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

October 2001

StateStateM a g a z i n e

Terror HitsHome

Terror HitsHome

4 Terror StrikesTerrorists shatter Americans’ sense of security at home.

8 Office of the Month: Antiterrorism AssistanceNations use U.S. ties to keep terrorists at bay.

14 Post of the Month: DhakaThe challenges are many on the Bay of Bengal.

19 Retirees in the SouthwestThe accent’s on culture and camaraderie.

20 National Security Adviser Inspires InternsCondoleezza Rice offers career guidance.

21 Transition CenterFSI resource facility observes first anniversary.

22 Diplomats and SoldiersThey bond in open-air classroom.

24 Pitching the Foreign ServiceDiplomats-in-Residence get marching orders.

26 Leadership TrainingProgram gets high marks from students and supervisors.

StateContents

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

StateMagazine

October 2001No. 450

C O L U M N S

2 From the Secretary

13 Direct from the D.G.

D E P A R T M E N T S

3 Letters to the Editor

4 In the News

28 Safety Scene

29 People Like You

30 Education & Training

32 Appointments

34 Personnel Actions

36 Obituaries

On the CoverThe Capitol stands strong above

the Pentagon’s devastation.©Jim Lo Scalzo/Folio Inc.

4

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Foreign police officers learnantiterrorist tactics.

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German citizens express their grief at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.

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2 State Magazine

FROM THE SECRETARYSECRETARY COLIN L. POWELL

We Will Not Be Deterred

At this traumatic time for all Americans, we turn to our loved ones and ourextended State Department family and embassy communities. For our col-leagues at overseas posts, this is an especially hard time to be far from home.

In dark hours such as these, we can derive great strength and comfort from theknowledge that America has such steadfast and caring allies and friends. From allover the world, countries large and small, rich and poor, offers of sympathy, supportand assistance are pouring in.

As President Bush said, the planners and perpetrators of the attacks on New YorkCity and the Pentagon committed acts of war against America and all that we standfor—freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, free trade and internationalpeace. Values that are shared and cherished by men and women all around the globe,and for which every man and woman serving in our embassies and consulates over-seas—Americans and Foreign Service Nationals alike—works every single day todefend and advance.

We will not be deterred from our mission. America will stay engaged, move for-ward and prevail. Living under the constant threat of terrorism is not new to the menand women of our diplomatic missions abroad. You are used to living and workingunder difficult and often dangerous conditions. I expect all of you to take the utmostprecaution and to take care of one another, to stay vigilant and stay safe. At the sametime, I expect you to find ways to carry on with your vital work for our country.

In the coming days, weeks and months, the State Department will be called uponto help forge a worldwide coalition to combat the evil of terrorism. A coalition thatwill not only work to hunt down and hold to account those responsible for the recentattacks, but to mount a comprehensive, systematic and sustained campaign to breakthe back of international terrorism — its leaders, its actors, its abettors, its networks.

The men and women of American diplomacy will be at the forefront of thisunprecedented effort. Each and every one of you can contribute. By securing thecooperation of other governments. By focusing the work of international institutions.And by reaching out to foreign publics.

The President and I and the American people are counting on each of you to doyour duty, and we are confident that, in the finest tradition of service to our nation,you will rise to the challenge.

May God bless you and your families, and may God bless America. ■

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Political officer Derrick Olsen,

back row, left, OMS Cheryl Bus

FSN Liliana Benguria with Bo

counternarcotics officers be

cocaine destruction pit in t

Chapare.

Photo Leaves WrongImpression

Your Post of the Monthfeature on La Paz in theJuly–August issue con-tains a photo of ayoung boy chiselingaway at rocks inBolivia’s Potosi sil-ver mine, consid-ered one of the

world’s richest.Richest or not, no

mention is made of the fact thatmining is one of the most haz-ardous industries in the world, par-ticularly for children. The U.S. gov-ernment has ratified internationalconventions against the worstforms of child labor, including min-ing. Indeed, more than 100 coun-tries, including Bolivia, have out-lawed child labor in miningspecifically because it is so danger-ous. The U.S. Department of Labor,in fact, is implementing a programat Potosi, as well as in Peru andEcuador, to prevent and eliminatechild labor in mining.

Unfortunately, pointing out thewealth extracted from the mine, cou-pled with the photograph of a childlaboring away in miserable condi-tions, may leave readers with theimpression that the U.S. governmenthas no position on or even acceptsthis heinous practice.

Edmund McWilliamsDirectorOffice of International Labor AffairsBureau of Democracy, Human Rightsand Labor

Enjoying Your OnlineEdition

I left the State Department way backin 1977, and I have been thoroughlyenjoying reading State Magazine on theInternet (www.state.gov/m/dghr/statemag).

10State M

agazine

Bolivia still remains off th

e beaten track

for most Americans. Movie buffs remem-

ber it as the land where Butch Cassidy and

the Sundance Kid had their last shoot-out.

Historians know it for the richest silver

mine the world has ever seen. The mine

and city of Potosí (at a mere 15,000 ft.

above sea level) underwrote, for several

centuries, the expansion of the Spanish

Empire. Naturalists and geographers

value the country’s amazing topographi-

cal variety. From eternal snow-capped An-

dean peaks, the country plunges down to

the Amazon basin. The various ecosys-

tems support an incredible range of flora

and fauna. Llamas and condors dominate

the upper reaches of the country, while

leopards, parrots and monkeys hold sway

at lower altitudes.

The country is considered the poorest in

South America and has the highest per-

centage of indigenous peoples. It is esti-

mated that the Aymara, Quechua and

Guayani Indians compose more than 60

percent of the population. Their tradition-

al arts, crafts, cuisine, traditional dances

and ceremonies make Bolivia fascinating

and unique.

A young boy chisels away at rocks in the Potosí silver mine to help support his family.

ch,

livian

side a

he

I sadly learned in April 1999 of thedeath of one of my first mentors, JeanJohannesen, a great peddler for theForeign Service, and that of a formercolleague, William G. Smallwood, inJune 2000.

I look forward to reading up onthe 2001 issues.

Great job.

Lori RademannCamp Lejeune, N.C.

CorrectionsWilliam J. Burns is the new assis-

tant secretary for Near EasternAffairs, not the U.S. Ambassador toJordan. Sue McCourt-Cobb is the newU.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, not theBahamas. Charles E. Williams isdirector/chief buildings officer,Overseas Buildings Operations, notdeputy assistant secretary. MelissaClegg-Tripp, not Dona Dailey, wrotethe Post of the Month article on LaPaz in our July–August issue.

The annual Bookfair at the TrumanBuilding, sponsored by the Associatesof the American Foreign ServiceWorldwide, takes place daily fromOct.12 -21, not just Oct. 13-14 and 20-21, as reported in our September issue.Weekday hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Opening day hours are 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

We Invite You to WriteWe invite you to express your

feelings about the events of Sept.11. We will publish your observa-tions in an expanded Letters to theEditor section in upcoming issues.

To accommodate as many con-tributors as possible, please limityour letters to approximately 250 words. All published letterswill identify the author, so pleaseinclude your bureau, job titleand location.

Only signed letters will be con-sidered for publication.

From the EditorAs we go to press, what had always seemed to happen overseas has

happened here at home. The terror that struck stateside Sept. 11 in NewYork, Pennsylvania and Virginia will be with us for months and years tocome, just as the fateful bombings of our embassies in East Africa on Aug.7, 1998. Our coverage begins on page 4.

Through the Department’s antiterrorism assistance program, 52nations are working to improve their police and other internal securityforces. Since the program began in 1983, some 117 countries have sent23,000 participants to the professional law enforcement training. To fur-ther bolster the program, the Department recently opened a new trainingcenter in Albuquerque, N.M. For more details, check out our Office of theMonth on page 14.

For three decades, the United States has sought to further Bangladesh’seconomic development and strengthen its democratic institutions. Sincethe country’s independence in 1971, the United States has provided morethan $4.3 billion in bilateral assistance, nearly half of it for food.Americans stationed at “the fort,” as the embassy in Dhaka is known, areworking hard on several fronts—from economic growth to food securi-ty—so that this densely populated nation of some 130 million people canachieve its goals. Learn more in our Post of the Month section on page 8.

October 2001 3

I N T H E N E W S

While sthe firstower eat the ihijacke

Trade Tower, PentagonAttacks Stir Employees

4 State Magazine

moke billows fromt tower hit, the otherxplodes into flamesmpact of the secondd airliner.

Photos

A helicopter flies over the burningPentagon. The White House andWashington Monument are visiblethrough the smoke.

Tom Horan/AP Photos

By Paul Koscak

Minutes after jetliners slammed into theWorld Trade Center and the Pentagon, theTruman Building was evacuated. By 10a.m., Diplomatic Security orderedemployees out of all annexes and con-vened the Counterterrorism Task Force.

It all started just before 9 a.m. as employees werestill arriving at work or finishing their morning coffee.Desk radios and television monitors flashed the newsthat an aircraft had plunged into New York’s WorldTrade Center. Stunned employees watched as smokebillowed from the shattered structure. When the sec-ond jetliner plowed into the other 1,200-foot tower onlive television and exploded into a massive ball of fireand debris, surprise turned to horror. Moments later,a third airliner crashed into the Pentagon.

With the attack now less than two miles away, horrorgave way to alarm. At Columbia Plaza, employees fran-tically started phoning loved ones. Fanning the fear wasa CNN report—which proved false—that a car bombwas discovered outside the State Department. Soon, a

Chao Soi Cheong/AP

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Workers evacuate their Washington, D.C., offices in the wake of the ter-rorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Television reporters questionDepartment employees shortlyafter they evacuate.

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continuous, chaotic stream of workers mobbed the turn-stiles as they exited the building. Others lingered insidewondering what to do, since there was no order to leave.Finally, at about noon, supervisors went from floor to floortelling employees the evacuation was official and they mustleave the building at once.

At the Truman Building, the evacuation was less indoubt.

Jeremy Strozer, a presidential management intern inthe Office of Export Control Cooperation and Sanctions,received news of the grim events through coworkers. “Icontinued working, although not coherently,” he recalls.“When news of the Pentagon strike came, I thought‘we’re next’.”

Mr. Strozer and other colleagues decided to leave thebuilding. “As we were leaving, the announcement toevacuate came over the public address system.”

Dave Quinn, who works in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, tells a similar story about the evacuation.“It was fairly orderly,” he said.

Francis Hawkins, program analyst in the Office of RealProperty Management, knew something was wrong evenbefore arriving at her desk.

“After I parked my car at Navy Hill, I heard a loudboom and saw the initial smoke,” she said.

Greg Suchan, a deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau ofPolitical-Military Affairs, was on the telephone with theAustrian embassy and enjoying the Potomac River view

How to HelpEmployees interested in assisting the victims of the

recent terrorism are encouraged to visit the web siteof the Federal Emergency Management Agency(www.fema.gov) for a list of charities authorized toaccept donations.

To donate leave, visit HR’s Intranet web site for detailsabout the Emergency Leave Transfer Program.

from his 6th floor office when he spotted “acommercial airliner flying below the level ofArlington Hill.” The plane’s low altitude rivetedhis attention. He watched as it disintegrated intothe Pentagon.

“What the hell,” Mr. Suchan remembers blurt-ing out in disbelief. “We may have had a planejust crash into the Pentagon. Goodbye.”

