supporting overseas posts in stations across the country for the two weeks before the election,
democracy promotion is a cornerstone of the FPCs’ election-year gaining a rare perspective on the American electoral process.
goals, and its programming was increased in response to these They also saw American journalism in action and created the
overseas requests. relationships that help build bridges between nations.
The FPCs also organized centers where foreign reporters could FPCs’ active election-year programming was augmented by
file stories at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. financial support from the Bureau of Public Diplomacy
The FPCs have provided the national conventions with outreach to and Public Affairs. The programs demonstrated the unique plat-
foreign media since 1984 and have run story-filing centers at every form the FPCs offer to promote Department goals worldwide on
convention except in 2004. The filing centers also serve as briefing any topic.
rooms, and 22 speakers visited the FPC filing centers this year for “I am convinced that one of the best ways to share America’s
press events. The Department’s offices of Broadcast Services and values and story with the world is through people-to-people
International Information Programs also attend the conventions to exchanges, and nothing is more fundamentally American than
provide election-related programming and work with the FPCs our democratic process,” said former Under Secretary for Public
throughout the year to develop outreach programs. Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes. “By bringing
“[FPC] is helpful because, if you are not connected to a big foreign journalists here to witness the vitality of American
organization in the United States, it helps us get a little more access democracy, we share our best traditions of citizen participation,
to the stories,” said Eric Sorensen, bureau chief of Canada’s Global free speech, free press and representative government and help
TV, who covered the Republican National Convention. “We may foster greater freedom worldwide.”
not be able to attract a Republican strategist on our own, but we This year’s election season showed the value of exchanges,
have the opportunity as a group to attract this type of speaker.” ongoing relationships and public outreach to the Department
Lourdes Heredia, a British Broadcasting Corporation reporter and to America’s standing in the world. ■
who attended FPC briefings at both conventions, summed up the
FPCs’ work by saying, “When [you’re in] a city you’ve never been The author is a media relations officer for East Asia and the Pacific
to before, the FPC is like a home.” in the Washington Foreign Press Center.
Daring Ruse
EMBASSY WORKS WITH COLOMBIA TO GAIN HOSTAGES’ RESCUE
BY MICHAEL TURNER
government has battled for 44 years, lives cans were FARC’s crown jewels. jungle to escape detection.
off murder, extortion and large-scale Americans Marc Gonsalves, Thomas
narcotics trafficking, operating mostly deep Howes and Keith Stansell gained their Search Launched
in Colombia’s jungles. The guerrillas hold freedom after more than five years in From the moment the plane went down,
hundreds of hostages for ransom, but captivity thanks to an intrepid Colombian the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá mustered an
former Colombian presidential candidate plan and years of U.S. assistance. The inter-agency search team. Throughout the
Ingrid Betancourt, 11 Colombian police three had worked as contractors at the ensuing five years, a dedicated cadre of
Partners in Progress
PUBLIC-PRIVATE EFFORT BRINGS nongovernmental
organization. Then he joined
public speaking, professional behavior,
computer training and entrepreneurship.
DEVELOPMENT TO BRAZIL the CSR-funded Enter Jovem When Secretary of State Condoleezza
youth employment program, Rice visited Salvador in March, she met
BY CAROLINE M. SCHNEIDER where he developed computer Enter Jovem youth and educators and the
skills and obtained an intern- state of Bahia’s governor, who proposed
Fostering partnerships between U.S. and ship at a post office, where he was later expanding the program’s English teaching
Brazilian companies and local communities hired full-time. as a way to promote opportunity in the
is a key component of the U.S. Embassy in “I never thought I’d be hired by a large region’s rapidly growing tourism industry.
Brasilia’s strategic agenda. Since 2006, business like the post office,” he said. “Now The Secretary pledged support to the
Mission Brazil has used its Corporate Social I plan to save to buy a house.” people of northeast Brazil, and Mission
Responsibility program to invest in efforts Enter Jovem has provided job skills to Brazil worked with officials in Washington
that help promote sustainable social and more than 6,500 at-risk Brazilian youth in a and Brazil to deliver on the pledge.
economic development while advancing nation where approximately 35 million
American business interests. people are between the ages of 15 to 24, and Program Expands
To understand how CSR partnerships jobs for the young are hard to find. With The results came in August, when
serve Brazil, consider the case of a man support from the region’s utility company Director of Foreign Assistance and USAID
PHOTOGRAPHS: USAID BRASILIA
named Pedro. Just two years ago, Pedro was and a $100,000 investment by Motorola— Administrator Henrietta Fore visited
illiterate with few job prospects in Brazil’s matched by funds from the U.S. Agency for Salvador and signed an agreement to
northeastern city of Salvador, which has International Development—Enter Jovem expand Enter Jovem into Bahia’s public
some of the country’s poorest communities works through local community centers to school system, with a new English-language
and highest unemployment. Pedro learned help youth develop such skills as resume component. The U.S. government pledged
to read and write through a local preparation, job searching, interviewing, $500,000, and more than 20 private-sector
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is a place of contrasts and action. to the U.S. government effort in Iraq. My reasons were less altruistic.
