By Amanda McCarthy
The Department of State’s annual award ceremony honors a select number of individuals that have made outstanding contributions to American diplomacy. For the second year on a virtual platform, Bureau of Global Talent Management (GTM) Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeanne Juliao moderated the event, Nov. 17, welcoming all attendees, family, friends, and donors. GTM’s recently appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ambassador Nina Maria Fite provided opening remarks, noting her regret that the event could not be held in person, but emphasizing the importance of celebrating the exceptional efforts and accomplishments of the awardees.
“These employees embody the Department’s values and time-honored missions both at home and abroad,” said Fite. “Their steadfast and unwavering commitment to act on America’s most challenging and most important issues around the globe merits recognition.”
Fite also announced special guest attendees—many of which included former-ambassadors for which awards are named—before introducing a pre-recorded video by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken highlighted the stories behind Foreign Service National of the Year awardee, Muna Mohamed, who played a critical role in re-establishing the U.S. Mission in Mogadishu which had been closed for 27 years; recipient of the Edward J. Perkins Memorial Award for Leadership and Inclusion for Outstanding Leadership, Dr. Shantay White, who developed a virtual anti-racism training for Department employees, called the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge, in which 12,000 employees participated; and Foreign Service National of the Year runner up, Dr. Jaspreet Singh, who created protocols for contact testing, surveillance, and case management for Mission India, and arranged hospital care for 15 locally employed staff who would not have gotten care otherwise during the worst surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“President [Joe] Biden recently remarked that empathy is the fuel of democracy. He described it as an under-appreciated aspect of what makes governments work, when they work. I think that goes for diplomacy too,” concluded Blinken.
Juliao then announced the citations for the 47 awardees. Despite the ceremony being held virtually, the pride of the workforce and excitement for outstanding service was shown with the continuous messages of congratulations in the event’s chat box. Juliao concluded the event expressing how honored she felt to be able to recognize the outstanding members of the Department’s community, and thanking them for their service.
Amanda McCarthy is the multimedia editor of State Magazine.
2021 Award Winners: Click on names to view citations
Benjamin Bailey
John E. Blaha III
Dong-Thu Caohuu
Elizann Carroll
Daniel Cederberg
Christine M. Cline
Ambassador Jonathan Cohen
Susannah E. Cooper
Patrick Corcoran
Geoffrey H. Dorsey
Douglas L. DeMaggio
Katerina Draganova
Beeta Ehdaie
Samantha Eulette
Robert Ewing
Benjamin Bailey
James Clement Dunn Award for Excellence
For his leadership and sustained excellence during Mission China’s evacuation, negotiating the return of Mission staff with Chinese officials, and leading political engagement with China during one of the most challenging periods in U.S-China relations.
John E. Blaha III
Mary L. Dubose Civil Service Secretary of the Year Award
For championing the implementation of the Bureau of Information Resources Management’s (IRM) task management system, providing associated tier 1 application support to other IRM directorates, and working with developers to enhance and streamline the task submission and approval process.
Dong-Thu Caohuu
Award for Excellence in Labor Diplomacy (Runner-up)
For outstanding success in helping prevent the government of the Kyrgyz Republic from adopting legislation that would have restricted freedom of association for independent trade unions and jeopardizing the Kyrgyz Republic’s eligibility for Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and GSP+.
Elizann Carroll
Mary A. Ryan Award for Outstanding Public Service
For her extraordinary leadership and service to the country in numerous high-profile crises involving U.S. Citizens in Ethiopia and Africa during 2020 and 2021.
Daniel Cederberg
Keith J. Krach Award for Excellence in Economic Security
For his leadership in advancing U.S. economic policy goals and limiting efforts by the People’s Republic of China to proliferate its tech-authoritarian governance model in the Middle East.
Christine M. Cline
Excellence in Multilateral Diplomacy
For her sustained and extraordinary performance in leading U.S. diplomacy in multilateral fora to advance and protect U.S. foreign policy objectives through multilateral diplomacy. Her outstanding efforts have advanced U.S. leadership to prevent and combat cybercrime, corruption, illicit drugs, and transnational organized crime, and have helped secure the safety and prosperity of the United States and its partners.
Ambassador Jonathan Cohen
Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development
For proactive leadership and innovation in promoting the expansion of bilateral trade and investment with Egypt, as well as enhancing regional economic integration and economic security.
Susannah E. Cooper
Cordell Hull Award for Economic Achievement by Senior Officers
For outstanding leadership in advancing top White House and Department priorities in Africa―expanding trade and investment ties, allocating hundreds of millions of dollars of COVID-19 assistance, and countering China’s malign influence.
Patrick Corcoran
Chief Financial Officer’s Award for Distinction in Public Finance (Domestic)
For significant contributions and accomplishments in financial management, budgeting, financial systems development, and internal controls.