The deputy assistant secretary quicklyreported the crash to the Operations Centerand the National Security Council.

Still, the experience revealed some short-comings.

Kitt Alexander, Office of Real PropertyManagement employee, noticed that many whoevacuated the building were standing nearby.“It was a mistake having people milling about,”she said. “They would have been killed if there

ad been a car bomb. The announcement should have toldeople to go home.”

There was also confusion, she said, whether employeescould take their vehicles out of the building’s garage.

Overall, Diplomatic Security was satisfied with theprotective measures, according to Andy Laine, thebureau’s public affairs manager.

“We had information at 8:45 of the first plane,” he said.“Within 10 minutes we sent out word to increase lobbyand perimeter security.”

When the second airliner hit the other trade centertower an additional security alert went out. “We notifiedall facilities to increase vigilance,” Mr. Laine said.

The security measures followed an emergency actionplan, he added. “Overall, from our perspective, it wentwell. We’re taking a look at our security posture. We’relooking at what additional steps can be taken.” ■

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

October 2001 5

I N T H E N E W S

Department Responds: Here And Abroad

Secretary Powell outlines plans fora worldwide coalition to root outterrorism at a Sept. 12 Departmentnews conference.

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By Paul Koscak

Terror struck home Sept. 11In what will undoubtedly be America’s Second Day of

Infamy, terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners andcrashed two of them into the World Trade Center, oneinto the Pentagon and another into the Pennsylvaniacountryside.

In response, the State Department activated an emer-gency plan specifically written for such calamities andconvened the Counterterrorist Task Force to work aroundthe clock from the Operations Center.

“The task force is activated anytime national security isaffected,” said task force director Tom Martin.

The group, which numbers about 20, coordinates andforwards information among government agencies andother groups. It handles inquiries and supports theSecretary with communications and travel arrangements.“Each task force is different, depending on the issue,” Mr.Martin said. The task force can be rapidly formed after an

FBI agents, fire fighters, rescue workers and engineers work at thePentagon crash site on Sept. 14.

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When Frank Light accepted a detail to the Pentagon towork on counterterrorism, he didn’t expect the realthing.

As terror struck home Tuesday, Sept. 11, the ForeignService officer was just concluding a hastily called meetingin response to the World Trade Center attacks.

“We were discussing possible DoD support to otheragencies dealing with the incidents in New York,” hesaid. When the second tower was hit, a meeting with sen-ior counterterrorism staff was called for 10 a.m.

Before that meeting took place, terrorists also struckthe Pentagon.

“There was a rumble, like thunder, and it rocked us,”recalled Mr. Light. “And in our office, you can’t hear thunder.”

The jetliner that crashed into the Pentagon killing anestimated 200 people, smashed into the side of the build-ing where Mr. Light was working. Because he worked in

‘They’re AttackingUs Too’

State Survivors Recall Crash Scene

6 State Magazine

the second innermost ring on the second floor, the blastdidn’t reach him. But the smoke did.

At first, he said, business continued. Staff worked attheir terminals. Others answered the telephones. Soon,smoke wafted through the door.

Argentine police stand guard at the U.S. Embassy in Beunos Aires as securitywas strengthened at American missions around the world in the aftermath ofthe Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

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emergency. Members are selected for their experienceand expertise as the emergency dictates.

Meanwhile, Secretary Colin L. Powell began carryingout the President’s call to form a coalition of nations com-mitted to stamping out terrorism. During his first threenews conferences following the terrorist attacks, theSecretary reported having contacted dozens of foreignleaders, including Yassar Arafat.

“As President Bush said, the planners and perpetratorsof the attacks on New York City and the Pentagon com-mitted acts of war against America and all that we standfor,” the Secretary said.

Secretary Powell described the effort as “a comprehen-sive, systematic and sustained campaign to break theback of international terrorism—its leaders, its actors, itsabettors and its networks.”

As an added precaution, Diplomatic Security advisedposts to convene emergency evacuation committee meet-ings to review security measures and “enlist local gov-ernment and police security support.” The directiveordered posts to remain at “the highest state of alert”although intelligence at the time indicated that terroristswere not targeting American facilities overseas.

“We left it up to each post as to what action to take,”said Andy Laine, Diplomatic Security spokesman. “Someshut down for the day to look at the situation.”

All told, about 50 embassies closed Tuesday. Director General Ruth Davis and Dr. Cedric Dumont,

director of Medical Services, issued a joint statementoffering employees guidance on coping with the tragedy.“Continuing to work in supporting the Department’smission and the ideals of our democracy gives us a senseof purpose, demonstrates our control over our lives whileproviding us with a sense of normalcy and predictability.”

While acknowledging that people respond to traumat-ic events differently, they encouraged employees to dis-cuss their feelings with colleagues, friends, counselors orreligious leaders.

Medical Services is offering to help employees dealwith the crisis. For more information, call 663-1903, ordrop by SA 1, H246. ■

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

“It was light,” he recalled. “But gradually, the smokethickened. Then people came in yelling ‘Get out. Get out.’The smoke was so black you couldn’t see beyond yournose,” he said. “We couldn’t tell what was left or right.”

To navigate to the exit through the darkened hallway,Mr. Light and his colleagues were forced to crawl on theirhands and knees. At that level, he explained, you couldsee light under a thick, acrid cloud.

“We heard the explosion and it shook the building,” saidForeign Service Officer Boyd Doty, just three months into hisPentagon detail as he was watching the live news reports ofterrorists striking the World Trade Center. “We just lookedat each other and thought ‘They’re attacking us too’.”

Mr. Doty, who works in Cooperative Threat ReductionPolicy, noted the order to evacuate the Pentagon camewithin moments of the blast. It was the second time dur-ing his short Pentagon detail that an emergency forcedhim to leave the building. A month earlier, an electricalmalfunction in a linen closet sparked a fire that causedthe evacuation of his part of the building. “Theannouncements were difficult to hear. So they fixed thepublic address system. That fire actually had a benefit.This time the instructions were loud and clear.”

Once Mr. Doty stepped outside the building, the blacksmoke was easy to spot and the scent of burning fuel per-

meated the air. He said the evacuation went surprisinglywell as employees were moved as far away as Crystal City.

“There were rumors that other planes were headed forus,” he added.

John Sullivan, a Foreign Service officer on loan to thePentagon’s Peace Keeping and Humanitarian Assistanceoffice, was watching the wrenching tragedy unfold inNew York City on CNN. “We were trying to imaginewhat those people were going through,” he said, recall-ing the reaction among his colleagues. “What would it belike to have an airplane crash into your building?”

In a few minutes they found out. John heard an explo-sion, felt a shudder and learned an airliner hit thePentagon just 100 yards from his office.

“At first we thought it [the sound] might be fromsomewhere else in the city,” he said. “Then the alarmwent off. The evacuation of thousands of people on ourside of the building was surprisingly orderly and tookjust a few minutes.”

As employees gathered in the north parking lot, Mr.Sullivan said, police warned everyone to get as far fromthe building as possible because “a second attack wasimminent.”

“Later that day, playing with my daughters became themost important thing I ever did,” he added. ■

October 2001 7

Yemeni police attend class at theDepartment’s new antiterrorism trainingcenter in Albuquerque. Nearby, Kazakhsecurity forces study assault tactics.

U.S. Helps Nations Combat Terrorism

Office of the Month:

Antiterrorism Assistance

8 State Magazine

There’s help for nations withclose U.S. ties in their struggle tokeep terrorists at bay.

Story and Photos by Paul Koscak

Through the Department’s antiterrorism assis-tance program, 52 nations are currently workingto improve their police and other internal securi-ty forces. In fact, the program has made the

world a safer place in 117 countries since it began in1983, according to John Cupp, who coordinates theprogram for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Authorized by Congress through the ForeignAssistance Act of 1961, the program fosters strong inter-

national relationships through professional law enforce-ment training. The assistance, which can last from a fewmonths to a few years, promotes stability, civil order anddemocratic principles and equips civilian forces to fight terrorism with modern, humane methods that respecthuman rights.

The assistant secretary for Counterterrorism recom-mends training candidates when compelling national secu-rity interests may mandate it. For instance, a rash of kid-nappings in Colombia and Ecuador prompted the NationalSecurity Council to recommend assistance to those nations.Sometimes, Mr. Cupp said, a nation will request assistancedirectly. But before a nickel is spent, the Office ofAntiterrorism Assistance must evaluate the nation.

The country must be a high-threat area that is unable tocombat terrorism with its own resources. There must be asubstantial American presence in the country, it must be thelast point of departure for flights to the United States orthere must be important policy links to the United States.

Then a comprehensive “needs assessment” is done,Mr. Cupp said, to determine if the civilian security forcescan enforce the law, preserve peace and protect life andproperty. They must also show an ability to protect thenational leadership, the government, the infrastructureand U.S. diplomats.

“Infrastructure varies by country,” Mr. Cupp said.“Some countries may have only one international airportor one critical industry such as oil or tourism.”

The United States picks up the tab, but the nation will beasked to pay its own way if its economy is strong enough.

The burgeoning democracies that were once republicsof the former Soviet Union are among the countriesreceiving antiterrorist assistance.

“Central Asia has lots of organizations that want a polit-ical platform,” Mr. Cupp explained. “We’re dealing withinsurgents, nationalists and violent criminal elements.”

American law enforcement can be difficult for othernations to understand. Here, police departments are smalland locally run by elected commissions. The average U.S.

October 2001 9

10 State Magazine

Foreign Forces GLessons in Thwar

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.),right, tours the new trainingcenter with Diplomatic Securityagent Kent Trogdon.

A Brazilian officer learns to stalk terrorists . . .

police force is just 38 officers. Overseas, one nationalpolice force could number in the tens of thousands. Inmany nations, the military handles law enforcement.

“In Africa, law enforcement may be run alongFrench or British lines,” he added, alluding to the con-tinent’s colonial influence.

To ensure the program is working, the office revisitsnations that have received assistance. “Are the endresults what we desire?” Cupp explained. “If not,what changes are needed?”

The office draws upon an impressive wealth of mili-tary and civilian law enforcement experience to buildtraining models. A former Los Angeles policeman, aretired Baltimore police department bomb technicianand a former Montgomery County police chief areamong the experts, Mr. Cupp said. Once the coursestructure is complete, the office then works closely withthe training providers to devise the curriculum.

et Powerfulting Terrorists

Story and Photos by Paul Koscak

The Brazilian security officer stalks the hot, brush-infestedgully. He calculates each step, peers into each crevice, studieseach clump of creosote bush and cacti for lurking terrorists.The officer’s service pistol, held at arm’s length and ready foraction, points the way. As relentless as the searing New

Mexico sun, he stealthily turns another corner. There it is—a humanform hiding in the bushes. The officer lunges toward the intruderand takes deadly aim.

An instructor now critiques the officer’s performance.The intruder is just a black plywood silhouette, but the training,

a course in rural border patrol operations, is real. Numerous foreignpolice officers are taking advantage of the State Department’santiterrorist training in the desert outside Socorro, N.M., and else-where to strengthen their own borders.

Participants learn to use their senses and the terrain to detectinfiltrators. They develop an eye for unnatural colors and shapes.They gaze the distant crests for forms that stand out against thedesert’s blue horizon

“Look through bushes, not at bushes,” stresses instructor TerryRaines to the Brazilian officers through a Portuguese interpreter.“Learn to scan from left to right, from ground to horizon.”