Busy diplomats and young Marines, rifles on their shoulders, walk I wanted to observe history in the making, up close in the post-
the corridors of Saddam Hussein’s former palace under crystal Saddam era, and be part of it.
chandeliers. People swarm around tiny workstations set in the
palace’s opulent halls. Alongside military vehicles that look like a Cultural Challenges
cross between tanks and trucks, embassy vehicles run in and out of I joined my team of co-workers at the cultural affairs office of
the parking lot. Helicopters of every size and shape fly in and out. the public affairs section and worked in a very multicultural
One day you wake to distant car-bomb explosions in the Red environment. My co-workers were from Africa, Europe, South
Zone; the next, to the sound of cooing doves. America and the Middle East. Of course each of us viewed
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is anything but a “normal” situations through our own cultural lenses. Sometimes, body
embassy, as I found during my recent tour. language and attitudes and expressions contributed to communica-
Besides diplomats and Locally Employed staff, the embassy tion gaps between co-workers. At other posts, the LES are often a
employs fixed-term contractual diplomats, Iraqi-Americans serving homogeneous group, but at Baghdad this is not the case.
as bilingual bicultural advisers, a dwindling number of Iraqi LE I managed local grants issued by the cultural affairs office to
staff, many Jordanians and Egyptians and a growing number of LE Iraqi recipients, most of them public diplomacy grants that
staff from around the world, including me. contributed to engagement with women’s empowerment groups. It
I volunteered for Baghdad from my post in Bangladesh in was heartening to see women’s groups active in various sectors such
November 2007. Most volunteers say they volunteered to contribute as education and rehabilitation. The PAS often sought out such
Ways to Cope
People find their own ways to cope with homesickness
and loneliness. KBR Inc., the contractor formerly known as
Kellogg Brown & Root, provides plenty of food for everyone
in the IZ. KBR subcontracts to catering companies in the
Middle East that hire people from developing countries. I
was happy to find Bangladeshi bearers and cleaners in the
dining facilities. They worked hard and never complained.
Another problem was that most employees lived in
spartan trailers before the new embassy compound opened
in May.
We had our scares. People raced to bunkers or jumped
from bed whenever the alarms signaled incoming rocket or
mortar fire, but we got used to the intermittent episodes of
shelling and bombing in the IZ. A real taste of war came in
March, when the IZ was under constant mortar and shell
attack. The casualties, death and destruction shook our
bubble-like existence, and the staff took refuge in Saddam’s
former palace, where we worked, ate and slept in the office People always ask me, “How was Iraq?” and I find myself at a loss
spaces and corridors. for words. It was an unusual experience. As happens with most
volunteers, my ties with my loved ones were tested by the distance
Tour Ends and danger. In sum, the tour challenged me intellectually,
Ambassador Ryan Crocker did all he could to take care of us, physically, emotionally and spiritually. ■
and we tried to keep our spirits up and support each other,
but the constant threat challenged all of us. We worked as if our The author is a cultural affairs specialist at the American Center of the
lives depended on it. U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
A snapshot of a day in the life of Mission Mexico—its people, that captured the breadth of mission activities.
the embassy and all nine U.S. consulates—would take thousands of With the support of regional security officers, information offi-
photos. But this is just what Mission Mexico recently accomplished: cers and 350 eager volunteers, the photography got under way.
a day-in-the-life project that in book form—and eventually Over several days in February, mission community members—
online—depicts the events of an average day across the mission’s including family, local guards, contractors, Locally Employed staff
many operations. and direct hires from all mission agencies—snapped away. They
The project was a team effort. Ed Ramotowski, consul general in took photos of visa lines, cafeteria staff, U.S. government planes
Guadalajara, secured a donation from Kodak de Mexico of 200 awaiting take-off, maintenance staff checking warehouse
disposable cameras, which were distributed to volunteers across the inventories, the mailroom team hauling pouch bags and the
mission. John Dinkelman, principal officer in Nogales, helped gain Foreign Commercial Service promoting U.S. companies.
a grant from the Una Chapman Cox Foundation to support the There were also photos of employees beginning their commutes,
project’s organizational, layout and printing costs. Karen Martin, local guards checking the gate, staff members typing, children on
principal officer in Merida, identified a talented eligible family the school bus, staff playing after-hours soccer and an awards cere-
member, Dan Taylor, who agreed to lay out a book featuring photos mony or two.
