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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE April 2002 State State Magazine Waging War on Land Mines
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State Magazine, April 2002

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State Magazine

The April 2002 issue of State Magazine, published by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, features a report on the dangers of Afghanistan’s hidden land mines; the Office of Civil Rights as our Office of the Month; and Tunis, Tunisia as our Post of the Month!
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Page 1: State Magazine, April 2002

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

April 2002

StateStateM a g a z i n e

Waging Waron

Land Mines

Page 2: State Magazine, April 2002

7 Post of the Month: TunisDiplomats have come here for two centuries.

11 Office of the Month: Civil RightsDiversity improves the process and product.

14 Land MinesThey are Afghanistan’s hidden killers.

18 Delegation Visits Air War CollegeEducation and training are at forefront.

20 Language ImmersionHue hosts intrepid students from Hanoi.

23 Supporting ‘Enduring Freedom’Political-Military Bureau is behind the scenes.

25 FSI Launches New PublicationsTraining continuums underscore commitment.

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

April 2002No. 456

C O L U M N S

2 From the Secretary

6 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

26 Education & Training

28 Medical Report

30 Appointments

31 Personnel Actions

32 Obituaries

On the CoverAn Afghan searches for landmines near Kabul.Photo by Brennan Linsley/AP Photos

7

11

OCR’s Terrence Edwardsand Gracie Minnis in amock ADR Session.

The columns of Capitolano atDougga, in Tunisia.

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Page 3: State Magazine, April 2002

FROM THE SECRETARYSECRETARY COLIN L. POWELL

Making Our Caseon Capitol Hill

It’s that time again, the beginning of the annual congressional appropriations process. Last year, we made a strong case to Congress for the

additional resources we need to strengthen our abilityto conduct the American people’s foreign policy. At myfirst appearance in support of the FY 2002 budget, backin March 2001, I warned the committee that I was goingto break the mold and focus on the financial conditionof the Department. The resources challenge for the StateDepartment had become a serious impediment to theconduct of the nation’s foreign policy, and we needed tostart fixing the problem. Congress heard us andresponded with increased funding to begin implement-ing our plans.

In February and March of this year, I testified on theHill in favor of our new budget request for FY 2003. As Itold the committees, this was a budget request to buildon our progress over the past year and keep the momen-tum going.

Last year, I laid out my priorities for improving ourability to conduct foreign policy. These are to recruit thebest people to plug the staffing gap and provide for atraining float, to give every one of you world-classtraining, to provide secure and work-friendly facilitiesand to equip you with the technology you need to doyour jobs.

These priorities haven’t changed for 2003. We’ve accom-plished much together, but we still have much to do.

In our FY 2003 budget, we ask for funding to continueour successful initiatives to recruit, hire, train and deploythe right workforce. With the money we request, we willbe able to bring 399 more foreign affairs professionals onboard. That will put us well on our way to repairing thelarge gap in our personnel structure and, in the process,ease the strain put on you by a decade of too few hires,too many unfilled positions and too little training.

If we are able to hire these 399 people in the coming fis-cal year and then hire a final group of about the samenumber in FY 2004, our three-year effort to fix overseasstaffing will be complete. We will then be able to establishthe training pool that is so important if you are to havethe time to complete the training you need in your jobs.

2 State Magazine

We are also asking Congress to keep funding our pro-grams to upgrade and enhance our worldwide securityreadiness, including money to hire security agents andconduct counterterrorism programs. The President’sbudget request contains money for upgrading the securityof our overseas facilities by improving physical security, correcting serious deficiencies that still exist andproviding for security-driven construction of new facilitiesat high-risk posts around the world.

Finally, the budget requests funds to provide state-of-the-art information technology to all of you, wherever youserve. We are asking for resources we need to extend clas-sified connectivity to every post that requires it and toexpand desktop access to the Internet.

All of these initiatives are critical to the conduct ofAmerica’s foreign policy. As I told Congress, if I had to putone of these priorities at the very pinnacle of our efforts, itwould be our hiring effort.

We must sustain the strong recruiting program webegan last year. At the same time, we will measure ourprogress not simply by the numbers hired, but by how ournew hires enhance the Department’s mission. We want aDepartment where you can undergo training without seri-ously jeopardizing your missions or offices; where youdon’t have to fill two or three positions at once; and whereyou have a chance to breathe occasionally.

I think morale here has taken a definite swing upward,and we want to continue that trend. High morale, com-bined with superb training and adequate resources, is thekey to a first-class offense—and that is what you are,America’s first line of offense.

Taking care of you—the great men and women whocarry out America’s foreign policy—is as vital a mission inmy view as helping to construct and shape that foreignpolicy. The budget request reflects President Bush’s com-mitment, and my commitment, to creating a strong, well-managed State Department within which all of us can doour jobs and have satisfying careers.

In return, we need your continuing commitment tousing these resources wisely on behalf of the Americanpeople. You have come through magnificently so far. Iknow you will continue to do so. ■

Page 4: State Magazine, April 2002

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Mystery MarineBall—Solved

When State Magazineinterviewed me for theMarine Ball articlethat appeared lastNovember, I saidmy husband Tomand I were postedto Ouagadougoufrom 1990 to

1993, when hewas the PAO and I was

the CLO.The “low-key” Marine Ball I

referred to was held at AmbassadorBrynn’s residence, around the pool,during the Persian Gulf War whenAmericans were not allowed to con-gregate in public places.

My apologies if it was unclear thatI was talking about a Marine Ball ofthe early 1990s, not last year.

Sarah GentonPublications CoordinatorFamily Liaison Office

CorrectionsThe Overseas Briefing Center and

the Foreign Service Youth Foundationdeserve great credit for encouragingyoung people to produce videos

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

November 2001

StateStateM a g a z i n e

Blair HouseBlair House

Where Hospitality and Diplomacy Meet

Visit Us on the Webwww.state.gov/m/dghr/statemag

through the KID VID program, publi-cized in your last September issue.

Three Gaborone contestants, aged10 to 13, were motivated to plan,organize and film aspects of Americancommunity life in Botswana. Weshowed their 23-scene video oneevening at the Marine House.

I would appreciate your correctingone small mistake in your article.One of the Gaborone winners’ namesis properly spelled Julia Lange.

John E. LangeU.S. AmbassadorGaborone, Botswana

There is one small mistake in yourobituaries in the February issue.

Pamela Marx, who died recentlyin London, was not retired at thetime of her death, as you reported.Rather, she was working right upuntil the end.

Letters to the EditorLetters should not exceed 250 words andshould include the writer’s name, addressand daytime phone number. Letters will beedited for length and clarity. Only signed letters will be considered. Names may bewithheld upon request. You can reach us at [email protected].

I was a friend and colleague ofhers from 1999 to 2001 in Havana,where she was our informationmanagement officer. She workedhard and very successfully throughan extremely difficult situation.

She is greatly missed by both alarge number of friends and theForeign Service.

Craig TymesonDirectorHR/CDA/ML

From the EditorWhile the U.S. war on terrorism in Afghanistan is the most visible action,

another kind of war—against land mines—is being waged methodicallyand patiently behind the scenes with allies.

Slightly smaller than Texas, Afghanistan is infested with land mines andunexploded ordinance. It experiences about 200 known casualties monthly, butmany others go unreported. Through its partnerships with other countries andorganizations, the United States is leading land mine removal and educationefforts to reclaim the country for its citizens. Our cover story starts on page 14.

In other behind-the-scenes action, the Bureau of Political-Military Affairsis supporting the war against terrorism in Afghanistan through a CoalitionWorking Group whose members received personal praise from the man incharge: Army Gen. Tommy R. Franks, commander in chief of the U.S. CentralCommand. The group’s support for “Enduring Freedom” starts on page 23.

On the domestic front, the energetic Office of Civil Rights is workingbehind the scenes to reduce the backlog of complaints and, through alter-native dispute resolution, the number of formal complaints filed. TheOffice of the Month begins on page 11.

The United States has been sending diplomats to Tunisia for more than200 years. Those serving in Tunis now appreciate our strong ties with thismoderate Arab nation bordered by sea and desert. Employees are eagerlyawaiting the opening of a new U.S. Embassy there this fall. The Post of theMonth coverage begins on page 7.

This month’s People Like You features an outside-of-work activity we’venever covered before. Learn all about the merits of belly dancing on page 27.