A former U.S. Border Patrol agent who instructs for the StateDepartment through an arrangement with the Department ofEnergy, Mr. Raines said the desert’s sterile environment easilyreveals an outsider.

“Shaving cream and colognes will smell different from thedesert,” he said. “You can even smell people with different diets.”

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), right, and Al Bigler, antiterrorismassistance program director, officially open the new centerwith a New Mexico sand painting.

Nearly 23,000 foreign participants have taken advan-tage of the antiterrorist training since the program began.Courses include special weapons and tactics (SWAT),officer survival, case management, border patrol tactics,hostage negotiation, bomb disposal and crime sceneinvestigation, and they take place at locations that offer arange of climate and terrain.

Through a partnership with other federal and state lawenforcement agencies, training is conducted at the LouisianaState Police Academy in Baton Rouge, La.; the Federal LawEnforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.; the FBIAcademy in Quantico, Va.; and the New Mexico TechnicalUniversity in Socorro. Other locations include the FAATraining Center in Oklahoma City and the Department ofEnergy’s Central Training Academy in Albuquerque, N.M.

All courses underscore ethics, professionalism andhuman rights, Mr. Cupp said.

“We let them know assistance can be suspended forhuman rights abuses,” he said.

An antiterrorism instructor briefs Diplomatic Security officials.

Sometimes the clues are subtle: the shine on smallrocks where a shoe scraped away the desert grit or a lineof disturbed vegetation.

“There are no straight lines in nature,” said LarryMohler, another instructor who spent 28 years with the U.S.Border Patrol and now directs the State Department course.

Noise, particularly at night, is also revealing, he said.“Sound carries downwind,” Mr. Mohler said, while

stepping on a dry twig for emphasis.While the border course stresses stealth and the senses,

the Department’s hostage rescue training uses surprise tooverpower adversaries.

At Kirkland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, 20 Kazakhsecurity officers in full combat gear stand poised withtheir MP5 submachine guns outside an apartment-likestructure. Inside are several rooms containing caricaturesof possible terrorists. Some sport menacing glares. Otherspoint guns. Another holds a knife at the throat of awoman. The props go beyond drama. They project threat.The Kazakh officers have just a split second as they stormthe room to decide if each threat demands deadly force.

While the building is a facade and the terrorists are life-size posters mounted on plywood stands, the Kazakhs’ 9-

mm bullets are live.The observers andinstructors whowatch the actionfrom an overheadcatwalk wear bullet-proof vests, earplugsand goggles.

The Kazakh com-mander, who’s alsoon the catwalk,clasps his handheldradio and orders the

. . . while being coached by aninstructor accompanied by aPortuguese interpreter.

assault. The officers silently stream through the build-ing’s entrance. In groups of four or five they form twolines on each side of the interior apartment door. Oneofficer pushes open the door. Another tosses in a grenade.The canister clanks as it bounces on the concrete floor.Within seconds, a blinding yellow flash engulfs the room.The concussion rocks the building. As gray smoke fillsthe room, the officers storm in. Gunfire erupts. Shell cas-ings spew. The terrorists are dispatched. The sequencecontinues until all the rooms are liberated. It takes aboutthree minutes.

The instructors check the bullet holes to gauge eachassault. After six weeks, the Kazakhs can do the drillwithout casualties.

“They just don’t go through and shoot at anything,”said instructor Howard Terry. “They must make deci-sions. In Kazakhstan, they can only use deadly forcewhen they’re shot at.”

The course, he said, is based on American police tac-tics. “We tell them to fire two shots to the upper chest toincapacitate the threat,” he added.

October 2001 11

A Navajo medicineman and his wifebless the building.

The antiterrorism training centerhas a new home in Albuquerque.

Support fora n t i t e r ro r i s mtraining hassoared. It began

in 1984 with a $9 million budget that’s grown to $38 milliontoday. By 2003, the budget is expected to reach $50 million.

The capstone of the Department’s commitment is itsnew antiterrorism training center in Albuquerque.Officially dedicated in August, the center not only offersan expanding training curriculum for foreign police offi-

12 State Magazine

At the dedication are Michael Harris, left, regional manager, antiterrorism aJames Christopher, chief of training, antiterrorism assistance; Alan Bigler,antiterrorism assistance; and Frederick Klug, assistant director, Diplomatic

cers, it also builds good diplomatic relations by giving stu-dents a dose of American culture, according to MichaelHarris, a former Secret Service agent who now managesthe center.

For instance, transportation is available most eveningsfor shopping. There are trips to working ranches wheredinner is served from a chuck wagon and the cowboysperform a Wild West shootout. A visit to Acoma, an activepueblo, stresses the region’s American Indian heritage.Indian ruins, museums and national monuments are also

part of the program.“They get a major cultural event, such as

a country band or the [Sandia Peak] tramride,” Mr. Harris said.

A recent Yemeni class, for example, visit-ed a Western-style barbecue restaurant.

“During the Los Alamos fire last year, ourPhilippine students wanted to volunteer todrive trucks and serve food,” Mr. Harrissaid. “That’s the caliber of people we gethere.”

Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) attributedthe antiterrorism program’s cultural expo-sure to Yemen’s “extreme cooperation”with the United States after the USS Colebombing.

Added Frederick Klug, assistant directorof Diplomatic Security: “There isn’t a daythat goes by in the world where a life isn’tsaved because of ATA training.” ■

ssistance;director, Security.

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

DIRECT FROM THE D.G.AMBASSADOR RUTH A. DAVIS

We Are Making Significant Progress

When I became director general, I saidimproving recruitment and employ-ee-friendly initiatives would beamong my highest priorities. We

must continue to make the Department ofState an attractive employer, so that we retainour recruits. I am happy to update you on thevarious initiatives we’ve been working on.

Among our many initiatives to make theDepartment a great employer is the studentloan repayment program. The Departmenthas requested $7 million in FY02 funding to implement astudent loan repayment program. We will keep you post-ed on this development.

I know that child care is an important issue for ouremployees. I’m pleased to tell you that since Diplototshas been such a success, we’re expanding it to accommo-date 103 children, up from the current 68. Construction isscheduled to begin in February 2002. I’m also happy toreport that child care will be a reality at FSI by the timeyou read this column. The new center will accommodate25–30 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

With this increased availability of child care at theDepartment, we have been mindful of the need to makeit accessible to all our employees. That’s why we’re pilot-ing the child care tuition assistance program to helplower-income employees with the high costs of qualitychild care. In FY02, the Department will implement childcare subsidies for domestic-based employees. For moredetails and updates on this program, please visithttp://hrweb.hr.state.gov/er/worklife/child_care.html.

I’d like to encourage employees and spouses usingEldercare Emergency Visitation Travel to assist a parent infailing health to log on to LifeCare, the Department’s freeresource and referral service, before getting on a plane. Manyof the 126 employees at more than 65 overseas posts whohave used Eldercare EVT have found that consultation withLifeCare prior to leaving post made them more efficient andeffective in helping their parents. LifeCare’s new websiteaddress is www.lifecare.com (use “statedepartment” in thecompany code box to log in) and the new e-mail address isspecialist@lifecare.com. Employees can continue to call thesame 24-hour telephone number or (800) 873-4636.

Another quality of life improvement ishelping families who chose to homeschoolwhen assigned overseas. The rates forhomeschooling were raised June 30 to $3,000for grades K–8 and $5,000 for grades 9–12.These increases should allow parents to sup-plement the homeschooling program tobring it more in line with standard practicein the United States where resources such aspublic libraries are freely available.

I know that family member employmentissues are among the most important to our employees. Asyou know, we have been working with a contractor on apilot program assisting family members with career devel-opment and locating employment assistance on the localeconomy in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. TheFamily Member Employment Report Phase II Intranet-based application is another initiative to help with familymember employment. The new interactive report willallow overseas posts to maintain current employmentinformation for their respective countries. The informationwill include positions currently within and outside the mis-sion, the work permit situation, the employment atmos-phere and available job listings. The employment informa-tion will be posted on the Department’s Intranet for anyState employee to view for bidding. The report is ready forviewing at http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/flo/employment/famer/html.

The Composite Child Care Report for 2001 is also com-plete and can be accessed on our HR Intranet site athttp://hrweb.hr.state.gov/flo/worklife/childcare2001.pdf. The report will help families with young childrenwho must consider child care options when they are bid-ding on posts.

Finally, I’d like to update you on the overseas pay gap—the loss in salary once an employee is rotated to an overseaspost from Washington, D.C. Secretary Powell, DeputySecretary Armitage, Under Secretary Green and I all sharethe view that this gap is untenable and must be repaired.We are working actively to do so. I will keep you posted onthe “locality pay” issue as we make concrete progress.

I am proud of all the work HR is doing to improve thequality of life of all Department employees. ■

October 2001 13

Post of the Month:

Dhaka,Bangladesh

14 State Magazine

Bangladeshi residents crossa wooden bridge at sunset.

An open-airmarket inDhaka.

© R

. Ian

Llo

yd/M

aste

rfile

PBy Marjorie J. Bucknor

icture Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is people,pollution, poverty—yes, but Americans postedthere also find it rewarding, challenging andmemorable.

Located in South Asia on the northern edgeof the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh is surroundedon three sides by India and shares a border withBurma. Approximately 130 million people livein this country, which is about the size of Iowa,making it one of the most densely populatednations in the world.

In 1947 a U.S. Consulate opened in Dhaka,then the capital of East Pakistan. After the 1971War of Independence, the United States recog-nized Bangladesh, and the two nations estab-lished formal diplomatic relations in May 1972.The first U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesharrived two years later.

Consular Affairs officer Lynn Gutensohn crosses a bamboo bridge as part of herfraud investigation work in the field.

BullsMus

At first, relations between the two countrieswere strained. The United States had support-ed Pakistan rather than the Bengali freedomfighters in their struggle for independence.Eventually, the Bangladesh prime ministerand the citizens of the new state accepted theopen support of the United States.

Throughout the past 30 years, the UnitedStates has sought to further Bangladesh’s eco-nomic development and to strengthen itsdemocratic institutions. Former President BillClinton’s visit last year, the first ever by a U.S.President to Bangladesh, solidified relationsbetween the two nations.

Development and humanitarian programsadministered by the Agency for InternationalDevelopment are central to U.S. assistance tothe people of Bangladesh. They focus onimproving the lives of the poor by giving thembetter access to family planning and healthcare services, by preparing them for naturaldisasters and by encouraging environmentallyresponsible economic growth. The principalpartners in this U.S. assistance effort are non-governmental organizations and the govern-ment of Bangladesh.

Since 1971, the United States has providedmore than $4.3 billion in bilateral assistance toBangladesh, nearly half of it for food. To meetthe most pressing development needs, theassistance focuses on six strategic areas: popu-lation and health; economic growth; environ-ment; energy; food security; and democracyand governance.

are decorated forlim holiday of Eid.

Photo by Anne Patchell

Another program promoted by the U.S.-educated Bangladeshi Mohamed Yunnus,founder of the Grameen Bank, and adminis-tered through several local nongovernmentalorganizations, is the micro-credit concept.This program is a model for many otherdeveloping countries. Through rural net-works, small loans are provided to villagewomen to advance their social independenceand enable them to play a greater role in theeconomic life of the country.