Dial 7-2000
DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HELP DESKS
BY CRISTINA LISA PEREZ
Any domestic employee of the make their jobs more difficult,” said Customers should receive better
Department of State who uses a Chief Information Officer Susan Swart. service, and they will receive
computer will soon see a change in the The IT Consolidation Program, to be standardized services regardless of their
way he or she receives desktop support. completed next year, brings the Depart- physical location or bureau affiliation.
The Department is shifting from a ment’s information technology desktop Because the centralized help desk will
decentralized support system of bureau- support under one umbrella to improve have access to the Department’s
based help desks to a centralized system, customer service, enhance security and complete technical knowledge base,
with support provided by the Bureau of contain costs. customers’ most complex issues will be
PHOTOGRAPHS: JON PETERS
Information Resource Management. At its core, IT consolidation is all resolved. Customers will also have access
“State Department employees should about service. Providing the service from to the IT Service Center staff 24 hours a
always be able to think of technology a single source will standardize and day, seven days a week.
and information as tools to help them normalize technical support and provide The center’s technical support staff
conduct diplomacy and realize their a better means of measuring will work side-by-side with their other
operational goals, not as challenges that performance. IT counterparts. For IT staff, the key
At a Glance
Country The United Kingdom of Languages English, Welsh and
Great Britain and Ireland Scottish form of Gaelic
Capital London Currency British pound (GBP)
Evolving Role
ECONOMIC OFFICERS ADAPT AS FOREIGN POLICY CHANGES
BY VIKTOR SIDABRAS
FAIR PLAY
Smart new diplomatic license plates are reciprocity helps improve the lives of immunities, based on reciprocity and
popping up on the roads in Washington, Foreign Service officers abroad, enhance national security needs.
D.C., and across the United States, the Department operations worldwide and “The Foreign Missions Act has helped far
product of the first new diplomatic license protect the interests of U.S. communities beyond its original intention,” said Assistant
plate redesign since diplomatic plates were and their citizens. Secretary for Diplomatic Security and
first issued in the United States in 1984. Director for the Office of Foreign Missions
These distinctive light blue and red plates Congressional Mandate Eric J. Boswell. “OFM has become a critical
were designed by the State Department’s Before 1982, the Department had limited tool for the conduct of American
Office of Foreign Missions for the legal authority to impose restrictions on a diplomacy.”
thousands of foreign diplomats living in the foreign mission, in spite of the sometimes OFM’s mission has expanded to include
United States. severe restrictions that nations might a broader range of foreign policy issues. The
Administering license plates for foreign impose on U.S. missions abroad. To resolve office helps bring the interests of U.S. diplo-
diplomats, however, is not the central func- this disparity, Congress that year passed the mats abroad, U.S. communities and
tion of OFM. Created in 1982, OFM has Foreign Missions Act, giving the Department legal and financial considera-
perhaps the most unusual mission in the Department authority to more effectively tions into the decision-making process
Department. regulate foreign missions in the United regarding the operation of foreign missions
Administering the Department’s version States. The act established OFM to in the United States.
PHOTOGRAPHS: ED WARNER
of the “golden rule” through the practice of determine foreign missions’ privileges and OFM also helps improve the benefits
President Bush, was possible only because relations with a nation, OFM carries out the properties benefited the Department when
of the successful negotiation, led by an Department’s obligation to protect the relations were restored.
OFM negotiator, of a Conditions of foreign governments’ diplomatic property. Finally, OFM’s control over foreign and
Construction Agreement with the Chinese. Over the years the office has had custody of domestic tax matters is an important finan-
properties belonging to the governments of cial asset for the Department. One
Protecting Property Cambodia, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Vietnam and achievement in this area has been the
When the United States ends diplomatic the former Yugoslavia. Its care of these Diplomatic Tax-Relief Initiative.
Through this program, OFM helped
create more than 40 bilateral tax-relief
arrangements, which provided reciprocal
tax relief for the construction and renova-
tion of diplomatic facilities abroad and in
the United States. These arrangements will
yield an estimated savings of roughly $300
million, the cost of two large embassies.
OFM protects the interests of U.S.
communities by advising their governments
and citizens on the privileges and immuni-
ties provided to foreign diplomats in their
communities. When a locality inquires
about a poorly maintained embassy
building or what hotel exemptions should
PHOTOGRAPHS: ED WARNER
Registering Vehicles
OFM also protects localities’ interests by
overseeing diplomatic motor vehicle use in
Above: Bill Ellis, right, a foreign missions program specialist, works with a customer at OFM’s customer service center. Below: Joan Morningstar, acting
director of OFM’s motor vehicles office, stands with system engineer Ed Zietoon.