April 2002 3

Page 5: State Magazine, April 2002

I N T H E N E W S

Ground Zero Exhibit Opens at StateAn exhibit of photographs by Joel Meyerowitz

of images from Ground Zero after Sept. 11opened Feb. 28 at the Exhibition Hall in the HarryS Truman Building.

The exhibition, inaugurated Feb. 27 bySecretary of State Colin L. Powell, also recognizedthe work of Department employees who haveserved on special task forces since the terroristattacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Starting in March, the exhibit of photos—titled“After September 11: Images from GroundZero”—will tour 25 major cities around the world.

IRM’s Kathleen Palcher studies aphoto picturing a ground zero hero.

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The Ground Zero exhibit clearly movesLaShon Price from IO Bureau.

USRO in Dili OpensThe Department has opened a U.S. Representative

Office in Dili, East Timor, to provide limited consularservices for American citizens, including registration,notarial and emergency services. Visa services are notincluded. The office will forward U.S. passport applica-tions to the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta for issuance.

The Department expects to enter into full diplomaticrelations with East Timor and establish a U.S. Embassy inDili upon East Timor’s independence on May 20.

IRM Distributes PayStatements Electronically

The Bureau of Resource Management is now distribut-ing earnings and leave statements electronically.

The new system, which became effective March 21with pay period four, affects all employees paid by theState Department except employees of the BroadcastingBoard of Governors.

Employees can view and print their electronic earningsand leave statements using E* Phone, which is accessibleon OpenNet and ClassNet. Employees who are not con-nected to OpenNet or ClassNet can view and print theirstatements at www.EmployeeExpress.gov using anInternet connection and PIN that they received whenEmployee Express was implemented in August 1998.Those employed since that time have received PIN lettersin the mail. Employees who have misplaced their PINcan call (478) 757-3030 for a replacement PIN.

If you have further questions about the new distributionsystem or do not have access to online resources, contactthe American Payroll Resolution Center at (877) 865-0760.

4 State Magazine

OPM Announces Long-Term Care Insurance

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management hasannounced an early enrollment period of March 25through May 15 for federal long-term care insurance and aregular open season registration for July 1 through Dec. 1.

Those eligible to apply, OPM said, include currentcivilian and military employees as well as civilian andmilitary annuitants, spouses of employees and annui-tants, adult children who are at least 18, parents, parents-in-law and stepparents of employees.

LTC Partners, a joint venture by Metropolitan Life andJohn Hancock, has been selected to provide long-termcare insurance.

Long-term care insurance offers services needed by peo-ple with chronic illnesses or other conditions that limittheir physical or mental abilities. It covers a broad range ofhealth and social services as well as assistance with activi-ties of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating andmoving from place to place. The care can be provided inthe home, in a community setting such as an adult daycare center or in a residential facility such as a nursinghome, a board and care home or an assisted-living facility.

Forty percent of Americans receiving long-term care areunder age 65, according to the Health InsuranceAssociation of America. The current national average costis $20,000 annually for home care and $50,000 for nursinghome care. By 2030, these costs are expected to increase to$68,000 for home and $190,600 for nursing home.

Current insurance programs were not designed tocover long-term care, OPM said.

To learn more, call (800) 582-3337 Monday throughFriday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. or visit the web sitewww.ltcfeds.com. Or contact the Department coordina-tor, Eliza Bethune-King, at (202) 261-8173.

Page 6: State Magazine, April 2002

Panel Brings Expertise to Overseas Buildings OperationsPanel Brings Expertise to Overseas Buildings Operations

Photo by Adelet Kegley

By Sandra Piech

With a portfolio of more than 13,000 properties valued at about $12billion, the Department’s Overseas Buildings Operations is look-

ing to private industry for better ways to manage its vast holdings.The nine-member Industry Advisory Panel, chartered in November

of last year under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, met for thefirst time Feb. 21 in the Harry S Truman Building.

“We are very pleased to have such an exceptional group of dedicat-ed and knowledgeable professionals to share the wealth of their expe-rience with us,” said Charles E. Williams, OBO’s director and chiefoperating officer.

The members will bring to the Department industry’s and acade-mia’s latest concepts, methods, best practices and ideas related to prop-erty management and oversight of the Department’s real propertyassets overseas. The panelists are expected to offer insights on “cutting-edge” developments and their application to the OBO setting. Theobjective, officials noted, is to ensure that the most efficient processesand optimal solutions are used.

The OBO faces complex and far-reaching challenges in providingsafe facilities for U.S. diplomatic personnel in more than 260 locationsaround the globe.

Derish Wolff, a panelist representing the American Council ofEngineering Companies and the Building Futures Council, said, “I rec-ognize what a difficult and demanding mission you have, and I amlooking forward to assisting you in any small way I can.”

Federal employees and the American Foreign Service Association willalso participate in the panel’s quarterly meetings, OBO officials said. ■

The author is a special assistant for special projects and interagency affairs.

Panel Members and TheirAffiliations:• Harold Lynn Adams, chairman of RTKL Associates Inc.—

American Institute of Architects;

• Jeffrey L. Beard, president and chief executive officer ofthe Design-Build Institute of America

• Harvey M. Bernstein, executive director of the BuildingFutures Council—Civil Engineering Research Foundation;

• Ida B. Brooker, manager for Construction andEnvironmental Contracts at The Boeing Co.—WomenConstruction Owners and Executives;

• Harvey L. Kornbluh, chairman and chief executive officerof Construction Consultants International Corp.—Associated Owners and Developers;

• David H. Ready, president of OR Partners, Inc.—National Association of Minonty Contractors;

• Thomas J. Rittenhouse III, principal of WeidlingerAssociates, Inc.—American Society of Civil Engineers;

• Derish M. Wolff, president and chief executive officer of TheLouis Berger Group—American Council of EngineeringCompanies and the Building Futures Council; and

• Joel Zingeser, director of corporate development for theGrunley Construction Company Inc.—Associated GeneralContractors of America.

April 2002 5

Page 7: State Magazine, April 2002

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

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Evaluating Performance

In my last two columns, I’ve talkedabout the importance of customer serv-ice. My focus has been on how ourhuman resources team and I can serve

you better. This month, however, I want toturn the tables and talk about the servicemany of you are called upon to perform andhow that performance is evaluated.

The Civil Service cycle has just been com-pleted and the Foreign Service cycle willend April 15. For supervisors, the task is the same—togive our employees honest, fair and timely evaluations.This is a task vital to our institutional health. There isalso a second important contribution many of you arecalled upon to perform as well—to serve on the promo-tion panels.

For supervisors who are about to tackle the ForeignService evaluations, I hope you will set aside the time todevote the thought and care that honest evaluationsrequire. A molehill of examples cannot support a moun-tain of superlatives. Furthermore, your credibility as arater will plummet if a board finds misspelled words,garbled sentences or other signs of haste and sloppiness.Finally, I ask you to take the same care with the evalua-tions of specialists that you give to generalists. Pleaseremember that our specialists are reviewed annually bypromotion panels as well.

While our Foreign Service National employee evalua-tions are managed at each post, I don’t want to let thisoccasion pass without mentioning how important theseevaluations are. Our FSNs deserve the very best from us.We all know how much we benefit from their efforts, andour evaluation process is another way we can recognizethem as part of our “One Team, One Mission.”

I cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of get-ting your evaluations delivered to Washington in a time-ly way. Each year, the Bureau of Human Resourcesreceives more than 16,000 evaluations. They areprocessed by the Offices of Performance Evaluation andCivil Service Personnel as well as the Executive Office.Each year, the director general faces the painful task ofnoting tardy evaluations in supervisors’ personnel files.

6 State Magazine

If that doesn’t get your attention, considerthis: supervisors responsible for delinquentreports are ineligible for performance pay,presidential awards or meritorious stepincreases for one year. In almost every case, acareful look at the calendar and a determina-tion to stick to a disciplined timetable willprevent these problems.

As you no doubt saw in the February edi-tion of State Magazine, we are moving more

nd more toward a paperless system. Boards are startingo work with the reports in an electronic format. Thishould take care of the “pouch ate my homework” excuse,ut it cannot take care of the timeliness and substance of aood evaluation. Time and time again, promotion panelsave reported to me that the officers whose supervisorspent the time necessary to sketch out the performancend potential of a real person are most likely to get theirmployees tenured, promoted or rewarded financially.

