Putting People First

Four people dressed in business clothes wearing protective face masks bump fists.
By Ronda Capeles People first. Successful organizations focus on integrating all aspects of employee satisfaction into business-related processes, and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations...

Safe Passage

By David B. Rochford Lying unconscious in the brush, the elephant’s massive rib cage rose and fell with each labored breath. With gleaming tusks the...

Women in Facility Management

In April 2021, the women in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Office of Facility Management were highlighted in the bureau’s “FAC newsletter” for their contributions to U.S. diplomacy and for the integral role they play in closing the gender gap in the cities in which they serve. Illustration by Krystle Villanueva
By Rebecca Beatty The Facilities (FAC) section in an embassy has a unique opportunity to directly contribute to U.S. National Security interests by empowering an...

Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges

By Sarah Schornstein   The Under Secretariat for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, known colloquially as the E family, includes three bureaus and four offices,...

Resilience Training

Damien McCombs, one of CEFAR’s instructors, leads a discussion on personal resilience for a recent Foreign Service specialist orientation. Photo by Heidi Howland
By Eric Cipriano Today’s ever-changing world demands flexibility and productive responses, for which many people are not prepared. Diplomacy in the 21st century requires effective,...

Investing in People

Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan (center) joins participants at the Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar. Photo courtesy of Embassy Ghana
By Jeannie Hindman In 1940, Nelson Rockefeller, coordinator of commercial and cultural affairs for the American Republics, initiated the exchange of persons program with Latin...

Performance Management

Bureau of Global Talent Management leaders discuss important matters with Marcia S. Bernicat, director general of the Foreign Service and director of global talent. From left: Michael B. Phillips, Nina Maria Fite, Bernicat, Philippe A. Lussier, and Jeanne M. Juliao, Nov. 15. Photo by Isaac Pacheco
Bureau of Global Talent Management leaders meet with Marcia S. Bernicat, director general of the Foreign Service and director of global talent, Nov. 15....

Leading the Way

Members of the Transition Center team gather for an annual photo on the lawn of the Foreign Service Institute, 2019. As of March 2020, Director Ray Leki (center holding rake) leads the team with virtual meetings twice weekly via Zoom. Photo by Michael Mateos
Opening photo: Members of the Transition Center team gather for an annual photo on the lawn of the Foreign Service Institute, 2019. As of...

Indispensable Messenger

By Kristin Ahlberg and Tiffany Cabrera As the 64th U.S. secretary of state and the first woman to hold the position, Madeleine Albright faced the...

Channeling Dissent

By Iris Kim and Betsy Lewis This year, the United States celebrates 50 years of bilateral ties with Bangladesh, which became an independent country in...