Traveling Well
GOING OVERSEAS? CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS
REQUIRE PLANNING BY MARI C. SULLIVAN
A mentor, Dr. Elaine Jong, once effects of humidity and heat. Discuss mation regarding your FEHB
told me, “We are given the body we your condition with your U.S. prescription policy.
are given, and it is up to us to make specialist or healthcare provider People with diabetes should have
the most of it.” It is essential that we prior to travel and contact him or enough supplies to get them
allow ourselves to live at our highest her by telephone or e-mail if you through the first four to six months
physical and mental health potential. have health questions or problems at post. The mail-in pharmacies
Many in the Foreign Service have while overseas. will not ship temperature-sensitive
chronic medical problems that we Check in with the post health unit medications overseas, so have your
manage while living overseas in upon arrival overseas. If your post insulin delivered to you before you
unfamiliar environments. Life over- does not have a medical officer, leave for post. Plan to pick up your
seas can be rewarding, exciting and inform the regional medical officer refill during an R&R trip, or arrange
enjoyable if we remain healthy, even about your condition. This gives you for someone to bring the insulin
if one has asthma, diabetes, and the RMO or Foreign Service to you.
hypertension, heart disease, HIV, health practitioner the opportunity Specific conditions, such as
cancer or a mental health condition. to discuss your condition and ensure asthma or chronic obstructive
Many people with chronic optimal care is available. The pulmonary disease, may require a
medical conditions have a Class 2 medical staff will be aware of the different approach overseas; and
medical clearance, which requires a medical resources throughout the environmental conditions at post,
post-specific clearance based on local region and can suggest places you such as poor air quality, may exacer-
availability of medical care for the could go for treatment, if necessary. bate a condition. Bring a peak-flow
condition. Therefore, one must You should also tell the Office of meter to post so you can monitor
obtain post approval before bidding Medical Services and your healthcare your progress at home. Also ask for a
on overseas posts. Medical provider about any changes in your management plan from your U.S.-
Clearances will need a current report condition, to ensure medical access based healthcare provider, RMO or
regarding your medical condition. at onward assignments. FSHP if the peak-flow numbers indi-
You should make an appointment Bring at least a three-month cate you are encountering increased
with your physician two months supply of any daily medications in problems with your asthma.
before the bidding season and ask your carry-on luggage. Make yourself Those with chronic medical issues
for a medical report summarizing aware of the prescription benefits can, with planning, enjoy a full and
your medical status and receive the available to you through the Federal rewarding career in the Foreign
required follow-up for the next two Employees Health Benefits program. Service. Here’s to safe and healthy
years. Submit this report to Medical Most insurers have a mail-in travels wherever you may go. ■
Clearances and bring a copy to post pharmacy that will provide a three-
for your health provider. month supply of a prescription drug The author is a Foreign Service health
Anyone with a chronic health for minimal co-pay. Some insurers practitioner at the U.S. Embassy in
issue should be prepared for overseas will allow a one-year supply of Kuala Lumpur. She is the author of
travel. You need to consider access to medications for those with a chronic the chapter “Travel with Chronic
medical care, increased oxygen medical issue who are stationed Medical Conditions” in The Travel
demands of aerobic exercise, changes overseas. Consult your insurance and Tropical Medicine Manual, 3rd
in diet, the effects of altitude, and the brochure, available online, for infor- and 4th editions.
• About FSI: Get a snapshot view of FSI’s history and MQ107 English Teaching Seminar 3 2D
enrollment statistics. MQ115 Explaining America 24 1D
• Links to training resources: View information on specific MQ116 Protocol and the
countries, language learning and testing, and a myriad helpful U.S. Representation Abroad 6 10 1D
reference materials. MQ704 Targeting the Job Market 13 1D
MQ853 Managing Rental Property 28 2H
Student Records Online
Located on the FSI Web page, Student Records Online is a MQ950 High Stress Assignment
Outbriefing Program 5 9 2H
secure, password-protected site that provides access to all FSI
training information. Features include: Career Transition Center Dec Jan Length
• Reviewing and printing your training schedule.
RV101 Retirement Planning Workshop 8 4D
• Reviewing and printing your student transcript.
RV103 Financial Management and
• Tracking the status of your training request. Estate Planning 10 1D
• Canceling an already-scheduled FSI course.