As for the promotion boards, I ask you to volunteerith enthusiasm for this important “community service.”here are approximately 17 of these boards each summer,anging from career ambassadors to the most junior spe-ialists, so we need help from a wide range of peopleithin the Department. Throughout the rest of the year,any other boards meet as well: Tenure Boards,

erformance Standards Boards and Reconstitutedoards. The work is often hard on the eyes, I grant you,nd it certainly is a challenge to your judgment as youttempt to rank order levels of exceedingly good per-ormance. On the other hand, nothing gives you a betternsight into good writing (and bad) or the range of issues

e perform in the Foreign Service than a stint on theromotion panels. It is definitely time well spent. Finally, I would like to remind employees, Civil Service

nd Foreign Service, to take time to review their own per-ormance files every so often. Despite what you mayave heard, we are not perfect; things can get misplacedr go missing. We welcome you to review your individ-al file and tell us if you think something is amiss. That’snother way we can continue to serve you with the highuality that you expect and deserve. ■

Page 8: State Magazine, April 2002

T

Post of the Month: TUNIS

The Roman coliseum of El Jem.

Photo by Steve Vidler/PictureQuest

By Beth Robinson

unisia lies just 100 miles south of Sicily, at the north-ernmost tip of Africa, and extends from the azure bluewaters of the Mediterranean to the depths of the greatSahara Desert. Slightly smaller than Missouri, Tunisiapacks a surprising amount of scenery, history and climat-ic variation into a small area. In the north, Tunisia is rec-ognizably Mediterranean in character and predominant-ly European in style. In the south, it spans the greatSahara Desert, with its colossal dunes and lush oases.

Tunisia’s complex history of Punic, Roman, Byzantine,Arabic and French conquests has resulted in a uniqueblend of cultures and civilizations. From the founding ofCarthage by the Phoenicians in 814 B.C. to the Muslimconquest in the 7th century to the French colonization ofthe 19th century, Tunisia’s singular past offers a fascinat-ing glimpse into many worlds. Within miles of each otherstand the somber ruins of Carthage, a 9th-centurymosque and a 19th-century French boulevard.

Many consider Tunisia the most socially advanced andeconomically developed country in the region. Its stan-

dard of living is one of the highest in the developingworld, and the equality of rights for Tunisian women, a 65percent literacy rate, the wide availability of health servic-es and university-level education have helped put Tunisiaon track to becoming a fully developed modern society.

The United States has maintained a diplomatic pres-ence in Tunisia for more than 200 years. Today, the U.S.Mission in Tunisia is composed of the Department ofState, U.S. Defense Attaché’s Office, Office of DefenseCooperation, American Battle Monuments Commissionand the Office of Agricultural Affairs. The work forceincludes more than 200 U.S. direct-hire employees, eligi-ble family members, contractors and approximately 170Foreign Service National employees.

Tunisia has long been a voice for moderation in the Arabworld, and the country is a key partner of the United States.The U.S. relationship with Tunisia rests on many sharedinterests. Strategically located in the Mediterranean,Tunisia seeks full membership in the global economy. Thecountry was the first Southern Mediterranean nation tosign a partnership agreement with the European Union,resulting in progressively lower trade barriers. Tunisia hassucceeded in attracting a substantial foreign investment

April 2002 7

Page 9: State Magazine, April 2002

Architect’s rendering of thenew U.S. Embassy in Tunisia.

Courtesy Tai Soo Kim Partners, Hartford, Conn.

he new embassy.

and is actively seeking stronger trade and investment linkswith the United States. Tunisia is, therefore, a central play-er in the U.S.-North African economic partnership thatencourages economic cooperation and private sector devel-opment in the Maghreb, the North-African states that bor-der the Mediterranean.

Tunisia’s successful economic and social policies, cou-pled with its history as a force for moderate political dia-logue in the region, make it a key U.S. partner. The U.S.Mission manages this bilateral relationship and workswith the Tunisians to promote economic liberalization,democratization and human rights, peacekeeping andthe Middle East peace process. Tunisia has also support-ed the global coalition against terror-ism.

The current location of U.S.Embassy-Tunis is on a tree-lined streetjust a few blocks from the entrance tothe Old Medina, a labyrinth of souksinterspersed with the Great Mosqueknown as Ez-Zitouna, the NationalLibrary and former palatial homestransformed into museums.Currently, official embassy business isconducted from five different officecompounds. But not for long. Agroundbreaking ceremony in Januarymarked the beginning of constructionof a new embassy in Aïn Zaghouan, arapidly developing residential suburbof Tunis.

This modern facility, just minutesfrom downtown Tunis and theMediterranean coast, carefully bal-ances the special needs of a modern,

Groundbreaking for t

8 State Magazine

secure embassy with a desire for a building that is gra-cious, welcoming and evocative of the distinctive archi-tecture of Tunisia. The shorter commute for manyemployees, the location of the American CooperativeSchool of Tunis directly across the street and the nearnessto many shopping and entertainment complexes are fea-tures that will make Tunisia an even more attractive placeto serve. Except for the monuments commission and theArabic Field School, all mission offices will be consoli-dated in one accessible, modern embassy complex,scheduled for completion in the autumn of 2002.

Page 10: State Magazine, April 2002

Human Resources’ Barbara Ensslin briefsAmbassador Rust Deming on ceremony.

Tunisia attaches great importance toits tourist sector and the country boastsa wide range of sightseeing and cultur-al opportunities, as well as many mod-ern Western-style hotels and resortsthat attract more than 5 million visitorsannually. Just a few short hours fromthe hustle and bustle of the capital cityare the Roman ruins of Dougga, BullaRegia, Sbeïtla, or the El Jem Coliseum,third in importance after the Rome andVerona amphitheaters. In Kerkouane,included on the UNESCO WorldHeritage list, is the vestige of an entirePunic city. Kairouan, in central Tunisia,was once the third most important cen-ter in Islam and today boasts one of theworld’s oldest mosques.

Aunique part of the U.S. Mission in Tunisia is theForeign Service Institute’s Arabic Field School,located in the picturesque suburb of Sidi Bou

Saïd. One of four Foreign Service Institute fieldschools for advanced language training overseas, thecampus offers 10 months of Arabic language andarea studies training for officers and family membersassigned to posts throughout the Arab world. Thelanguage-training center has provided the U.S. for-eign affairs community with a steady stream of grad-uates with Arabic language proficiency since 1975when it moved to Tunis from Beirut.

Another unique aspect of the mission is theNorth Africa Cemetery, located among the scat-tered ancient ruins of Carthage. The AmericanBattle Monuments Commission, a small inde-pendent agency of the Executive Branch of theU.S. government, administers the cemetery.Both the 27-acre cemetery and its Wall of theMissing, engraved with the names of 3,724 whorest in unknown graves, commemorate thosewho gave their lives during World War II in theliberation of Tunisia and while serving in thePersian Gulf Command in Iran. The cemeteryrepresents one of 24 permanent U.S. militaryburial grounds on foreign soil.

Arabic Field School and Cemetery

April 2002 9

Page 11: State Magazine, April 2002

Awards ceremony at the ambassador’sresidence gets under way.

The Roman ruins of Dougga.

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In Tunisia, dramatic Saharan landscapes are just 250miles from downtown Tunis. For nature lovers, there areoak and cork forests, mountains, lakes, orchards, vine-yards and wheat plains. Each year, during Novemberand December, more than 200,000 migratory birds flockto Lake Ichkeul, creating a mecca for bird-watchers.

The city itself offers plenty for the young. BelvederePark is the site of a pleasant zoo and Park Nahli is a vasturban park equipped with a large playground, hikingtrails and pony rides. The Tunisian amusement park, DahDah, offers a variety of attractions for all ages, from amerry-go-round to a roller coaster.

Tunisia’s mild climate and exceptionally beautifulbeaches have firmly established Tunisia’s reputation as aseaside resort destination. Residents and tourists alikecan enjoy all types of water sports, from the catamaranand water skiing to parasailing and jet skiing. A new gen-

10 State Magazine

A traditional Tunisian dancerentertains employees duringa holiday party.

eration of five-star hotels offers fine dining and, for thosewanting to unwind at the end of the day, an assortmentof spas. Shopping opportunities also abound in Tunisand its surrounding suburbs.