Relocated in 1989, the current chanceryhouses State, USAID and defense attaches’offices, while six other U.S. agencies are locat-ed on other sites in Dhaka. The chancery wasinspired by the work of Louis H. Sullivan, anarchitect best known for designing buildingsembellished with cast metals, terra cotta andbrick. It was built with local, handmade redbrick with decorative terra cotta panels on itsinside walls, and locally made silk tapestriesand other artwork decorate its hallways.

October 2001 15

-

.

Known affectionatelywithin the Americancommunity as “thefort,” it was the first U.S.Embassy built after the1984 bombing of theembassy annex inBeirut, Lebanon.Although ancientMoghul in design, it hasstate-of-the-art securityfeatures.

The building occupiesa large plot of land in thediplomatic enclavewhere most expatriatesand upper-incomeBangladeshis live. Formany employees, it’s ashort walk or bike ridefrom home. TheAmerican InternationalSchool is convenientlylocated in the sameneighborhood and hasclasses from preschoolthrough 12th grade. A new gym and classrooms make itone of the best schools in Dhaka.

The newly completed general services office compoundis across the street from the chancery and includes theLibrary of Congress, the commissary, the motor pool and afive-acre recreation field. The embassy community and theAmerican International School use the field for sports.

FSN Firoze Ahmed reviews coverage in local newspapers ofupcoming Bangladeshi elections

16 State Magazine

Facility manager Michael L. Jackson, right, inspects bamboo scaffolding at the commissary building site.

FSN staff repair an air conditioning unit at the general services office center. Theyare, from left, Naquibul Hossain, Auranzeb Bhuiyan, Alamgir Alam and Moshin Ahmed.

Judicial reform is one of the embassy’s mostimportant goals. Working with the chief justiceand the law ministry, the embassy is helping totrain selected judges in mediation techniquesto reduce a nearly 20-year case backlog, partic-ularly in family law. By settling many cases outof court, the backlog is reduced and familiessave time and money. The embassy also coor-dinates an active Fulbright Scholarship pro-

Former President Jimmy Carter meets with the country team.

gram, works with the Fair Election Monitoring Allianceand encourages women to run for political office. Thepublic affairs section sponsors an information resourcecenter and counsels Bangladeshis interested in studyingin the United States.

Secretary Umme Kulsum Rahman prepares reports at the American Center.

The Peace Corps program is in its third year inBangladesh, with more than 50 volunteers trainingBangladeshi teachers to teach English as a foreign lan-guage in upcountry schools.

Embassy employees enjoy excellent housing, medicalcare from a regional medical officer, maintenance ser-vices and access to a well-maintained recreation club.

At a small to medium-sizedpost like Dhaka, the Americancommunity frequently comestogether to make its own fun.Dinner parties and receptionsare frequent among expatriateshere. Other international clubsin Dhaka are also popular hang-outs. The large expatriate com-munity ensures that anyoneposted here will meet othersfrom all over the world. Thereare also organizations such asthe Dhaka American Women’sClub, Cub Scouts and BoyScouts, as well as Girl Scoutsand Brownies. Spouse employ-ment is frequently available atthe American School, theembassy or with NGOs or otherinstitutions. Good restaurantscan be found in the city. The cui-sine is mainly Indian, Chinese,Korean and Thai. There are

October 2001 17

Volunteers in Bengali dress are sworn in at the Peace Corps office in Dhaka.

even a few good Italian restaurants and a Mexican oneas well.

Bangladesh has a culture rich in antiquities andnatural wonders. Ancient Hindu temples are scat-tered around the countryside. One of the largestBuddhist stupas is in northwestern Bangladesh. Inthe southwest, the primeval Sundarbans is home tothe royal Bengal tiger and stretches to the Indian bor-der and beyond. Major rivers originating in Tibetconverge to form a massive delta. Architecturally,

18 State Magazine

Nancy Hamilton, counselor associate, issues a nonimmigrant visa to a happyapplicant—one of about 36,000 recipients in 2001.

The century-old terra cottaHindu temple of Kantanagarin northwestern Bangladesh.

Photo by Robert W. Pons

Old Dhaka is filled with historic buildings from the BritishRaj, from ornate public buildings to private mansions.

Another benefit of living in Bangladesh is its proximity toother fascinating lands. Thailand is a two-hour flight away.Nepal is less than an hour’s flight. India, Burma, Malaysia,Singapore and Sri Lanka are also nearby. ■

The author is the wife of Colin Bucknor, assistant regional security officer.

T

Austeat uServ

C

Southwesternulture Attracts

Retirees

Story and Photos by Paul Koscak

The accent is on Spanish heritage andculture, but the emphasis is clearly oncamaraderie and fun.

hat about characterizes what the retired ForeignService officers of New Mexico, based in Albuquerque,do best. With about 90 members scattered throughout thestate, the group doesn’t track foreign policy or interna-tional issues, but individual members champion intereststhat reflect their lifetime diplomatic careers.

“We’re mainly a social organization,” said AustinMoede, a physician who retired as the regional medicalofficer at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa in 1994. “Wemeet twice per year. The majority of our speakers talkabout historical topics.”

Since many of the members served in Latin America,New Mexico, with its predominant Spanish and AmericanIndian cultures, is a natural retirement destination, accord-ing to Dr. Moede. “We’re interested in Hispanic culture.”

Adds Abe Pena, who retired in 1984 as director of theAgency for International Development mission in

Paraguay, “Ourmission is Pan-American. NewMexico is a comfort-able place for peo-ple who have livedin other parts of the world.”

Mr. Pena, wholives in Grants,recently arrangedfor Carlos Vasquez,chief curator of theNational Hispanic

in Moede, right, gestures his fellow retirees top at a lunchtime meeting the former Foreignice physician hosted at his home.

Cultural Center, also based in Albuquerque, tokeynote the group’s June meeting at the

Albuquerque Country Club. He’s now busy writing hismemoirs based on a diary he kept during the last 12 yearsof his career.

Still, many members continue their international involve-ment. Leslie Mortimer, a former Department nurse who ispresident of the NewMexico retirees’ group, ison a two-month assign-ment in Nicaragua. JohnHeard, the former direc-tor of the Office ofVoluntary Cooperationin the Philippines whoretired in 1994, is stillgoing strong. After retir-ing, he performed a two-year USAID assignmentin Bosnia and now trav-els frequently to LatinAmerica, Africa and Asiafor private corporations.

Although the members run a low-key operation, Dr.Moede is planning to organize a reception with a group ofState Department retired nurses who are meeting soon inAlbuquerque. There’s also talk about planning trips andlocal getaways.

“It’s wonderful to get together twice per year,” saidAnne Heard, who served with her husband, John, asdeputy executive officer. “We kept seeing everyone [dur-ing assignments] around the world.”

Abe Pena, John and Anne Heard and Lyle Lane, whoretired as a political officer in 1985, served in Paraguaytogether.

Anyone interested in joining can contact LeslieMortimer at ljmortimer@aol.com or Austin Moede atamoede@aol.com. ■

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

Fabiola Pena, left, wife of retired ForeignService officer Abe Pena, and retiredForeign Service officers Anne Heard andhusband, John, plan future events.

October 2001 19

National Security Adviser InspiresDepartment’s Summer Interns

FCfc

Story by Monique ArmstrongPhotos by Paul Koscak

Aformer music major who is nowthe President’s assistant for nation-al security affairs told nearly 200Department interns that great

careers come to those who work hard,shoot high and stay focused.

“Don’t let anyone limit your hori-zons,” said Condoleezza Rice, anauthority on defense, Eastern Europeand Russia, who once aspired to becomea concert pianist.

But a course in American and Sovietrelations taught by former SecretaryMadeleine Albright’s father, JosefKorbel, ignited her passion for foreignaffairs during her junior year at theUniversity of Denver. Then she becamea State Department intern in the Bureauof Education and Cultural Affairs.Anyone interested in pursuing a diplo-matic career, she said, needs experienceand a specialty.

“If you can see yourself doing this, be patient,” said thePresident’s adviser. “You need to get good at what you do.”

Named national security adviser in January, Ms. Ricemost recently taught at Stanford University. After captur-ing two of the school’s highest teaching awards, she

20 State Magazine

became the school’s provost, manag-ing a $1.5 billion annual budgetaffecting more than 15,400 facultyand students. While at Stanford, Ms.Rice served as a senior fellow of theInstitute for International Studies anda member of the Center forInternational Security and ArmsControl.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Ms.Rice is a former board member ofcorporate giants Chevron, CharlesSchwab, Transamerica and HewlettPackard.

During a question-answer periodthat followed her remarks, she calledChina “a rising power” that resentsAmerica’s support of Taiwan. “TheEB-3 was China saying they don’tlike our policies in Southeast Asia.”

The Antiballistic Missile Treaty,she said, has outlived its time. “Oneof the fictions of arms control is thatthe United States and the SovietUnion have the same number ofarms. Arms control was really about

highly flammable relations. The President is saying let’sgo beyond that.”

As to the young audience’s response:“I think it was structured very well,” said Rick Rust, a

Brown University intern. “It didn’t seem like she wasblowing us off.”

“I thought she was articulate and warm,” addedShannon Corey, a University of Pittsburgh intern gradu-ate student. “She was concise and pointed. She didn’tbeat around the bush.”

“She addressed our questions directly and didn’t seemto evade what we were asking,” said FSI intern JeannéLewis, a computer science student at WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis. “I now understand the rationale forthe U.S. government’s stance on many different issues.”

Some students were inspired enough to make a change intheir major. “I began thinking about what I was really interest-ed in and have decided to make the switch,” said intern MollySiems, a University of Pennsylvania student. ■

The author, a senior majoring in communications at MorganState University in Baltimore, was an intern with StateMagazine this past summer.

ormer State internondoleezza Rice, left,

ields questions fromurrent interns, below.

Transition CenterObserves 1st Anniversary

By Sarah Stanton

Where in the State Department will you find peoplebrowsing through school yearbooks, critiquingAmerican wines, finding a dream job or watching

home videos of Foreign Service families enjoying them-selves overseas?

Try the Foreign Service Institute’s Transition Center.As many as 13,000 people travel through the Transition

Center each year. All U.S. government employeesassigned to or returning from U.S. Embassies andConsulates overseas are welcome to bring their familiesfor assistance in assuring that travel to or from an over-seas post is a positive experience and a smooth process.

Located on the main floor of the historic yellow “OldMain” building on the National Foreign Affairs TrainingCenter campus in Arlington, Va., the center’s atmosphere isinformal and family friendly. It is a haven for those in limbobetween deciding on post bids and preparing for posts.

The Transition Center supports FSI’s mission ofpreparing American diplomats and other professionals toadvance U.S. foreign affairs by serving as a one-stop shop

Pat Telkins, standing, coordinatorBriefing Center, describes the ceto families departing for oversea

for any information they may need to facilitate transfer toand from post as well as transfer into a new career fol-lowing retirement.

Officially opened in October 2000, the center’s organi-zational divisions have been around for many years. Thecenter brings together under one roof the OverseasBriefing Center, the Foreign Affairs Life Skills TrainingDivision and the Career Transition Center.

The OBC provides information and referral services toall U.S. government personnel and their families en routeto or considering an overseas assignment.