RV104 Annuities and Benefits and
• Requesting changes or canceling an external training Social Security 9 1D
registration. RV105 Mid-Career Retirement Planning 28 2D
• Creating and submitting your Individual Development Plan/
Work and Development Plan for Locally Employed Staff. Length: H = Hours, D = Days, W = Weeks
• Retrieving your FasTrac password.
For more information and to establish your logon, visit the Web coursework or achieve a specified final exam/test score. Students
site at https://fsiapps.fsi.state.gov/fsirecs/Login.aspx. then apply to ACE to request an ACE transcript be forwarded to
their college or university. More information can be obtained at
FasTrac Distance Learning Program http://fsi.state.gov/admin/reg/print.asp?Heading= Accreditation/
Learn at your own pace, when and where you want! All State Certification.
Department employees, FSNs and EFMs are eligible. With your
FasTrac password, you may access the entire FasTrac catalog Introduction to Working in an Embassy
of more than 2,500 courses, from home or office. To view Newly updated, this course introduces employees of U.S.
the complete FasTrac catalog, visit the FasTrac Web site at government agencies and their eligible family members to the
http://fsi.state.gov/fastrac. structure and function of United States embassies and consulates
For more information on all distance learning opportunities, overseas. It is designed to assist them in working successfully in a
visit the FSI Web site at http://fsi.state.gov and click on “Distance diplomatic environment. With MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar,
Learning.” this course fulfills the security requirement for individuals on a
first-time overseas assignment lasting 30 days or more. It is not
ACE Credit appropriate for Foreign Service Generalists or Specialists.
FSI participates in the American Council on Education’s
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U.S. Ambassador to
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
Rwanda Marie L. Yovanovitch of Connecticut, a
W. Stuart Symington of Missouri, a career member of the Senior Foreign
career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is
Service, class of Counselor, is the new the new U.S. Ambassador to the
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Republic of Armenia. Previously, she was
Rwanda. Previously, he was ambassador ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
to Djibouti. He served in Iraq, working Before that, she was senior advisor to the
on election process and political issues. under secretary for political affairs. Her
Other postings include Honduras, Spain, other postings include Kyiv, where she
Mexico, Ecuador and Niger, where he was deputy chief of mission; Ottawa;
was deputy chief of mission. Moscow; London; and Mogadishu.
retirements
FOREIGN SERVICE CIVIL SERVICE
Bagchi, Plaban K. Kelly, Thomas E. Beck, Nancy L. Keefer, Edward C.
Bennett, David R. Morales Colon, Hector E. Causey, Paula J. Lassiter, Immy R.
Colquhoun, Richard Andrew Nebel Jr., Claude J. Chen, Ying Chih Macon, George C.
Conlon, Margaret A. Rich III, Santiago Drahos, Hazel E. Marino, Margot U.
Devlin, Joseph M. Rosenblatt, Josiah B. Fannin, Mary C. Mozingo, Donald E.
Estes, Ellis Merrill Schuh, Thomas E. Farrar Jr., John H. Nelligan, Joanne
Gianfranceschi, Robert E. Semmes III, Raphael Fitts, James Edward Patten, Patsy J.
Hofer, Curt Smith, Stephen T. Glasgow, Gloria J. Ponomaryova, Marina N.
Jarrett, Kenneth Howard Ward III, Francis B. Hammontree, John L. Williams, Carnella
Jones, Richard H. Yoas, Michael J. Hovey, Susan M. Wood, Rosetta R.
Hunter, Donald R.
Helen K. Blair, 86, a retired Foreign Service specialist, Ruth Anne Rogers, 90,
died Aug. 17 in Waynesburg, Pa., following a long illness. She a retired Foreign Service officer, died Aug.
served overseas in England and Iran. After returning to Greene 30. She had lived in Fort Myers, Fla., since
County, Pa., in 1963, she focused on investments and enjoyed her her retirement in 1973. She sponsored
collections of Persian rugs, first-edition books and silverware. children through World Vision and
traveled to the Dominican Republic when
she was 89 to meet one of them. She was active in her community
and church.
Coming in December
• Mission Argentina Celebrates Voting Day • PRT Muthanna Hits the Dirt
• OES Targets Illegal Wildlife Trade ... and much more!
44 | STATE MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2008
NOV2008
The 2008 Federal Benefits Open
Season for the 2009 plan year begins
November 10 and runs through
December 8. During that time,
employees may enroll in or
change an enrollment in a
health insurance plan under
the program, enroll in a
flexible spending account
and enroll in or change
an enrollment in a dental
or vision plan under the
Federal Employees Dental
and Vision Insurance
Program. Information on
the Open Season is at
www.opm.gov/insure.