Tunisia is a country of contrasts with modern develop-ment competing with the architecture of the past andRoman ruins with the labyrinthine structures of the Arabsouks. This fascinating country, with its turbulent ancienthistory, social and economic progress, and active engage-ment in the region and beyond, is standing on the brinkof becoming a modern, First World nation. ■

The author is the co-community liaison office coordinator.

Page 12: State Magazine, April 2002

The Office of CivilOffice of the Month:

Diversity of People and Ideas

By Szu-Nien Su

You have seen the Office ofCivil Rights in action at com-memorative events such asthe “standing room only” Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. holidayobservance with actor, director andhumanitarian Danny Glover.Perhaps you remember receivinginstruction from an OCR staff mem-ber at the orientation for newForeign Service and Civil Serviceemployees. For sure, the office’srole in the Department is muchmore than meets the eye.

Secretary Powell’s commitmentto the well-being of all Depart-ment employees drives the office.During his confirmation hearing,he told the U.S. Senate, “I have aresponsibility to the men andwomen of the State Department togive them the very best leadershipthat I can….”

In addition, the Secretary estab-lished a commitment to change: “Iam going to start taking action asquickly as I can to make those orga-nizational changes, and to look atthe various irritants that might existin our family unit and see what wemight do to change things.”

These were the Office of CivilRights’ “charging orders.”

During the past year, the OCR hasinstituted a number of operationalchanges in resolving outstandingcomplaints, improving customerservice and providing training andoutreach that will affect allDepartment employees.

April 2002 11

Rights

Page 13: State Magazine, April 2002

Assistant Secretary BarbaraSpyridon Pope, not shown,leads an OCR staff meeting.

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Assistant Secretary Barbara Spyridon Pope considersequal employment opportunity much more than a regu-latory issue. “EEO is a leadership issue,” she says.“Strong leadership not only promotes a work environ-ment free from hostility, it encourages each employee tomake a contribution. Diversity of people and ideas con-tributes to a better process or product.

OCR has redirected its resources to be more responsiveto employees’ discrimination complaints. As of January,the Department’s inventory of formal-stage EEO com-plaints was at its lowest level since 1988. Specifically, OCReliminated 96 percent of the EEO case backlog, processed55 percent more cases and had 63 percent fewer opencases than during the preceding calendar year.

Under a new policy, the portion of EEO complaintsunder OCR control—from acceptance through resolutionor appeal—is being completed within 180 days. No otherfederal agency has adopted such a stringent policy,according to the director of the Equal EmploymentOpportunty Commission’s Office of Federal Operations.

12 State Magazine

chatseynoteonth in

Transportation Secretary Norman Minetta congratulates Japanesedancer Shizumi Shigeto Manale at a program commemorating AsianPacific American Heritage Month last May.

Photo by Ann Thomas

These achievements have been accomplished by OCR’steam of 24 staff members working in four sections: com-plaints management; EEO counseling/alternative disputeresolution/training; affirmative employment/outreach;and civil rights compliance. As the principal deputy,Hattie P. Baldwin oversees day-to-day operation of thefour sections. An EEO assistant supports the assistant sec-retary and the deputy and coordinates the assistance ofthree part-time stay-in-school interns. An attor-ney-adviser and two staffattorneys advise theoffice on legal issues.

The complaints man-agement section is a teamof EEO specialists whoprocess the Department’sformal-stage EEO com-plaints. In keeping withthe new, streamlined pro-cessing policy, they alsomonitor contract EEOinvestigators, who domost of the time-con-suming, complaint inves-tigations.

Another vital link is theEEO counseling/alterna-tive dispute resolution/training section. The section’s ADRprogram has played a major role in lowering the number offormal complaints the office receives by successfully medi-ating and resolving EEO complaints at the informal stage.The section also conducts ad hoc and formal training toeducate managers and employees about their rights andabout prohibited employment practices.

Efforts to increase awareness and understanding of

Judy Mann, Washington Post columnist,with a Department employee after her ktalk commemorating Women’s History MMarch 2001.

Photo by An

diversity issues center in the affirmative employment/

Page 14: State Magazine, April 2002

Civil Rights.

Arlene Brandon, left, Gloria Slater and Robert Nealy practice alternative

,

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ecke

outreach section. This section’s EEO managers and spe-cialists organize commemorative programs such as Mr.Glover’s appearance to honor Dr. King. They also coordi-nate activities that reach out to persons with disabilities,African Americans, Hispanic Americans, AsianAmericans and Pacific Islanders. The section analyzesand monitors the Department’s diversity profile and pro-duces reports for the Office of Personnel Managementand the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.The section also represents the Department on four WhiteHouse civil rights initiatives.

Diversity in the workplace includes looking for quali-fied employees for the Foreign Service and the CivilService in all areas of American life. OCR staff regularlyserve as volunteers with the Department’s recruitmentstaff and participate in the new Hometown Diplomatprogram. The affirmative employment/outreach teamalso coordinates various outreach activities with the U.S.Agency for International Development and a variety ofemployee organizations.

The office has an alternative dispute resolution program tohelp resolve outstanding cases. ADR encompasses a range of

The commemorative month celebrations for 2002 are:

January 21 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holidayFebruary Black History MonthMarch Women’s History MonthApril Holocaust Remembrance MonthMay Asian/Pacific American Heritage MonthJune Gay and Lesbian Pride MonthAugust 26 Women’s Equality DaySept.15–Oct. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month October Disability Awareness MonthOctober 30 National Disability Mentoring Day November Native American Heritage Month

Ambassador George Moose, center, senior fellow at Howard University;Pierre Prosper, ambassador at large for war crimes issues; and Ms. Popein red blazer, listen to a participant during a Black History Monthlunchtime mentoring session.

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problem-solving processes designed to resolve employeeconcerns before a formal complaint is filed. OCR offersmediation as a form of ADR to provide an alternative to theadministrative procedure of processing EEO complaints.

More than 70 percent of the discrimination complaintssubmitted for mediation are resolved. Even when acase is not resolved, mediation may be helpful in clar-ifying issues. ADR’s benefits include protecting theworkplace relationship and saving time and money.Mediation generally results in a settlement both par-ties can accept and support, promotes better commu-nications between them and encourages a respectfuland cooperative future relationship.

Customer service remains an OCR priority. Theoffice debuted a web site on the Department’sIntranet that can be reached through workstationbrowsers at http://socr.state.gov/. Managers andemployees serving overseas can access this onlineresource center for relevant laws and statutes con-cerning EEO and civil rights. The site includes fre-quently asked questions on EEO issues. Further

assistance on questions concerning compliance or possibleviolations may be e-mailed to OCR at [email protected]. Most inquiries are answered within two busi-ness days. The office will soon offer an interactive onlinetraining program.

Training is one of the best ways to educate employeesabout EEO laws and to reduce complaints. OCR hasdeveloped a vigorous training curriculum that consists ofan EEO reference guide and a lively presentation. Theoffice’s training section travels to overseas posts and tothe Department’s domestic locations to conduct on-sitetraining. On-site training offers valuable opportunitiesfor employees to ask direct questions. Frequently, on-sitetraining encourages OCR counseling on EEO issues andprovides another avenue for complaint resolution at anearly stage. A training program using videoconferencingwill be available this year. ■

The author is special assistant to the assistant secretary for

dispute resolution techniques in a mock ADR exercise.

April 2002 13

Page 15: State Magazine, April 2002

14 State Magazine

Afghanistan’sHidden Killers

Afghan deminers searching for unexploded ord-nance on the outskirts of Kabul. A portion of theHindu Kush range is visible in the background.

By John Stevens

Afghanistan, a country slightly smallerthan Texas, is so infested with land minesand unexploded ordnance that it aver-ages 200 known casualties monthly.Villagers trying to disarm and recycle

land mines continue to be maimed and killed,even though 7 million of the approximately 26million inhabitants have received some form ofmine awareness education.

Page 16: State Magazine, April 2002

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hoto

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An Afghan woman passes a billboard about land mines.

ines.

“Desperation causes somefolks to engage in amateurdemining even though theyknow the danger and may havereceived mine awareness train-ing. This behavior is not uniqueto Afghanistan,” notes Donald“Pat” Patierno.

He heads the Bureau ofPolitical-Military Affairs hu-manitarian demining assis-tance programs to Afghanistanas well as 35 other countries,plus Kosovo and NorthwestSomalia.