The training division targets those new to the ForeignService with such courses as Security Overseas; Realitiesof Foreign Service Life; Communicating Across Cultures;Explaining America; Regulations, Allowances andFinances; and Protocol and U.S. Representation Abroad.For spouses returning from overseas tours, there arecourses like Targeting the Job Market, English Teachingand Making Presentations: From Design to Delivery. Thecourses are offered tuition-free to State Departmentemployees and family members.

The Career Transition Center offers programs for U.S. cit-izen employees of the State Department and other foreign

affairs and federal agencies, includingthe Job Search Program, the RetirementPlanning Seminar and the FinancialManagement and Estate PlanningSeminar. Many employees attend thefinancial management seminar at mid-career for information that must be con-sidered far before retirement. The TalentBank and Job Leads newsletter helpmake the transition to new pursuitsmore successful and less stressful by pro-viding retirees lists of job openings.Opportunities range from engineeringpositions to program assistants to SeniorExecutive level careers.

The Transition Center is open week-days from 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m. For moreinformation, visit: http://fsiweb.fsi.state.gov/fsi/tc.asp or http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/obc. ■

The author, a student at Ohio StateUniversity, was an intern this past sum-mer at the Transition Center.

of the Overseasnter’s resourcess assignments.

Photo by Bob Kaiser

October 2001 21

22 State Magazine

Diplomats, Soldiers Bond In Open-Air Classroom

e

Story and Photos by Paul Koscak

More than 20 Department employees learnedsomething about Army decisions 150 years agoduring the Battle of Chancellorsville. They alsolearned something about today’s Army, thanksto a novel concept that informally brings togeth-er officials from the State

and Defense Departments.The June 15 day-trip to the

Chancellorsville battlefields, justwest of Fredericksburg, Va., is oneof several “staff tours” offeringboth a military history lesson andan opportunity for some profes-sional networking.

“They’re an eduand a way topeople to th

“They’re an educational tour and a way to introducepeople to the military,” said Christine Shelly, the politi-cal adviser to Army chief of staff Gen. Eric Shinseki,who devised the tours more than a year ago. An eco-nomics officer who has worked in political-militaryaffairs for 10 years, Ms. Shelly makes a special effort tobuild bridges between the two departments. Startingwith staff from the Foreign Service Institute, there are

now regular exchanges of studentsand faculty between FSI and Armytraining centers.

Past staff tours have included theBull Run, Antietam and Gettysburgbattlefields. The Chancellorsvillevisit, timed to mark the Army’s 226thanniversary, showed how the out-numbered Confederates under Gen.

cational tour introduce military.”

Nancy Smith-Nissley, left, Bureau of Economic Affairs, and John Finney,

Steve Schlaikjer, left,Parmly, Bureau of DemRaphel review an exh

Robert E. Lee divided their forces torepulse a Union effort by Gen. JoeHooker to smash the Army of NorthernVirginia and end the Civil War.

Ted Ballard, an Army historian fromFort McNair’s Center for MilitaryHistory, who accompanied the trip,offered not only a compelling narrationof the plans and tactics the Union andConfederate forces used, but insightson 19th century fighting as well.

“The tactics were derived from thedeficiencies of the weapons,” he said.

The standard weapon usedthroughout most of the Civil War wasa smoothbore musket. Gunpowderwas poured down the barrel. Whenfired, the musket ball’s trajectorydepended more on the angle the ballleft the barrel than on the soldier’saim. And if that’s not enough handi-cap, muskets misfired about a third ofthe time, Mr. Ballard added.

That’s why 19th century soldierslined up shoulder to shoulder and firedin unison at the opposing line, whichdid the same. The carnage would con-tinue, Mr. Ballard said, until the com-mander with the most surviving sol-diers ordered his troops to fix bayonetsand charge. Bayonets weren’t justclipped to the end of a musket barrel.The task was done with flair to demor-alize an opponent.

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, study the Chancellorsville battle site.

political adviser to the chief of Naval Operations; Michaelocracy, Human Rights and Labor; and Ambassador Robin

ibit.

“The soldier would take out a highly polishedbayonet, hold it up and move it overhead in a circlebefore attaching it,” he said. “Imagine the psycho-logical effect of seeing hundreds of blades glintingin the sunlight.”

The trip earned praise from participants.“There may be lessons for us today,” said Steve

Schlaikjer, the political adviser to Adm. VernonClark, chief of naval operations. “This can be agood training activity because it shows lots of linksbetween economics and politics.”

Opportunities to associate with the military areparticularly valuable for those who haven’t servedin the military, said Robert Hopper, director ofpolitical training at the Foreign Service Institute.“This strengthens the role of the POLAD (politicaladviser),” he added. ■

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

October 2001 23

DiplomatsPitchForeignService

DiplomatsPitchForeignService

By Paul Koscak

Diplomats-in-residence—those sea-soned Foreign Service officersassigned to universities and col-leges—are getting new marchingorders this year: Bring in the numbers.

Expanding from a traditional college-recruiting job where the diplomat seeks outthe school’s best graduates for Departmentcareers, the focus is now on both the campusand the community.

“It’s definitely expanded from last year,” said ChristianFilostrat, the former Howard University Diplomat-in-Residence and now the program’s coordinator. “It’s oneof the most valuable programs we have.”

Last year, there wasn’t a full-time diplomatic readinesstask force committed to hiring 1,433 new employees bythe end of 2002. Last year, there wasn’t a commitmentfrom the Secretary on down to shore up the Department’sdepleting ranks as seasoned employees retire.

The Diplomat-in-Residence provides in many casesthe only exposure students and community residentshave to the State Department, its mission and careeropportunities.

“You are the central component to the diplomatic taskforce,” Director General Ruth A. Davis told this year’s diplo-

On Campus and Off

24 State Magazine

mats. “This is the first time the Diplomats-in-Residence havebeen involved in such large-scale recruitment.”

She said it’s vital for the diplomats to become knownin the communities surrounding their campuses—to“aggressively spread the message of the StateDepartment.” Career fairs, professional and businessorganizations and military bases are among the new ven-ues being targeted by the diplomats.

Offering the Foreign Service exam twice rather thanonce per year and providing ways to directly hire mid-level talent will give the campus diplomats more latitude.But that won’t eliminate the competition, AmbassadorDavis said.

“There’s the lure of money from the dot-coms and fromother government agencies,” she said.

Grant Green, left, under secretaryfor Management, greets recruiterRussell Taylor. Looking on isAmbassador June Carter Perry,Diplomat-in-Residence at HowardUniversity in Washington, D.C.

Phot

o by

Pau

l Kos

cak

Endorsing the director general’s comments was GrantGreen, the Department’s under secretary of Management,who also spoke to the diplomats.

“I can guarantee you we’re going to expect a lot,” hesaid. “We’re not sending you out into an academic envi-ronment for pleasure.”

The under secretary reasoned that many career candi-dates lost interest in the Department because diplomatsand others involved in recruiting didn’t follow through.

Foreign Service recruiters Cynthia Wood, left, and Jane McCollough atthe recent Diplomat-in-Residence orientation.

Phot

o by

Pau

l Kos

cak

“You need to stay in touch,” he said. “It’s like a coachtalking to a ball player. We haven’t done a good job of that.”

Adds Mr. Filostrat, who served in Senegal, Nigeria,Congo, Haiti and Romania, “You have to be creative,energetic and a go-getter.”

The diplomat recruiters are also being tasked to seek outmore minority candidates for State Department careers.“The Secretary has said it would be good for the UnitedStates if the State Department looks like America,” Mr.Filostrat said. “If I can increase in some way the amount ofminorities, I feel I will have done my job.”

The new coordinator, who will oversee 11 campuspositions, gives the program high marks. “It’s one of themost exciting assignments I’ve had in 21 years,” he said.“Anyone interested in playing a major role in shaping thefuture of the Department should consider a Diplomat-in-Residence position.”

Under the arrangement, the Department pays theDiplomat-in-Residence’s salary, benefits and officialtravel expenses. The university provides an office towork from. Schools are selected for their commitmentto international programs and minority attendance. Inaddition to recruiting, the diplomats may be guest lec-turers or even teach a course. Mr. Filostrat said seniorForeign Service or Civil Service employees can be con-sidered for Diplomat-in-Residence positions. Toursgenerally last two years. ■

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

October 2001 25

26 State Magazine

Program OffersState Staff

Leadership Training

By Paul Koscak

Their staff may be awayfrom the job nearly halfthe year, but the execu-tive leadership program

for mid-level employees gets highmarks by Department managerswho take up the slack.

This year, nine mid-levelDepartment employees are com-pleting an exhaustive programthat stresses academics, mentor-ing and meeting top governmentand corporate officials. Thoserequirements keep participantsaway from their jobs for almostfive months of the 12-monthcourse. Run by the Department ofAgriculture’s graduate school, the

curriculum’s rigorousrequirements in mas-tering the latest leader-ship techniques, solv-ing actual managementproblems and experi-encing the day-to-dayissues faced by high-level managers showsthat the USDA school isno cow college.

The program isgeared to GS-11–13employees who aspireto higher grades,opportunities andresponsibilities. It startswith a self-assessment,an individual develop-

“More thanone person

should knowhow to

do a job.”

Maggy Morse

ment plan and a week visiting organizations known foroutstanding leaders.

Participants must read at least three books on leader-ship and management. There’s a requirement to shadowsenior-executive-service managers for a week and inter-view others. This year, Secretary of State Colin Powellwas one of the interviewed executives.

The class, which consists of federal employees fromthroughout the United States, is divided into teams. Theteams meet regularly, work together on projects and trav-el as a group to observe other agencies or corporations.Individuals must also perform two temporary stints atanother agency or organization, one for 30 days, anotherfor 60.

Supervisor Mattie English takes a pragmatic viewwhen it comes to her employee, Leon Coates, who’senrolled in the executive leadership program and worksfor her in the Bureau of Financial Management.

“I was taughtearly on that itwas my job as amanager to pre-pare my employ-ees to take myposition,” shesaid. “I have astrong belief inc r o s s - t r a i n i n gemployees. Morethan one personshould know howto do a job.”

It’s better tomanage anabsence you can

Nilda Louterbach

plan on, Ms. English notes, than frantically try to trainsomeone when an employee leaves. “If not, you’re stucktrying to train someone from the beginning.”

Another manager, Ceci Holson from the Bureau ofConsular Affairs, values the knowledge employees bringback to the job after participating in career training. “Iwant the employees to learn as much as they can andbring back as much to the organization as possible.”

The bureau regularly sends employees from both thefield and the District to a variety of leadership develop-ment programs, Ms. Holson said.

For more information on the program call, DebraEddington, USDA coordinator, at (202) 314-3592 or MaryTaylor, Civil Service personnel management, at (202)663-2145. ■

The author is a writer-editor for State Magazine.

Program Boosts Confidence, OutlookFor Nilda Lauterbach, the executive leadership program isn’t just a promising career builder but a great

door opener as well.When Ms. Lauterbach, a GS-12 accountant in the Bureau of Finance Management and Policy Planning

who didn’t have lots of contacts, needed places to build her executive leadership work experience or to lineup executive interviews, she did what any good, positive professional would do—she let her fingers dothe walking and simply picked up the telephone.

“Where would I like to go?” she asked rhetorically. “I got the federal managers directory and started calling.”Not surprisingly, the accountant-turned-telemarketer discovered hardly any resistance to her straight-

ahead approach. She arranged interviews with the executive director of the Commodity Futures TradingCommission, the senior consultant to the chief information officer of the Federal Deposit InsuranceCorporation and then assistant secretary of State for Administration Patrick Kennedy.

