Director General of the Foreign Service Marcia Bernicat (right) leads the combined 166/212 Foreign Service class through the oath of office during a ceremony at the Harry S Truman Building in Washington, Sept. 11. During her remarks, Bernicat lauded the incoming class members’ patience and persistence, and celebrated the unique perspectives each person brings to the Department of State. “It is our varied experiences and backgrounds that provide us with a competitive advantage to meet unprecedented global challenges and connect with audiences abroad in a way that demonstrates the best of who we are as a country,” she added. More than half of the nearly 200-member class has participated in Department internships or educational programs or previously volunteered with the Peace Corp or AmeriCorps, and 17% are military veterans. The cohort represents graduates from more than 150 universities and colleges, 76% of whom have completed graduate studies.
Photo by Isaac D. Pacheco