Geoffrey H. Dorsey
Contracting Officer Representative of the Year
For sustained superior performance in executing contracts for security upgrades and renovations in Baghdad and Juba, valued at greater than $230 million, while communicating and synchronously working with stakeholders in Washington and at post. His leadership ensured the success of his projects and upheld the high standards of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations overseas.
Douglas L. DeMaggio
General Services Officer of the Year
For his demonstrable expertise, outstanding work ethic, and commitment to building strong operational foundations upon which tip-of-the-spear foreign policy can succeed.
Katerina Draganova
Foreign Service National Financial Management Award
Forher sustained superior performance and professional excellence in improving the quality of financial service support worldwide.
Beeta Ehdaie
Swanee Hunt Award For Advancing Women in Policy Formulation (Civil Service)
For leadership in the creation of the Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise initiative, which promotes womens’ economic empowerment and their participation in the political and economic process around the globe while simultaneously supporting the Department to integrate gender within its daily work in foreign and economic policies.
Samantha Eulette
The One Team Award
For exceptional professionalism, integrity, responsibility, and leadership in support of the interagency Health Incidents Response Task Force that enabled results-producing teamwork in the face of challenging circumstances.
Robert Ewing
Frank E. Loy Award for Environmental Diplomacy
For exceptional leadership and vision in shaping the U.S.-Indonesia partnership on climate and encouraging Indonesia to increase its ambition in addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
Geraldine Gassam
Linguist of the Year Award
For sustained and advanced Arabic language expertise in pursuit of Department objectives and U.S. national security priorities.
Matthew P. Giles
Secretary’s Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs
For extraordinary contributions to the U.S. national security through comprehensive analysis of complex political and military issues regarding potential transfers of advanced military capabilities to U.S. partners, ensuring prudent arms transfers that served U.S. interests.
Kristin M. Gilmore
Arnold L. Raphel Memorial Award
For outstanding and exemplary leadership of the Economic Section’s Internal Unit and the embassy’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, where her inclusive, innovative, and inspiring management style improved the morale of Embassy Beijing staff and the quality of the work of the officers reporting to her.
Gustav Goger
Luther I. Replogle Award for Management Improvement
For completely redesigning how the Bureaus of European and Eurasian Affairs and International Organization Affairs deliver regional support to their posts, simultaneously saving money and improving both service delivery and the Regional Support Center’s public relations image.
Christopher Green
Leamon R. Hunt Award for Management Excellence
For managing the U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan, from evacuation in the midst of a global pandemic, to resumption after 15 months of suspended operations.
Cassandra Hamblin
Director General’s Award for Excellence in Human Resources (Human Resources Officer)
For sustained extraordinary human resources contributions to Mission Canada and the Department that have enriched and bolstered the Department’s most valuable resources—its people.
Irvin Hicks, Jr.
Edward J. Perkins Memorial Award for Leadership and Inclusion (Senior Leadership)
For his outstanding accomplishments in furthering the Department’s diversity and inclusion goals through exceptionally effective leadership skill, imagination, and innovation in extending and promoting diversity and inclusion for those who work at the Department. For exceptional and strategic senior leadership in diversity and inclusion in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)and as the president of the Thursday Luncheon Group. His efforts directly bolstered improved recruitment, hiring, and retention to make INL a more diverse and inclusive bureau and helped the Department to become a more inclusive institution.
Randall G. Hicks
Award for Excellence in Labor Diplomacy
For exceptional efforts supporting the enforcement of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement labor chapter and advancing programs promoting the defense of labor rights and inclusive economic growth, including for vulnerable populations, in post-accord Colombia.
Vi Jacobs-Nhan
Director General’s Award for Impact and Originality in Reporting
For catalyzing new U.S. policy approaches in Southeast Asia through innovative reporting on the nexus between environmental, social, and criminal activities along the Mekong River and their impact on U.S. policy.
Paul Kruchoski
Sean Smith Innovation in the Use of Technology Award
For his groundbreaking work to consolidate and modernize an entire suite of legacy tools that provides critical data for public diplomacy practitioners worldwide which is transforming how the Department conducts and evaluates public outreach and engagement with foreign audiences.
Hiram Lasquety
Foreign Service National of the Year Award (EAP Runner-up)
For outstanding innovation and leadership in support of U.S. Mission Timor-Leste’s operations.
Mei Liu
Director General’s Award for Excellence in Human Resources (Locally Employed Staff)
For outstanding innovation and sensitivity in managing the separation of locally employed staff after the abrupt closure of the Chengdu consulate.
Gregory Daniel LoGerfo
James A. Baker Award for Outstanding Deputy Chief of Mission
For exceptional leadership of Mission Tunis as deputy chief of mission, driving success in policy, operations, and personnel in advancing U.S. strategic objectives in Tunisia.