Next, she solicited executives to shadow and struck gold, ending up with Liz Gelfer, the budget officerfor the President’s executive office. “She deals with the White House budget,” Ms. Lauterbach said.

She also spent a week with Brenda Sprague, the director of language services at FSI.“You meet people with new concepts, new perspectives,” said Ms. Lauterbach in describing her experi-

ences. “You really are a different person after that.”For Maggy Morse, an employee services specialist in the Bureau of Administration, the program broad-

ened her perspective.“I didn’t think I could go into another agency and actually function,” she said. “The whole program has

opened my horizons tremendously.”And that’s coming from someone who’s a 10-year Department veteran. Ms. Morse worked as a coordi-

nator in the housing office in Belgium, her native country, as a community liaison officer in Sweden andHaiti and as a consular assistant in Israel. But that was as a Foreign Service officer spouse.

Ms. Morse, a GS-12 in the Office of General Services Management, might be involved in an emergencyevacuation one day or arranging to bring home the body of an employee who died the next.

Her experience counted when she selected the National Transportation Safety Board and the FederalEmergency Management Agency to obtain her executive leadership training.

At the NTSB Ms. Morse learned how the agency assists families of accident victims and how it deals withmanagement problems. At FEMA, she observed how response and recovery operations are managed andhow the organization works with businesses and other government agencies.

Further experience was gained visiting Coors brewery in Colorado and the National Park Service. Thoseorganizations offered her insights, she said, on selecting and training leaders.

Ms. Morse also spent a week shadowing Mary Ryan, assistant secretary of State for Consular Affairs. “I feel more comfortable with what I can do,” Ms. Morse said about the program’s benefits.

October 2001 27

Natio

nal S

afe

Kids

Cam

paig

n

By Kathy Bradford

Children of the State Department “family” gain expe-riences others only dream of—learning about newcultures, acquiring new languages and making inter-national friends. Sometimes these adventures

include living in places where safety and environmentalstandards fall short of those found in the United States.Threats to child safety, however, are not limited to overseas.

In the United States, unintentional childhood injury isthe leading cause of death among children under the ageof 14. According to the National Safe Kids Campaign,each year 14 million children—one out of every four—sustain injuries serious enough to require medical atten-tion. The most common causes of death for children aremotor vehicle accidents, where children are occupants,pedestrians or on bicycles; drowning; fire and burns; suf-focation; choking; unintentional firearm injuries; falls;and poisoning. These mishaps affect the child, the fami-ly and entire communities financially and emotionally.In the Department, children account for 77 percent ofresidential fatalities, primarily from drowning.

Protecting your child from injury is not always easy,but there are ways to minimize risks. The first is plan-ning. Take a few moments to review your children’s envi-ronment and activities, starting with home. How old areyour children? What’s available that can harm them?View your residence through the eyes of your 2- (or 4-or10-) year-old. Are there particular objects, supplies orpieces of equipment that could cause them injury?

Childproof your home by locking up chemicals, clean-ers, medicines and firearms and by installing safety cov-ers on electrical outlets. Check your hot water tempera-ture. If it comes out of the faucet at more than 120˚F, adjustthe temperature downward. Does your home have stairs,balconies or other areas that put your children at risk? Ifso, install a safety gate or railing at least 42 inches highwith openings no more than 4 inches wide. Test to verifythat your smoke alarm is working properly. Does yourhome have a pool? If so, ensure that it has fencing withself-closing, self-latching gates and rescue equipment.

If you are overseas, your post occupational safety andhealth officer is a valuable resource.

Children can benefit from playing sports. Check out theproposed activity and determine how they can participatesafely. If your children are new to a sport, consider lessons.Purchase or rent the appropriate safety gear. Make sure thatyour children have approved biking helmets and wearthem properly. Skateboards and scooters should be usedonly in parks or playgrounds—never along streets—with

Planning Safety intoYour Children’s Lives

Safety Scene

28 State Magazine

appropriate helmets and padding. Boating activities requirea life jacket. If you don’t know much about the proposedactivity, take time to find out more by checking out theInternet or asking other parents, teachers or coaches.

Talk to your children about their safety. Practice a familydrill on how to respond to an emergency no matter whereyou are, including where to call to get help. Teach themage-appropriate safety skills as part of learning any newexperience, from crossing streets to wilderness survivaltechniques. Be a role model for them by practicing safebehavior yourself: buckle up, wear safety gear when appro-priate and don’t drink and drive. Make safety part of yourway of having fun. Children learn from what they see.

Keeping your child safe involves seeing your environ-ment—and theirs—with a new and larger focus. We allmake risk assessments daily, from crossing the street tochecking the water temperature before getting into ashower. Unfortunately, one of the most common phrasesspoken after an accident is, “I just wasn’t thinking.”

Commit yourself to consciously thinking through yourchild’s day in terms of environment, activities and plans, see-ing what risks may occur and finding ways to prevent them.

Besides contacting your post safety and health officer,check out the National Safe Kids Campaign(www.safekids.org), the Consumer Products SafetyCommission (www.cpsc.gov) or the American Red Cross(www.redcross.org). ■

The author is an industrial hygienist with the Office of Safetyand Environmental Health.

People Like YouPeople Like You

He’s a RealPowerhouse

Ramis Bakhshaliev is in a class by himself.Last June, in San Diego, Calif., the FSN securi-ty investigator at the U.S. Embassy inAshgabat benched 330 lbs. to become theworld champion power lifter in his weightclass (165 lbs.). He competed against 16 otherweight lifters from around the world duringthe two-day competition. Mr. Bakhshalievbegan lifting weights in 1987 at age 16 andwas the national body-building champion(Mr. Turkmenistan) for nine consecutiveyears. He has been the Turkmen championpower lifter since 1988. A former police offi-cer, he joined the embassy in 1998 in the pub-lic diplomacy section before becoming aninvestigator in 1999.

Photo by Brenda Nave

FSN Ramis Bakhshaliev indulges in his favoritepasttime—lifting weights.

Trombonist John Nave joins a local band.

Playing for the President

It’s not often you get to play for the President, especially ifyou’re an information technology type. John Nave works oncomputers at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, but he’s also a mem-ber of the Brussels American Community Band, which per-formed for President Bush and Secretary Powell during theirvisit there last June. Before joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Navewas a bass trombonist with the Baltimore Jazz Orchestra and afreelance trombonist in the Baltimore-Washington area. As a free-lancer, the information management specialist performed withMel Torme, Wayne Newton and the Four Tops. He’s evenarranged and published a Serbian folksong for a tuba quintet.

October 2001 29

30 State Mag

Courses: National Foreign Affairs Training Center

&Education Training

LanguageBASIC, Course Code: 100French, German, Italian, Portuguese,

Spanish, 5 24WF.A.S.T., Course Code: 200French, German, Italian, Portuguese,

Russian, Spanish 5 7W

Area StudiesAdvanced-During full-time Language Tng.—Weekly 3HIntensiveSub-Saharan Africa AR210 26 2WWestern Hemisphere AR239 26 2WNear East/North Africa AR240 26 2WSouth Asia AR260 26 2WSoutheast Asia AR270 26 2WRussia/Eurasia AR281 26 2WCaucasus/Central Asia Module AR282 29 2DCaspian Sea Energy Module 30 1DEurope AR291 26 2WEuropean Union Module AR292 3 2DBalkans Module AR293 29 2D

Administrative TrainingManaging Customer Service PA123 14 1DProperty Mgt. for Custodial Officers PA135 8 2DMgt. Control Workshop PA137 3 2DCustomer Service Tng. PA143 15 2DCFMS—System Overview and Orient. PA150 4, 6 2DCFMS—Budget Execution PA151 18 2DCFMS—Requisition Documents PA153 12 2DCFMS—Miscellaneous Obligations PA154 14 2DCFMS—Travel Orders PA155 10 2DContracting Officer Update Tng. PA173 3 1DContracting Officer Rep. Pre-Award Tng. PA174 5 3DContracting Officer Rep. Post-Award Tng. PA175 8 2DWorking with ICASS PA214 6 4DGeneral Services Operations PA221 5 10 10WBasic Administration Mgt. PA224 3 1WFSN Position Class. and Comp. PA232 13 2W

Distance LearningCorrespondence Courses: How to Be a Certifying Officer PA291, How to Be aContracting Officer Representative PA130, How to Write a Statement of Work PA134,Introduction to Simplified Acquisitions & Requisitions Overseas PA222, Mgt. ControlsWorkbook PA164, Tng. for Overseas Cashier Supervisor PA294, Tng. for OverseasVoucher Examiners PA200 Computer Based Tng. (CBT): Purchase Card Self-Certification Tng. PA297, Overseas Cashier (CD-ROM Version) PA295, Basic NEPARecord Keeping (Overseas) PA226

Consular TrainingRegional Consular Officers Workshop PC114 6 3DAutomation for Consular Managers PC116 17 5D

Continuous Enrollment: Basic Consular Course PC530, Orient. to Overseas ConsularFunctions PC105, Overseas Citizen Services PC535, Passport & Nationality PC536,Immigrant Visas PC537, Non-Immigrant Visas PC538, Consular Review & Automation PC540

Program Nov. Dec. Length

azine

Correspondence Courses: Immigration Law and Visa Operation PC102, NationalityLaw and Consular Procedures PC103, Overseas Citizens’ Services PC104 (6 days),Passport Examiners’ Correspondence Course PC110, Introduction to PassportAdjudication PC118

Curriculum and Staff DevelopmentTng. Design Workshop PD512 7 3DEvaluation Design Workshop PD518 13 2D

Economic & Commercial TrainingPolitical Economic Tradecraft PG140 7 3W

Orientation TrainingOrient. for Civil Service Employees PN105 7 5 3D

Executive Programs TrainingEEO/Diversity Awareness for Mgrs. and Sup. PT107 1,15 6,13 2DManaging People Problems PT121 30 3.5DCoaching PT211 1 1DLeading a Diverse Workforce PT218 10 1DStrategic Thinking and Planning Workshop PT131 4 1DStrategies of Persuasion PT220 5 2DFour Roles of Leadership PT221 5 3D

Management Development TrainingEmployee Relations Seminar PK246 8 2DTeambuilding PT129 13 1DPerformance Mgt. Seminar PT205 3 3DIntroduction to Mgt. Skills PT207 5 1WManaging State Projects PT208 26 1WSeven Habits of Highly Effective People PT216 6 11 4DProductively Managing Stress PT251 29 1DNegotiation Skills for Managers PT253 15 2D

Public Diplomacy TrainingManaging Staff and Resources for Public Affairs

Campaigns PY101 8 2DSpeechwriting and Presentation Skills PY102 16 1DRole of the Spokesperson/How the

Media Work PY103 14 1DElectronic Media/On Camera Interviews PY104 15 1DAdministering Public Diplomacy Overseas PY105 6 2DPublic Diplomacy and Information

Technology PY106 2 1DPlanning and Implementing Public Diplomacy

Strategies PY111 9 2DCultural Programming Overseas PY112 5 1DAdministering Public Diplomacy Grants PY220 19 3D

Office Management TrainingCivil Service Office Support Professionals

Tng. for Entering Pers. PK104 5 2WProofreading PK143 20 2DJob Savvy: Skills for Workplace Success PK146 3 1WDrafting Correspondence PK159 9 5DTravel Regulations and Vouchers PK205 29 13 2D