While people are still killedor injured by accidentally trip-ping mines, according to Mr.Patierno, there’s been a down-ward trend in land mine casu-alties worldwide—about10,000 known casualties in2000. He attributes this, in part,to programs to educate threat-ened populations, but evenmore due to actual clearance.

Before Sept. 11, the bureauwas seeing progress in Af-ghanistan, too, where casual-ties were reduced by 50 per-cent since 1998. The mineaction programs backed by theUnited States and other donornations are making a differ-ence, the official said.

Land mines were introducedto Afghanistan during theSoviet occupation (1979 to 1989)and were widely sown bySoviet troops,their Afghancohorts andMujahadeenfreedom fight-ers. When theSoviets with-

drew, these “hidden killers” remained andthe warring factions planted more.Approximately 800 square kilometers, or497 square miles, of Afghanistan containan estimated 4 million land mines.

Unknown quantities of unexplodedordnance also litter the country. Theyinfest agricultural and grazing fields,irrigation canals, urban areas, homes,roads, power stations, airfields andother facilities. The greater Kabul areaitself is heavily mined. With limited

Ph

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Anti-personnel m

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arable land and scantinfrastructure, the im-pact of all of thesemines and unexplodedordnance is more hor-rific than the percent-age of affected landmight suggest.

The United States hasbeen accused of “walk-ing away” from Af-ghanistan after theSoviets were expelled.

“This is false,” insistsLincoln P. BloomfieldJr., assistant secretary of

April 2002 15

hotos

Page 17: State Magazine, April 2002

PA) survey team supported by mine detecting dogsntroduced the first MDDs in Afghanistan and appropriate settings.

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Afghan deminers search field near former Taliban prison.

State for Political-Military Affairs and special representa-tive of the President and Secretary of State for mineaction.

“In fact, the United States recognized the magnitude ofAfghanistan’s land mine problem years before theSoviets departed,” Mr. Bloomfield said, “and designed ahumanitarian deminingstrategy and, with otherdonor nations, beganrendering deminingassistance there inOctober 1988.

“U.S. taxpayers haveceaselessly supportedthe Afghan people intheir struggle againstland mines for over 13years,” the diplomatsaid.

Since FY 1993 alone,the State Departmentand U.S. Agency forInternational Develop-ment have contributednearly $28 million dol-lars to humanitariandemining efforts inAfghanistan. In FY2002, the Bureau of

A Mine Clearing Planning Agency (MC(MDDs) prepares to deploy. The U.S. iremains committed to their use in all

16 State Magazine

Political-Military Affairs is providing more than $7 mil-lion for mine action there. A portion is for a contract witha U.S.-registered nongovernmental demining organiza-tion to hire, train and equip 800 additional local humani-tarian deminers, reinforcing the 4,500 local deminersalready employed around the country.

Page 18: State Magazine, April 2002

An MCPA survey team during thetechnical survey of a mine field.

Photo courtesy of MCPA, via the Journal of Mine Action/MAIC/JMU.

Norwegian soldierstraps on specialdemining shoes.

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Getty

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es

In addition, two bureau officers recently were in

Afghanistan to give on-site technical and managementsupport to the U.N. Mine Action Program Afghanistan.The bureau has also arranged for technical advisers fromthe NGO to train local mine clearers and field managerson removing unfamiliar land mines and unexplodedordnance such as U.S. cluster munitions and replacingequipment lost, stolen or destroyed by the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Afghan civilians attend mine-awareness training in Herat.

Photo by H

Finally, a portion of the $7 million is supportingadditional mine awareness programs in coordinationwith UNICEF. This aid is being supplemented by de-mining assistance from the Department of Defense andthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TheCDC, for example, is working with the VietnamVeterans of America Foundation on land mine surveysand disability assistance for survivors.

“Official humanitarian demining efforts require rein-forcement from the private sector if the world is to bemade mine safe within the next few decades,” explainsJim Lawrence, who heads the bureau’s private sectorsupport effort for mine action.

asan Sarbakhshian/AP Photos

Mr. Lawrence hopes tosecure the California wineindustry’s interest in demin-ing the once-fertile ShomaliPlain north of Kabul, wherethe Taliban destroyed vines,orchards and irrigation sys-tems—all aggravated bydrought. Even if all of the ord-nance is cleared, it will taketime, he said, before this area’sproductivity is restored.

“But we have to give thefarmers a chance to repair andreplant without being maimedor killed. The rains will comeagain, but land mines wait forever.” ■

The author is a public diplomacyofficer with the Office of MineAction Initiatives and Partner-ships in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

April 2002 17

Page 19: State Magazine, April 2002

18 State Magazine

Director General HeadsDelegation to Air War College

Air Force Maj. Gen. Bentley Rayburn, right, commandant ofthe Air War College, welcomes Director General Ruth A. Davisto the Montgomery, Ala., campus. The author, center, joinedin the welcome.

By Earle Scarlett

Ambassador Ruth A. Davis,director general of theForeign Service and direc-tor of Human Resources,

led a delegation in late January oftwo dozen Department officers to theAir War College at Maxwell AFB inMontgomery, Ala., for a day-longprogram to intensify contact betweenthe Department and the college.

The Air Force arranged an air-craft—a Marine Corps jet from CherryPoint Air Station, N.C.,—to transportthe large group from Andrews AirForce Base in Maryland to Maxwell.

The group’s host was Maj. Gen.Bentley Rayburn, commandant ofthe Air War College, and a 1992graduate of the Department’s SeniorSeminar.

Director General Davis, whodelivered the keynote speech, citedher experience as a former directorof the Foreign Service Institute andpraised the military’s commitmentto education and training through-out a soldier’s professional career.She underscored the importance theDepartment is now giving to train-ing to career advancement. She high-lighted the need for the Defense andState cultures to understand andappreciate their complementaryroles. She suggested that the college

Delegates learnmore about the military’scommitment to education andtraining.

Page 20: State Magazine, April 2002

Secretary to OpeAffairs Day

Secretary Colin L. Powell will deliver the opening reannual homecoming for retired Civil Service and Foreig

Director General Ruth A. Davis said that in responsmorning program would contain more substance. Folbureaus and Department principals will host off-the-Department’s role in the War on Terrorism.

The traditional luncheon will again be offered in theevery year, so attendees are encouraged to sign up early

The invitation list is made up of the cumulative list Service and Foreign Service—since March 2000. If you’dthose categories, send an e-mail to foreignaffairsday@st

Foreign Affairs Day comes at the conclusion of Publicbutions of local, state and federal employees.

During her visit to Alabama, Director General Ruth A. Davis, right,lunched with Tuskegee airman and fighter pilot Col. Herb Carter andhis wife Mildred.

students look beyond the military-to-military aspects ofthe countries they are about to visit and focus on under-standing the breadth and continuity of the U.S. diplo-matic effort.

More than 200 Air War College students convened insmaller sessions with the Department’s country and areaexperts. This included an informal lunch followed by astructured seminar session of brief presentations anddetailed question-and-answer periods. Topics ranged fromthe security dimension of AIDS in Africa to the nuances ofrelations with the Russian Federation. The Departmentofficers heard the concerns of those who will soon be insignificant national security jobs on the Defense side,while the Air War College students had the chance to talkto people with the most current knowledge of the issues.

While in Montgomery, considered the cradle of the U.S.civil rights movement, Ambassador Davis visited theDexter Avenue Baptist Church, where the Rev. MartinLuther King Jr. was pastor for 10 years, and stopped atthe Civil Rights Memorial. She lunched with Tuskegeeairman and fighter pilot Col. Herb Carter and with Dr.Joe Lee, who heads the historically black Alabama StateUniversity. She encouraged both to pass the word thatthe Department is recruiting, as it never has before.Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, a guest at the lunch-eon, said the city’s new motto, “From Civil War to CivilRights,” mirrors the changes the city has seen in the pastseveral decades.

The afternoon program also included sessions with theAir War College faculty and deans, visits to several of theseminar sessions and a quick “windshield tour” of thebase. On the flight back to Andrews, the director generalsurveyed members of the delegation and found themeager to return next year. ■

The author is a senior adviser for international affairs at theAir War College.