Hanen Ltifi
Foreign Service National of the Year Award (NEA Runner-up)
For relentless, front-line diplomatic work on the pandemic in Tunisia, which has kept the Mission Tunis community safe and ensured proper American assistance to the Tunisian government to combat the virus and save lives. Ltifi epitomizes the indispensable value locally employed staff bestow on the Department’s Missions around the world.
Darcy Mercadante
Chief Financial Officer’s Award for Distinction in Public Finance (Overseas)
For her exceptional service and outstanding innovation and leadership as Mission Saudi Arabia’s senior financial management officer.
Muna Mohamed
Foreign Service National of the Year Award (AF)
For exceptional and inspiring dedication to achieving the core U.S. national strategic objectives of peace, stabilization, and economic development for the people of Somalia.
Joseph A. Moreno
Thomas Morrison Information Management Award
For exceptional achievement transforming Embassy Mogadishu from an expeditionary mission into a more efficient, functional operation.
David Muehlke
Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs
For his extraordinary work in protecting vulnerable refugees during the time of COVID-19, and for his successful efforts to move dozens of Burmese asylum-seekers to safety in the aftermath of the Burmese coup.
Bill Nelson
Barbara M. Watson Award for Consular Excellence
For his leadership in the implementation of a top national security priority for the U.S. Mission, Department, and Congress, namely: to safely resume the processing of Afghan Special Immigrant Visas amid the pandemic and during the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
Lorie Nierenberg
Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy
For innumerable significant contributions and unwavering dedication to the field of public diplomacy as an attorney in the Office of the Legal Advisor.
Leslie T. Ordeman
Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award
For shaping international efforts to defuse Libya’s conflict, resolving the root economic drivers of the fighting, and turning the COVID-19 pandemic into a successful call for a humanitarian pause in Libya’s violence.
Denis Rajic
Foreign Service Office Management Specialist of the Year Award
For exceptional service to the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai during six months of authorized/ordered departure during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to send urgently needed medical supplies to the United States, and ensuring smooth operations and high morale among essential staff during a highly stressful period.
Ronald Roof
Robert C. Bannerman Diplomatic Security Employee of the Year
For initiative and leadership in planning and directing Embassy Rangoon’s security program during the COVID-19 pandemic, violence among ethnic armed groups, and widespread unrest during the military coup in 2021. His team’s service at his direction protected American citizens, employees, and local staff during a significantly challenging period.
Diana S. Savova
Foreign Service National of the Year Award (EUR Runner-up)
For determination in keeping Embassy Sofia personnel moving and for unstinting support of Embassy Sofia’s mission, and broader USG goals and missions during a global pandemic.
Travis Sevy
Ryan C. Crocker Award for Outstanding Leadership
For his leadership and sustained excellence as the head of Embassy Beijing’s Provincial Affairs Team during the evacuation of the U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan and after the closure of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu.
Arati Shroff
Herbert Salzman Award for Excellence in International Economic Performance
For her pivotal role and sustained excellence in elevating the U.S.-Taiwan economic relationship to the highest point in more than forty years, and for conceiving, promoting, and executing a sustainable, practical supply chain security strategy that bridges two administrations.
Shane A. Siegel
Rockwell Anthony Schnabel Award for Advancing U.S.-EU Relations
For his instrumental role in obtaining European Union approval for the U.S. to join the Dutch-led Permanent Structured Cooperation Military Mobility project, ensuring U.S.-EU cooperation on defense initiatives.
Jaspreet Singh
Foreign Service National of the Year Award (SCA Runner-up)
For his extraordinary efforts as the Embassy New Delhi Health Unit’s COVID-19 contact tracing team leader. Over the last year, his diligent and dedicated work to support the community’s health, wellbeing, and safety highlight his commitment to Embassy New Delhi and Mission India.
Chantay P. White
Edward J. Perkins Memorial Award for Leadership and Inclusion (Outstanding Leadership)
For exceptional leadership, skill, imagination, and innovation to promote diversity and inclusion in the Department through the creation and execution of the Department-wide 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge that was co-sponsored by the Bureau of Medical Services Employee Consultation Service and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs’ Diversity and Inclusion Council. Her tireless leadership enabled thousands of colleagues, family members, and inter-agency personnel globally to work collectively to create a stronger, more equitable institution and helped foster a deeper understanding of racial equity through acknowledgement, alignment, and allyship.
Zin Wint Yee
Swanee Hunt Award For Advancing Women in Policy Formulation (Locally Employed Staff)
For her work in empowering female political leaders in Burma during a historic moment in Burma’s path towards democracy, specifically during the 2020 national elections, which was Burma’s second-ever democratic elections.
Lindsey M. Zuluaga
Keith J. Krach Award for Excellence in Economic Security (Runner-up)
For her strategic leadership and oversight of investment security, trade, and economic development policies and initiatives in her National Security Council platform which produced tangible results that strengthened U.S. economic resilience, safeguarded American competitiveness, and will have a lasting impact on our nation’s economic security.