Program Nov. Dec. Length

Files Mgt. and Retirement PK207 7 1DBetter Office English: Oral PK226 5 2WEffective Speaking and Listening PK240 10 2WWriting Effective Letters and Memos PK241 10 5D

Political TrainingIntelligence and Foreign Policy PP212 10 3DInternational Negotiation: Art and Skills PP501 3 1WPolitical/Economic Tradecraft PG140 7 3WPopulation, Refugee and Migration Officer PP518 10 1W

Multi-Media and Library ServicesOnline Introduction to HTML MM306 4 6DSecurity Overseas SeminarSOS: Security Overseas Seminar MQ911 5 3 2DASOS: Adv. Se. Overseas Seminar MQ912 27 11 1DTDY Security Overseas Seminar MQ913 5 3 1DTransitions (OBC)English Teaching Seminar MQ107 27 3DMaking Presentations: Design to Delivery MQ111 13 3DPost Options for Employment and Tng. MQ703 8 1DTargeting the Job Market MQ704 6 2DLong-Distance Relationships MQ801 17 .5DCommunicating Across Cultures MQ802 16 1DRealities of Foreign Service Life MQ803 3 1DDual-Culture Marriages MQ850 28 2.5HRaising Bilingual Children MQ851 7 2.5H

Career Transition CenterRetirement Planning Seminar RV101 27 4DFinancial and Estate Planning RV103 29 1DAnnuities and Benefits and Social Security RV104 28 1D

Information Management TrainingPC/Windows NT 4.0 PS201 5 3 2DIntroduction to the Internet PS218 5,26 4,20 1DWord 97 for Windows, Introduction PS232 7 2D

Program Nov. Dec. Length

Computer training at FSI.

Photo by Bob Kaiser

Word 97 for Windows, Intermediate PS233 17 2DPowerPoint Introduction PS240 7 3 2DAccess 97 Introduction PS250 6 5 2DAccess 97 Intermediate PS251 20 2DExcel 97 Introduction PS270 14 19 2DExcel 97 Intermediate PS271 6 2DIntroduction to Microsoft Project PS280 10 3DCable Express Client PS284 14,26 10 1DCable Express Administration PS285 26 10 5DCA Systems for IMS PS310 3 1WInternet for Power Users PS318 15 7 1DIntroduction to Microsoft Word 2000 PS332 5 2DIntermediate Microsoft Word 2000 PS333 6 2DIntroduction to Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 PS340 19 2DIntermediate Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 PS341 5 2DIntroduction to Microsoft Access 2000 PS350 19 17 2DIntermediate Microsoft Access 2000 PS351 15 2DIntroduction to Excel 2000 PS370 3 2DIntermediate Microsoft Excel 2000 PS371 19 2DIntroduction to Microsoft Outlook 2000 PS398 9 18 1DWeb Development Fundamentals PS418 26 17 4D

Professional Development DivisionIntroduction to Telephone Security YW141 5,12,26 17 1DBasic Telephone YW142 5,12,26 17 1WClassified LAN YW177 17 2WSX-50 YW219 26 1WSX-200D YW220 19 17 1WSX-2000 YW221 5 3 1WCLOUT 3.0 YW230 12 1WFAST Backup YW231 12 3 1WFAST TERP V YW232 5,19 10 1WCommercial Satellite Terminals YW234 26 2WSystem Admin/Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 YW236 24 1WAdministering SMS 2.0 YW237 10 1WSupporting Microsoft System Mgt. 2.0 YW238 17 1WNT Advanced YW240 5,12,26 10,17 1WAdvanced Windows 2000 YW245 26 3 3WWide-Band Net YW250 12 2WAdvanced Router Configuration YW251 5 2WMeridian 61C 19 2WAdvanced Nortel YW499 5 3 1WBanyan LAN YW640 3 2WDesktop Systems YW642 5,26 10 2WBlack Router YW745 26 1WMicrosoft Exchange YW749 5 10 1WLength: H = Hours, D = Days, W = Weeks

For additional information, please consult the course catalog or contact the Office ofthe Registrar at (703) 302-7144 or consult the FSI web site at www.fsiweb.gov.

Program Nov. Dec. Length

LANGUAGE START DATE CHANGEThe start currently advertised as Feb. 25, 2002, moves toMarch 4, 2002. End dates are changed as follows:

Course Currently Scheduled New End DateEnd Date

FAST 4/19/02 4/26/02

BASIC 23 Wks 8/02/02 8/09/02

BASIC 24 Wks 8/09/02 8/16/02

BASIC 30 Wks 9/20/02 9/27/02(German)

October 2001 31

A P P O I N T M E N T S

U.S. Ambassador to the FederalRepublic of Germany. Daniel R.Coats of Indiana is the new U.S.Ambassador to the FederalRepublic of Germany. At the timeof his appointment, Mr. Coats wasspecial counsel at Verner, Liipfert,Bernhard, McPherson and Hand, aWashington, D.C., law firm. Heserved in the U.S. House of

Representatives from 1981 to 1989 and was appointed tothe U.S. Senate in 1988. He represented Indiana in theU.S. Senate from 1989 to 1999, serving on the SenateArmed Services Committee and the Select Committee forIntelligence, among others. Mr. Coats served in the U.S.Army from 1966 to 1968. He and his wife, Marcia Ann,have three grown children.

Inspector General. Clark KentErvin of Texas is the new inspectorgeneral. He served in the office ofthe attorney general of Texas asdeputy attorney general/generalcounsel and director of administra-tion from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Ervinwas assistant secretary of state ofTexas from 1995 to 1999. He wasassociate director of policy for the

office of national service at the White House from 1989 to1991. Prior to his government service, Mr. Ervin practicedlaw with firms in Houston.

U.S. Ambassador to the HashemiteKingdom of Jordan. Edward W.“Skip” Gnehm Jr. of Georgia, acareer member of the SeniorForeign Service, Class of CareerMinister, is the new U.S.Ambassador to the HashemiteKingdom of Jordan. He has servedas U.S. Ambassador to Australiasince June 2000 and held the post of

director general of the Foreign Service and director ofPersonnel from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Gnehm was deputy U.S.representative to the United Nations with the rank ofambassador from 1994 to 1997. He was U.S. Ambassadorto Kuwait immediately following the Gulf War and wasdeputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Near EasternAffairs before that. He served as deputy chief of missionin Jordan and in the Yemen Arab Republic. He has alsoserved in Syria, Nepal, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. Mr.Gnehm and his wife, Margaret, have two children.

32 State Magazine

U.S. Ambassador to theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.Aubrey Hooks of South Carolina isthe new U.S. Ambassador to theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.Mr. Hooks is a career member of theSenior Foreign Service, Class ofMinister-Counselor, who joined theDepartment in 1971. Mr. Hooks hasserved in Tel Aviv, Warsaw and

Port-au-Prince. He was a member of the U.S. delegation tothe Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europeheld in Helsinki in 1992. He was U.S. Ambassador to theCongo, Brazzaville, from 1996 to 1999 and concurrently,when that embassy was evacuated, became chargé of theembassy in the Central African Republic. He and his wife,Jean, have six children.

Ambassador to the Republic ofKorea. Thomas C. Hubbard ofTennessee, a career member of theSenior Foreign Service, Class ofMinister-Counselor, is the new U.S.Ambassador to the Republic ofKorea. Prior to this appointment,Mr. Hubbard was principal deputyassistant secretary for East Asianand Pacific Affairs from August

2000 to July 2001. Before that, he was concurrent U.S.Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines and theRepublic of Palau. He served tours as deputy chief ofmission in Manila and then in Kuala Lumpur. He heldtwo assignments in Japan and one in the DominicanRepublic. Mr. Hubbard and his wife, Joan, have twogrown children.

U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.Marie T. Huhtala of California, acareer member of the SeniorForeign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is the new U.S.Ambassador to Malaysia. At thetime of her appointment, she wasdeputy chief of mission at the U.S.Embassy in Bangkok. She has alsoserved in France, Taiwan, Hong

Kong and Canada, where she was consul general inQuebec City. In Washington, D.C., she was deputy direc-tor of the office of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and,later, director of the office of Burma, Cambodia, Laos,Thailand and Vietnam affairs. She and her husband, EinoA. Huhtala Jr., have two grown children.

U.S. Ambassador to the SyrianArab Republic. Theodore H.Kattouf of Maryland, a careermember of the Senior ForeignService, Class of Minister-Counselor, is the new U.S.Ambassador to the Syrian ArabRepublic. In a career that began in1972 and has been spent entirely inthe Near East or on Department

assignments concerned with the region, this is Mr.Kattouf’s third posting to Damascus. Before this appoint-ment, he was U.S. Ambassador to the United ArabEmirates from 1998 to 2001. He served as deputy chief ofmission in U.S. Embassies in Iraq, Yemen, Syria andSaudi Arabia. He also served in Kuwait and Iraq. Beforejoining the Foreign Service, Mr. Kattouf was a captain inthe U.S. Army, serving overseas in Berlin. He and hiswife, Jeannie Marie, have four children.

U.S. Ambassador to the Republicof Singapore. Franklin L. Lavin ofOhio, a banker with extensiveexperience in Asia, is the new U.S.Ambassador to the Republic ofSingapore. A principal for Bank ofAmerica from 1999 to 2000, Mr.Lavin was co-manager of thebank’s multinational corporategroup for Southeast Asia and

Australia. He was a Citibank vice president for globalcorporate banking from 1996 to 1999 and executive direc-tor of the Asia Pacific Policy Center from 1994 to 1996.During the administration of President George H.W.Bush, Mr. Lavin was deputy assistant secretary for EastAsia and the Pacific. He held a variety of positions in theReagan Administration, including deputy executive sec-retary of the National Security Council and director ofprivate and voluntary organizations at the U.S. Agencyfor International Development.

U.S. Ambassador to France.Howard H. Leach of California, aSan Francisco-area businessmanand community leader, is the newU.S. Ambassador to France. He ispresident of Leach Capital LLC andLeach McMicking & Co., SanFrancisco, as well as president ofFoley Timber & Land Co., Perry, Fla.Mr. Leach served as a member of the

board of regents of the University of California from 1990to 2001 and as chairman of the board from 1993 to 1995. Hewas finance chairman of the Republican NationalCommittee from 1995 to 1997.

U.S. Ambassador to the UnitedStates of Eritrea. Donald J.McConnell of Ohio, a career mem-ber of the Senior Foreign Service,Class of Minister-Counselor, is thenew U.S. Ambassador to theUnited States of Eritrea. He wasdeputy assistant secretary in theBureau of Political-Military Affairsfrom 2000 to 2001. From 1996 to

2000, he was deputy assistant secretary general of NATOfor political affairs on the NATO international staff inBrussels. He was U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso from1993 to 1996. Prior to that, he was deputy chief of missionat the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, with an extended periodas chargé. He has served more than 10 years in Africa,including assignments to U.S. Embassies in Egypt, IvoryCoast, Swaziland and Ethiopia. Mr. McConnell and hiswife, Frances, live in Reston, Va.