April 2002 19

n Foreign

marks May 10 at Foreign Affairs Day, the Department’sn Service employees. e to feedback from last year’s participants, this year’s

lowing the AFSA Memorial Plaque ceremony, regionalrecord seminars on a variety of topics, including the

Eighth Floor Diplomatic Reception Rooms. It sells out.from last year’s event plus all new retirees—both Civil like to attend and you’re not sure you fall into either of

ate.gov or telephone Patricia Able at (202) 663-3600. Service Recognition Week, which recognizes the contri-

Page 21: State Magazine, April 2002

Where There’s a Hue, There’s a Hill Where There’s a Hue, There’s a Hill

gA

HBy David WisePhotos by Robert Porter

ue, Vietnam’s imperialcapital, means different thingsto different people. For theVietnamese, the city, which straddles the Perfume River, isone of the country’s main cultural, educational and reli-gious centers. Hue reminds many Americans of the 1968Tet Offensive, when Viet Cong and North Vietnameseforces captured and held the city for nearly a month. Theeffort to retake the city cost thousands of lives and causedextensive damage to areas inside and outside the ancientCitadel, including, tragically, the Forbidden Purple City,the area reserved for the personal use of the emperor.

A LanguaTrip to the Vietnamese

20 State Magazine

For a group ofemployees from theU.S. Embassy inHanoi, Hue was thedestination for a mid-January “languageimmersion week-

end,” an opportunity to learn about some of Vietnam’shistorical treasures and to practice their Vietnamese atthe same time. The language study, supported in part bythe Foreign Service Institute, stipulated that guidesexplain as much as possible in Vietnamese, a challengefor both guides and embassy staff, since the visitors’ lan-guage skills ranged from near fluent to rudimentary.

Clad in a beautiful ao dai, the Vietnamese nationaldress, tour guide Nguyen Thi Huong warmly greeted the

e Immersionncient

Capital

Page 22: State Magazine, April 2002

Boats on Hue’sPerfume River.

guyen Thi Huong, in traditional dress, describes the Hue Citadela Frisby, left, and the author.

The language imtheir guides possteps of the Thi

group at the airportand directed them tothe bus to the city. Onthe way, she explainedin Vietnamese thatmany of Hue’s resi-dents consider them-selves descendants ofVietnamese emperorsand keep statues andother royal commemo-rative items in andaround their homes.En route, two otherguides, Truong ThiThuyet from HueUniversity and Le ThiThanh Binh fromHue’s foreign lan-guage center, joinedthe group. With three guides, itwas possible to divide the groupaccording to language skills intosmaller units.

Touring various sights aroundthe ancient Citadel that afternoon,Ms. Huong explained that much ofthe area is being renovated to pre-serve and reinforce Hue’s royalpast. Intricately designed gateswith detailed artwork were espe-cially colorful. Despite the ongo-ing work, parts of the impressivemoat surrounding the Citadelwere visible from the bridge, sug-gesting how ancient invadersmight have viewed the scene.

Tour guide NVietnamesefor CLO The

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/Mas

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mersion group ande for a photo on theen Mu Pagoda.

The next day, most of the group rented bikes and ped-aled the 15 kilometers between Hue and the area’sfamous pagodas and tombs. What had seemed like agreat idea in the planning stage soon soured when thecyclists discovered their bikes were heavy, old, broken-down models and none of the guides would be joiningthem on bikes. They preferred the comfort of the bus ormotorbike. At that point, the visitors from Hanoi sus-pected they had a tough day ahead of them.

The morning, however, was anything but tough.Wobbling at first on their bikes, they braved the relative-ly light Hue traffic and rode a short distance to the quay,where they loaded their bikes onto a boat that took themalong the Perfume River to several historical sites. Aftercruising for about 45 minutes, they arrived at the ThienMu Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most famous structures.Ms. Huong explained that the seven-story tower was

constructed in 1844 during the reign of EmperorThieu Tri. Strangely, the Austin car that trans-ported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site ofhis 1963 self-immolation in Saigon is displayedbehind the main sanctuary, a sober reminder ofVietnam’s turbulent past and the role thatBuddhist monks played.

The next stop was Minh Mang’s tomb. Ms.Huong said many Vietnamese consider thistomb, built between 1841 and 1843, one of themost majestic of all the royal tombs because ofits harmony with the surrounding area.

After a box lunch on the boat, it was againtime to face the reality of the bicycles. Unlike flatHanoi, where bicycling takes little effort, Hue ishilly and a much greater challenge for a cyclist.

The group huffed and puffed its way to KhaiDinh’s tomb, drawing stares from villagers,who seemed to wonder what a group of for-eigners was doing struggling along a country

April 2002 21

Page 23: State Magazine, April 2002

w of thedel in Hue.

road on a hot day. Oncethey arrived and pulledthemselves together, Ms.Huong told them this wasthe only royal tomb wherethe coffin’s location isknown for certain. Built in1921, it is a unique blend ofViet-namese and Europeanarchitectural features.

This was only a warm-upfor the trek up to Tu Duc’stomb, where one member ofthe group lost a pedal andothers arrived in variousstates of disrepair andfatigue. Ms. Huongexplained that Tu Duc ruledVietnam for 35 years, thelongest reign of any Nguyenmonarch. And though hehad 104 wives and numer-ous concubines, Tu Duc leftno offspring. As Ms. Huong talked about the tomb, agroup of Vietnamese schoolchildren “joined” the tour.They seemed perplexed that the guide was speakingVietnamese with a group of foreigners, and they appearedamused as the students asked questions in northernaccents (the Hue accent is quite different) and rudimenta-ry grammar.

Finally, fortified with snacks and water, the groupbegan the eight-kilometer trek back to the city, arrivingshortly before dark. Everyone was happy to hand backthe bicycles and head for the showers. Dinner thatevening was a subdued affair. There were unconfirmedreports of a run on the local version of Ben-Gay.

A vieCita

22 State Magazine

OMS Enid Anglero models a royal dress while perched on a throne ata temple at Tu Duc’s tomb.

Political Counselor Scott Bellard practiceshis Vietnamese by explaining the subtletiesof U.S. foreign policy to a group of work-men at the Hue Citadel.

It rained heavily the next morning, limiting the group’soutdoor activities. But they did view some of Hue’simpressive silkscreen paintings and conical hats, two ofthe city’s signature products. Ms. Huong said the city’sspecialty is “poem hats” that contain illustrations repre-senting various poems between the hats’ layers. As Ms.Huong noted, “We are a city of poets, which is one reasonwe are rather poor.”

After a quick lunch, the group headed for the airport.Ms. Huong recited a poem about the sadness of departing.The language students agreed it had been a tiring butstimulating visit to one of Vietnam’s real treasures. ■

The author is a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.

Page 24: State Magazine, April 2002

t

ar

Political-Military BureauSupports ‘Enduring Freedom’

mo prnt l onori. Chu’s se

Story by Air Force Lt. Col. Doug TuckerPhotos by Bill Harris

The United States reacted decisively to the terrorisattacks of Sept. 11 by launching—within 26 days—devastating attacks on the Taliban and al Qaed

terrorist networks in Afghanistan and destroying theimilitary infrastructure there.

While the American public fol-lowed the impressive efforts of U.S.Armed Forces and coalition partnerson an hourly basis, the resoundingsuccess of this initial phase of thewar against global terrorism wouldhave been impossible without theDepartment’s intensive and wide-ranging diplomatic efforts behindthe scenes.

Soon after Sept. 11, State employ-ees in nearly every bureau and atposts worldwide went into over-

“One of our tasks is

Departmeinformation

Terr—Air Force Col

director and State

Army Gen. Tommy Franks, center,commander in chief of the U.S. CentralCommand in Tampa, Fla., meets withstaff of the Bureau of Political-MilitaryAffairs at the Department in January.

drive in building a coalition that made the overwhelmingmilitary victory possible. From the beginning, the Bureauof Political-Military Affairs has been a key player inachieving the diplomatic victory.

The bureau provided representatives to theDepartment’s Task Force US01 on Sept. 12. Since then, aPM staff member has been on 24-hour duty seven days aweek. The need for long-term PM involvement quickly

became apparent, prompting theDepartment to form a PM cell separatefrom the main task force. The need forthis cell to coordinate the diplomaticand military aspects of the war effortcontinued even after the Departmentstood down Task Force US01 on Oct.21. This led to the formation of theCoalition Working Group-PoliticalMilitary in a room tucked away,appropriately enough, in the old WarDepartment corner of Main State.

The nucleus of both working groupshas been PM’s Office of International

st importantovidingeadership the War onsm.”ck Wilson, ISOnior military rep.

