Florida Regional Center staff gathers together on a bright winter day in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, Dec. 19, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Florida Regional Center

Florida Regional Center

Florida Regional Center employees gather for a team photo on a bright winter day in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dec. 19, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Florida Regional Center By Sarah Spodek Originally located in Santo Domingo,...
Western Passport Center employees gather to celebrate Cultivate DEIA during Consular Leadership Day, Oct. 19, 2022. Photo by Jamie Lewallen

Improving Communication

Western Passport Center employees gather to celebrate Cultivate DEIA during Consular Leadership Day, Oct. 19, 2022. Photo by Jamie Lewallen By Topher Taylor, Amy Simms, and Sarah Wardwell Consular professionals are working to improve customer relations,...

Technological Journey

By Todd C.E. Cheng and Lisa Kurtz On receiving his first telegram in the early 1860s, British Prime Minister Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston, is reported to have exclaimed, “My God, this is the end...
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

Performance Management

Bureau of Global Talent Management leaders meet with Marcia S. Bernicat, director general of the Foreign Service and director of global talent, Nov. 15. Those pictured include (from left) Michael B. Phillips, Nina Maria...
From left: U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, President Emmanuel Macron of France, President of the European Commision Ursula von der Layen, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholf meet on the sidelines of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) events, Nov. 7, 2022. Photo courtesy of U.S. Mission Egypt

Environmental Partnership

From left: U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, President of France Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Commision Ursula von der Layen, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa,...

Nassau

Nassau's Paradise Island, as seen from above, is a popular tourist destination in The Bahamas. Photo by Tokar Story by Isaac D. Pacheco Renowned for its pristine beaches, blue waters, and glowing hospitality, The Bahamas is...
Embassy Baghdad’s Regional Security Office presented Nir Khadge (left) with a flag flown over the embassy to mark his 40th year with the Department of State, July 27. Khadge—who as a personal services contractor financial advisor with the regional security office, manages post’s $1 billion budget for Diplomatic Security (DS)—began his career with the Department in 1982 in Kathmandu as a locally employed staff senior financial specialist/alternate certifying officer. Khadge, pictured with former U.S. Mission Iraq Deputy Chief of Mission Greg LoGerfo, has supported financial operations throughout his career at high-threat posts including Tripoli, Sana’a, and Juba. From 2006-2015, he helped establish the Global Financial Center in Charleston. In his current role in Baghdad, Khadge manages the daily financial operations of the largest DS operation in the world, with nearly 60 agents, a dozen security engineers, and more than 2,500 security personnel across three sites in Iraq. Photo by Saher Altwal

Embassy Baghdad celebrates personal services contractor’s 40 years of service

Embassy Baghdad’s regional security office presented Nir Khadge (left) with a flag flown over the embassy to mark his 40th year with the Department of State, July 27. Khadge—who as a personal services contractor...
U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec (left) and local students helped Thai-Indonesian American artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya (right) paint the embassy’s new mural on the street-side of the consular section. The mural depicts a group of bold women and non-binary people looking toward the horizon, forging new paths and working towards a shared future. The mural was inspired by the artist’s conversations with Thai women and nonbinary youth, and depicts a vision for Thai society that can be celebrated and championed by all. This mural is a visible public-private partnership between the U.S. Mission and Organon, a U.S.-based healthcare company. Photo courtesy of U.S. Embassy Bangkok

Embassy Bangkok unveils women’s empowerment mural

U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec (left) and local students helped Thai-Indonesian American artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya (right) paint the embassy’s new mural on the street-side of the consular section. The mural depicts a...
U.S. Ambassador to Albania Yuri Kim met with Brig. Gen. Arben Kingji, in his new capacity as chief of defense of Albania, to strengthen U.S.-Albania defense relations during the 100-year anniversary of relations between both nations. They agreed to increase cooperation following the historic Defender Europe 2021 exercise, and in preparation for the upcoming Defender Europe 2023 exercises. They noted the positive impact of the new U.S. Special Operations Command forward-based headquarters in Albania and the recent presence of the U.S. Army Security Force Assistance Brigade. The leaders also discussed the response to recent flooding that devastated northern Albania, with Kingji expressing appreciation for American contributions of training, equipment, and supplies. Photo credit to Antonio Cakshiri.

Embassy Tirana meeting highlights defense cooperation in Albania

On Nov. 21, U.S. Ambassador to Albania Yuri Kim (second from right) met with Brig. Gen. Arben Kingji (second from left), in his new capacity as chief of defense of Albania, to strengthen U.S.-Albania...
Retirements

Retirements | January 2023

Civil Service Burruss, Dante M.El-Bishlawy, Amina A.Foy, James J.Goodwine, Lisa C.Jackson, Jeffrey L.Lamothe, Marie Y.Lantos, AttilaLindquist, Robert A.McAleer, Elizabeth G.McClannan, H.Nash, Darryl L.Washburn, Robin L. Foreign Service Aardappel, John A.Abamonte, Gerard J.Alava, Eduardo J.Allen, Glen R.Amirthanayagam, Aruna...

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Office Spotlight

Making a Statement

The image is split down the middle with the "Making a Statement" logo in white on a blue background on the left, followed by the name Josué Barrera. Barrera smiles on the right.