U.S. Ambassador to Greece.Thomas J. Miller of Virginia, a careermember of the Senior ForeignService, Class of Minister-Counselor,is the new U.S. Ambassador toGreece. This will be his third postingto Athens. At the time of his appoint-ment, Mr. Miller was serving as chiefof mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.He was special coordinator for

Cyprus from 1997 to 1999 and deputy chief of mission inAthens from 1994 to 1997. At the Department, he was direc-tor of the office of Israeli and Arab-Israeli affairs from 1992to 1994 and director of the office of Maghreb affairs from1989 to 1992. His first Foreign Service assignment was toChiang Mai, Thailand. Mr. Miller and his wife, Bonnie,have two children.

U.S. Representative to theOrganization for EconomicCooperation and Development.Jeanne L. Phillips of Texas is the newU.S. Representative to the Organiza-tion for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment, with the rank ofambassador. She was executive direc-tor of the 54th presidential inauguralcommittee, deputy chair for opera-

tions of the Republican National Committee and senioradviser for national finance of Bush for President, Inc. From1995 to 1998, Ms. Phillips was managing director of the Dallasoffice of Public Strategies, Inc., a public affairs consulting firmbased in Austin. Earlier, she was executive director of theTexas Inaugural Committee, appointed by governor-electBush. She was president of Jeanne Johnson and Co., Inc., afundraising, public relations and event planning firm. Sheand her husband, David, have one daughter.

October 2001 33

U.S. Ambassador to the Republicof Ghana. Nancy Jo Powell of Iowais the new U.S. Ambassador to theRepublic of Ghana. Ms. Powell is acareer member of the SeniorForeign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, who joined theDepartment in 1977. At the time ofher nomination, she was actingassistant secretary of State for

African Affairs. She has served as U.S. Ambassador toUganda, consul general in Calcutta and deputy chief ofmission in Bangladesh and Togo. Ms. Powell has alsoheld assignments in New Delhi, Islamabad, Kathmanduand Ottawa. In Washington, she served as principaldeputy assistant secretary for African Affairs.

U.S. Ambassador to Switzerlandand Liechtenstein. MercerReynolds of Ohio is the new U.S.Ambassador to Switzerland andLiechtenstein. He is chairman ofReynolds, DeWitt and Co., aninvestment firm specializing in cor-porate acquisitions and financings;chairman of Sena Weller Rohs andWilliams Inc., a regional investment

firm; and chairman and chief executive officer of ReynoldsPlantation, a golf and real estate resort development com-pany near Atlanta. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the advi-sory board of the Center for Strategic and InternationalStudies and also serves on the boards of Summerbridge, atutorial program for inner-city youth, and the NationalCoalition for the Protection of Children and Families. Heand his wife, Gabrielle, have five children.

34 State Magazine

PERSONNE

Aber, Richard J.Allard, Clarke WilliamAuldridge, Stephen E.Bimmerle, Diann M.

Feeney, Jon J.Flaherty, Sue AnneGunn, Lois E.Holliday, Joanne P.

Lawing, Helen MarieLogsdon, Wayne K.Saunders, Edward CharlesSlatin, Steven R.

SW

Foreign Service Retirements

U.S. Ambassador to the CzechRepublic. Craig Stapleton ofConnecticut, a real estate executiveserving since 1982 as president ofMarsh & McLennan Real EstateAdvisors, Inc., is the new U.S.Ambassador to the CzechRepublic. Mr. Stapleton serves onthe board of directors of AlleghanyProperties, Security Capital Corp.,

Sonoma West and T.B. Woods. He and President Bushwere partners in the ownership of the Texas Rangersbaseball team from 1989 to 1998. He served on the boardof the Peace Corps during the administration of PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush. Mr. Stapleton and his wife, DorothyBush Walker, have two children.

U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation. AlexanderR. Vershbow of the District of Columbia is the new U.S.Ambassador to the Russian Federation. Mr. Vershbow isa career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class ofCareer Minister, who joined in 1977. Prior to his nomina-tion he was U.S. Ambassador to the North Atlantic TreatyOrganization in Brussels. He has also served in Moscow,London and Geneva. In Washington, Mr. Vershbow wassenior director for European Affairs at the NationalSecurity Council, director of the Office of Soviet UnionAffairs and principal deputy assistant secretary forEuropean and Canadian Affairs. He and his wife, Lisa,have two sons.

Civil Service Retirements

L ACTIONS

piro, Joel S.ilkinson, Edward H.

Krings, Lester J.Lesko, Edward F.

Meenan, John G.Whitworth, William R.

New Chancery Planned for Abu Dhabi

By Ernie Parkin

Ground has been broken for a new chancery in AbuDhabi, signaling a U.S. commitment to the region.

The new compound will replace an existing complexof six rented residential villas the embassy has occupiedsince 1980. As the U.S. presence in the United ArabEmirates has grown, so has the need for a new chancery.

The new five-floor embassy will cost approximately$43 million and will occupy 10,000 square meters of officespace. Move-in date is scheduled for September 2003. Theinnovative, modern building will reflect environmentaland geographical features unique to the U.A.E., as well asa number of security requirements. Current landscapingplans call for using local flora and fauna.

The groundbreaking represents a milestone in a processthat began anew after the tragic embassy bombings of1998. The security review triggered by those events under-scored the vulnerable nature of Abu Dhabi’s facilities. AsDepartment officials weighed the relative priority of vari-ous projects, it became clear that the plot of land allocatedto the U.S. government in the Abu Dhabi diplomatic quar-ter was inadequate for a modern U.S. Embassy compound.Post personnel negotiated a 99-year lease for an expanded

State Announces New HIV The State Department has revised its HIV testing policy

imately 39,000 Foreign Service National employees andworldwide.

The new policy makes State’s overseas hiring and workthe AIDS pandemic. With this new policy, the United Stnondiscrimination to host countries and private industryprevention efforts in promoting and maintaining employ

The principal revisions of the policy are:Foreign Service National employees and U.S. citizen

employment or periodic in-service HIV/AIDS testing. Overseas missions are allowed to negotiate with lo

HIV/AIDS-related expenses to the maximum possible. Tsuppress “opportunistic” infections (such as tuberculosmother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Missions are encouraged to designate an HIV/AIDS eda comprehensive HIV education and prevention prograsonable accommodations to those who are already infect

This policy change does not apply to Foreign Servicerequired. Because a condition of employment in the Forquate HIV medical care is not universally available worldin the Foreign Service. All Foreign Service employees rouprehensive medical evaluations.

For additional information on the Department’s HIVMedical Services, at (202) 663-1649.

plot to permit thedesign of a safe andadequate chancery.

In his remarks atthe ceremony onApril 28, AmbassadorTheodore H. Kattoufthanked U.A.E. offi-cials for their coopera-tion in gainingapproval for both theland negotiations andthe preliminarybuilding architecturaldesigns. He alsopraised the U.S.Congress and formerState Departmentofficials for their con-tributions. He said thenew building will symbolize the U.S. commitment to anenduring relationship with the United Arab Emirates. ■

The author is an administrative officer in Abu Dhabi.

Breaking ground for the new embassy are, fromleft, Sheikh Khalid Al Hamed; DCM Deborah K.Jones; former Ambassador Theodore H. Kattouf;and OBO’s Joseph Toussaint.

October 2001 35

Workplace Policy at overseas posts. The new provisions will affect approx- locally hired U.S. citizens who work at U.S. missions

place practices consistent with global U.S. efforts to fightates also sets an example consistent with its message of while at the same time giving priority to education andee health.

resident local hires are not subject to mandatory pre-

cal insurance carriers to expand coverage to includehese would include long-term medications necessary to

is) and brief courses of anti-retroviral drugs to prevent

ucation and prevention committee at their post and offerm to all its employees. Missions must also provide rea-ed. employees whose pre-employment HIV testing is stilleign Service is worldwide availability, and because ade-wide, those testing positive are not offered employment

tinely undergo HIV testing as part of their periodic com-

/AIDS policy, contact Dr. Cedric Dumont, director of

O B I T U A R I E S

William H. Bruce, 72, a diplomaticcourier for more than 40 years,died of a cerebral hemorrage Aug.2 at a hospital in Burlingame, Calif.Mr. Bruce was returning to hishome in Hyattsville, Md., from atrip to Korea for the StateDepartment when he collapsed atSan Francisco InternationalAirport. During his long career as

a courier, Mr. Bruce traveled to more than 200 countriesand lived in Japan, Panama, Germany, the Philippinesand Thailand. He retired in 1984 but resumed courierwork two years later as a contractor. During the KoreanWar, he served in the U.S. Army in Japan.

John W. Fisher, 81, a retired ForeignService officer, died Feb. 10 inBozeman, Mont., of natural causes.He joined the Foreign Service in1947 and served in Guatemala City,Barranquilla, Vienna, Tegucigalpa,La Paz, Caracas and Washington,D.C. He retired in 1974. DuringWorld War II, he served as a U.S.Army officer in the Philippines and

was a prisoner of war there and in Japan.

William A. “Bill” Headrick, 62, aretired Foreign Service communi-cations specialist, died July 19 inHighlands Ranch, Colo., of pancre-atic cancer. He served in Argentina,Russia, England, Chad, Trinidad,Germany and Australia. A Navyveteran, he retired in 1992 andworked special assignments until1995.

Olinto Francesco Luchi, 55, the hus-band of Civil Service employeePaola V. Luchi and resident ofWashington, D.C., died March 23of a massive heart attack atGeorgetown University Hospitalin Washington, D.C. A native ofLucca, Italy, Mr. Luchi was a long-time employee of GeorgetownUniversity, where he was a skilledartisan, mason and carpenter. Mrs.

36 State Magazine

Luchi, a staffing management specialist in the Bureau ofInternational Organizations, has been with the StateDepartment for more than three decades.

Louella Livengood Martin, a former Foreign Service secre-tary, died July 5 in Chicago. She joined the StateDepartment in 1934 as a Civil Service employee and trans-ferred to the Foreign Service in 1945. She resigned in 1965.

William T. Shinn, 64, a retired Foreign Service officer, diedJune 6 in Richmond, Va., of complications fromParkinson’s disease. He joined the Foreign Service in1960 and served in Warsaw, Garmisch, Moscow, Parisand St. Petersburg, where he was consul general. Heretired from the State Department in 1994.

Talisa R. Smith, a Civil Service employee in the Bureau ofHuman Resources’ records management division, diedJuly 29 at Howard University Hospital in Washington,D.C. A participant in the Department’s Work TraineeInitiative Program, she leaves a husband and six chil-dren. She was a resident of Washington, D.C.

Lillie Tabitha Vaden, 83, a retired Foreign Service officer, diedApril 25 in Annapolis, Md., following a long illness. As aForeign Service officer with the former U.S. InformationAgency, she taught English in the Philippines andIndonesia. She retired in 1974 and was active in communi-ty service projects in Prince George’s County, Md.

William G. Vale, 89, a retired Foreign Service officer, diedJune 12 in Miami. He joined the Foreign Service in 1951and was posted to Oslo, Rome, New York and Bordeaux.During World War II, Mr. Vale served with the WarShipping Administration and participated in the logisticalplanning for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. After retir-ing, he served with the International Rescue Committee inMiami and later in Vietnam in refugee relief activities.

August Velltri, 84, a retired ForeignService officer, died May 19 of car-diovascular disease at George-town University Hospital inWashington, D.C. Mr. Velltri joinedthe Service in 1949 and served inItaly and Greece. His last overseasposting was as consul general inPeshawar, Pakistan. He retired in 1975.