April 2002 23

Page 25: State Magazine, April 2002

Air Force Col. Chuck Wilsoof Political-Military AffairsSecurity Operations, confedirector of the bureau’s Co

Security Operations, State’s primary liaison with theDefense Department on operational military matters. Thefirst PM personnel to stand watch with the first task forceon Sept. 12 came from the bureau’s Office of InternationalSecurity Operations. In subsequent months, the office pro-vided much of the bureau cell’s backup support, devel-oped standard operating procedures and trained newteams to assume watch duties. The working group’s inter-action with the security operations office was so close thatit eventually folded into ISO.

“One of our most important tasks is providingDepartment leadership information on the War on

24 State Magazine

Terrorism,” said Air Force Col. Chuck Wilson, ISO director and State’s senior military representative.

For those who were part of eitherPM cell, the work has been arduousbut rewarding. From the beginning,the PM cell had its hands full obtain-ing agreements from foreign govern-ments to grant clearances for U.S.cargo aircraft to cross their airspaceor to refuel at their airports.Afterwards, when Gen. TommyFranks, commander in chief of theU.S. Central Command, beganrequesting the forces he would needto fight the war, the Pentagon againcalled on State for help. It then fell tothe first working group to coordi-nate diplomatic efforts needed toobtain permission for U.S. forces toestablish bases in the countries bor-dering Afghanistan.

As foreign governments offeredmilitary forces to join the United

States in its fight against terrorism, the PM cell’s workmultiplied. The team expressed official U.S. gratitude tocooperating states and drafted instructions to U.S.Embassies requesting permission to base U.S. forces onthe host nations’ territory or accepting offers of forces forthe coalition. In all, the cell analyzed, summarized andacted on more than 43,000 cables related to OperationEnduring Freedom.

During its first weeks, the PM cell was staffed by PMvolunteers and augmented with Defense personnel.Later, the evolving work of the cell called for assigningsemipermanent watch teams drawn from PM as well asthe other “T Bureaus”—Verification and Compliance,Arms Control and Non-proliferation. During the first 100days, the task forces invested a staggering 6.7 work-yearssupporting the operation.

In a January press briefing in Tampa, Gen. Franksacknowledged the role the Department had played in thesuccess of his forces in Afghanistan: “We also have arobust representation from the State Department in mycommand. As a matter of fact, I have a political adviser ofambassadorial rank who facilitates a 24-hour-day dia-logue with counterparts in the State Department.”

When Gen. Franks visited State in January, he stoppedby to personally meet members of the coalition workinggroup on duty at the time.

The President has cautioned the nation that the Waron Terrorism will not be won overnight. Just as the jobof the U.S. Armed Forces will continue, so will thediplomatic efforts of the State Department. And PM’scoalition working group will continue to quietly syn-chronize their efforts. ■

The author is an Air Force officer serving in the Bureau ofPolitical-Military Affairs.

n, director of the Bureau’ Office of Internationalrs with Sheila Peters,alition Working Group.

War on Terrorism ExpandsThe U.S. War on Terrorism has expanded beyond

Afghanistan, where American forces and Afghan allies arebattling Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in the Shahikotmountain range in the eastern part of the country thatborders Pakistan.

While Afghanistan is the only country where U.S. forcesare directly engaged in combat, the United States hasdeployed members of the military to the Philippines, theRepublic of Georgia and Yemen, where their roles arebeing confined to training and logistical support.

It was in October 2000 that terrorists, believed linkedto al Qaeda, bombed the destroyer USS Cole as it waspreparing to refuel in the Yemen port city of Aden. Theblast killed 17 sailors and injured scores of others.

Page 26: State Magazine, April 2002

By Atim George

FSI Issues New and UpdatedContinuums

As the nation’s premier training institu-tion for the foreign affairs community,the Foreign Service Institute is con-stantly seeking new and better ways toaccomplish a core mission of ensuringU.S. diplomatic readiness.

In keeping with this mission, FSI recently issued a“Training Continuum for Civil Service Employees”and an updated “Leadership and ManagementTraining Continuum.” The publications underscore

Secretary Powell’s commitment to training and profes-sional development for all Department employees.

The “Training Continuum for Civil ServiceEmployees” describes how employees can acquire the

knowledge and skills needed for successful performanceand professional growth. FSI encourages Civil Serviceemployees and their supervisors to use the continuum asa guide for fostering professional development throughformal classroom training, job assignments and otherlearning activities.

The continuum also provides brief descriptions, eligi-bility criteria and links to web sites for a variety of train-ing and career development opportunities. In addition,there are training paths for acquisition, consular, foreignaffairs, human resource management and office supportprofessionals. Additional continuums are under develop-ment for information technology, financial managementand security personnel.

For now, the “Training Continuum for Civil ServiceEmployees” is available only online at the FSI web sitehttp://fsiweb.fsi.state.gov/fsi/continuum/default.asp. fsiadded a user comment sheet at the end of the training con-tinuum to encourage feedback on the document fromemployees, career counselors and supervisors. FSI willupdate the training continuum based on feedback received.

April 2002 25

Page 27: State Magazine, April 2002

rant Green, under secretary for Management, and Ambassador Ruth A. Davis, director gener-l of the Foreign Service and director of Human Resources, display new and updated trainingocuments. Joining them are Ambassador Kathy Peterson, left, director of the Foreign Service

nstitute, and Ambassador Aurelia Brazeal, dean of FSI’s Leadership and Management School.

Phot

o by

Bob

Kai

ser

The updated “Leadership andManagement Training Continuum”empowers employees to guide them-selves in acquiring competency-basedleadership and management skillsthroughout their careers. Managers andsupervisors can use it to identify rele-vant courses and other training servicesprovided by FSI’s Leadership andManagement School. Like the CivilService training continuum, the updatedcontinuum is available on the Intranet atHTTP://FSIWEB.FSI.STATE.GOV/FSI/LMS/TRAINING/DEFAULT.ASP.

FSI Director Kathy Peterson urgesmanagers and supervisors to use bothdocuments as resources to encourageand support training. ■

The author is director of marketing andoutreach for the Leadership andManagement School.

GadI

26 State

Courses: National Foreign Affairs Training Center

&Education Training

TRANSITION CENTER

Security SOS: Security Overseas Seminar MQ911 6, 20 10, 24 2DASOS: Adv. Security Overseas Seminar MQ912 14 4 1DTDY Security Overseas Seminar MQ913 6, 20 10, 24 1DSecurity Overseas Seminar, Youth MQ914 11, 25 1D

Foreign Service Life SkillsRegulations Allowances & Finances (MQ104) 14 3DDeputy Chief of Mission, Spouse (MQ110) 17 3DMaking Presentations: Design to Delivery (MQ111) 21 3DExplaining America (MQ115) 11 1DProtocol & U.S. Representation Abroad MQ116 22 1DGoing Overseas for Singles & Couples

Without Children (MQ200) 18 4HGoing Overseas for Families (MQ210) 18 4HGoing Overseas – Logistics for Adults MQ220 18 2.5HGoing Overseas for Children (MQ230) 18 2.5HYoung Diplomats Day (MQ250) 24 1DEncouraging Resilience in the Foreign

Service Child (MQ500) 1 2.5HPost Options for Employment & Training (MQ703) 8 1DTargeting the Job Market (MQ704) 6 2D

Course May June Length

Magazine

Course May June Length

Long Distance Relationships (MQ801) 15 4HCommunicating Across Cultures (MQ802) 28 1DRealities of Foreign Service Life (MQ803) 1 1DLegal Considerations in the Foreign

Service (MQ854) 29 2.5HOverseas Health Concerns (MQ857) 12 2.5HForeign Earned Income (MQ858) 8 2.5HEmergency Med. Care and Trauma Wkshp. (MQ915) 8 29 1D

Career Transition CenterRetirement Planning Seminar (RV101) 18 4Financial and Estate Planning (RV103) 2 20 1DAnnuities and Benefits and Social Security (RV104) 1 19 1D

Dates for FSI Transition Center courses are shown above. See the DepartmentNotices for announcements of new courses and new course dates. For informa-tion on courses, visit FSI’s schedule of courses on the Department’s Intranet atwww.fsiweb.gov.

See your bureau training officer for information about attending FSI-sponsored,two-week residential management seminars and long-term career develop-ment training opportunities. Length: H = Hours, D = Days

For additional information, please contact the Office of the Registrar at (703) 302-7144.

Page 28: State Magazine, April 2002

People Like YouPeople Like You

A Belly Dancerin Our Midst Azza Mounib-Zaki, in

red, conducts a class inBeledi dancing.

Azza Mounib-Zaki can belly dance with the best ofthem, judging from her many students and those whohave seen her perform at Wolf Trap, Constitution Hall

and other venues. But strictly speaking, the program offi-cer in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs per-forms and teaches Egyptian-style Beledi (country) dancing,a folk dance popular in the Middle East.

Raised in Egypt, the daughter of a senior Foreign ServiceNational employee who worked in the information sectionof the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Azza immigrated with herfamily when she was in fourth grade. Her father taughtArabic at the Foreign Service Institute and later worked forthe Voice of America and the U.S. Army.

“When we came to the United States,” Azza remembers,“We had four records of Egyptian music in our house. I lis-tened to them for hours and danced on my own.” Shedebuted as a dancer at her elementary school’s interna-tional festival.

Her parents weren’t surprised to discover their daugh-ter had talent. Performing ranin the family. Azza’s paternalgrandmother, Mary Mounib,was a famous comedienne,considered the Lucille Ball ofthe Middle East. So, once theyrecognized their daughterwas a dancer, her parentsencouraged Azza by arrang-ing lessons.

Determined to build bridges between Egyptian andAmerican cultures, Azza’s father formed the EgyptianEthnic Dance Troupe, featuring Azza and her brother Amr,who danced a popular cane dance with his sister. Thetroupe included musicians and singers gathered from theEgyptian community in the Washington, D.C. area.

In 1977, moments before the performers were to take thestage at a large international festival, Azza’s father suf-fered a heart attack. Though she knew her husband hadsuccumbed, Azza’s mother told her children their fatherwould want them to perform. She insisted the show mustgo on. For a year following Mr. Mounib’s death, the groupwas dormant. But Mrs. Mounib, who had always been thegroup’s producer and trainer, resurrected the group andnamed it for her deceased husband.

Now, after years of performing, Azza has shifted empha-sis to teaching dance. She conducts group and private les-sons and workshops in Northern Virginia, where she andher husband live with their two children (www.geocities.com/cazuzaz_z). “I love teaching,” Azza says. “It’s reward-ing to see the results in the students’ progress.” Belly danc-ing requires discipline and strenuous physical exercise.Some of her students take lessons as a fun way of keepingfit, while others enjoy the liberating feeling of getting intouch with their feminine side. Whatever their motivation,Azza’s multiethnic students range in age from 15 to 57.

“Take the best from your two cultures,” Azza remembersher father saying. As a program officer, dancer and instruc-tor, Azza Mounib-Zaki has lived by that credo.

April 2002 27

Page 29: State Magazine, April 2002

Medical Report

DNA Helps Identify Victims

dr

By Dr. Athena Moundalexis and Carolyn M. Mermon

It’s never pleasant to think about disasters. But identi-fying remains quickly after a disaster could help easethe pain and suffering of bereaved family and friends.

The Department’s Office ofMedical Services is workingwith the Armed Forces Instituteof Pathology in a program touse DNA to identify remains ofpersons killed in a catastrophicdisaster while serving overseas.The process has been availableto the U.S. military for morethan 10 years. Unlike theDefense Department’s pro-gram, which is mandatory,State’s is strictly voluntary.

The process involves collect-ing blood samples from finger-sticks or venipunctures whenemployees or family membershave their medical exams. Thelaboratory stains special cardswith blood and sends them tothe institute, where they arerecorded and entered into adata bank. Untyped and unana-

Carolyn Mermon, left, chief of Mstrates signing consent on blooMonart, medical technologist, p

28 State Magazine

lyzed, the samples are collected and stored for the solepurpose of identifying the remains of deceased persons.When needed, DNA from the blood sample can bematched with human remains from a disaster site. Theinstitute keeps samples in its repository for 50 years oruntil a request is made to destroy them. Employees orfamily members may request their blood samples be

destroyed at any time. The identification program will

be available to all official users ofthe Office of Medical Services sys-tem, Foreign Service employees,personal services contracters andeligible family members who gothrough the medical clearanceprocess and have official access tothe Department’s overseas healthunits. Eventually, the programwill be offered to Foreign ServiceNational employees as well. Theprogram has already started foremployees and family membersobtaining medical exams at theclinic in SA-1 and will be expand-ed to those examined overseas.

Can I have a copy of my DNAresults?

Donors frequently ask for their“DNA results.” The results refer to

ED’s laboratory, demon- sample card, while Lizetteepares to stain the card.

Page 30: State Magazine, April 2002

Ms. Monart stains the cardwith DNA blood sample.

ing.,

the graphic representation of DNA typing generated bycomputer analysis, sometimes referred to as a “DNA fin-gerprint.” Specimens are not analyzed when they arereceived. They are merely stored to be retrieved if neededfor identification of human remains. The DNA Registrydoes not perform DNA testing to support civil matters. Sosomeone requiring DNA testing for paternity or other civilmatters must contract with a private laboratory.

When I separate from the Foreign Service, can I havemy specimen returned to me or destroyed?

Donors may request that their specimens be destroyedat any time. They will be automatically destroyed after 50years. Specimens are not automatically destroyed uponretirement because many Foreign Service employeesreturn as rehired annuitants.

DNA blood sample card.

What is entailed in the quality control process?When the institute receives specimens, they are not

typed for identification. Instead, their receipt is record-ed and samples are stored in a vacuum-sealed pouchon the same blood-stained card collected in the field.Each card is put into a refrigerated room with manyothers. To ensure the quality of this work and to con-firm that the DNA blood samples are usable, a few ran-domly selected samples are tested for quality controlpurposes monthly. DNA typing is done on these sam-ples. The samples and the DNA typing results contin-ue to be kept in the storage once the quality controltesting is completed.

If I were accused of a crime, could my DNA sample beused against me?

The collection and storage of these blood samples arestrictly for the purposes of identifying human remains ofemployees and family members. Blood samples and anyinformation obtained from the samples are disclosed onlywhen human re-mains need identify-ing, when an indi-vidual provides avalid consent, or ifrequired by federalstatute, congression-al subpoena or anorder issued by acourt of competentjurisdiction. Bloodsamples and anyinformation collectedfrom the samplescannot be released orused otherwise.Nonetheless, theanswer to this ques-tion is: yes, if the con-ditions of the courtorder are met.

Is participation inthis programmandatory?

No, participation inthe Department’s program is voluntary. Only blood takenafter signed, informed consent will be used for this pro-gram. The Office of Medical Services views this programas a benefit to employees and their families—one theyhope will never be needed. Failure to provide a bloodsample will have no consequences other than possiblyhindering the identification of remains in the event ofa disaster. ■

Dr. Moundalexis is the emergency medical preparedness coordinator and Ms. Mermon is the laboratory chief in theOffice of Medical Services.

Technician prepares a DNA sample for testIn the Department’s identification programsamples are not typed until necessary.

Phot

o by

Bob

And

erso

n/M

aste

rfile

April 2002 29

Page 31: State Magazine, April 2002

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

U.S. Ambassador to the Republicof Chile. William R. Brownfield ofTexas, a career member of theSenior Foreign Service, class ofMinister-Counselor, is the new U.S.Ambassador to the Republic ofChile. He was deputy assistant sec-retary in the Bureau of WesternHemisphere Affairs from 1999 to2002. Before that, he was principal

deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of InternationalNarcotics and Law Enforcement. Mr. Brownfield waschief of the humanitarian affairs section at the U.S.Mission to Geneva. Since joining the Foreign Service in1979, he has also served in Argentina, El Salvador andVenezuela. He is married to Kristie A. Kenney, who isalso a Foreign Service officer.

Assistant Secretary for Population,Refugees and Migration. Arthur E.Dewey of Maryland, a part-timeconsultant for civil and militaryfield training, is the new assistantsecretary for Population, Refugeesand Migration. From 1997 to 1999,he was a professor in residence atthe U.S. Army War College inCarlisle, Pa. Mr. Dewey was execu-

tive director of the Congressional Hunger Center and aconsultant to the humanitarian coordinator of the U.N.Department of Humanitarian Affairs from 1993 to 1997.He directed USAID’s Office of Emergency HumanitarianAssistance to the New Independent States from 1991 to1993 and directed international programs for theInternational Foundation from 1990 to 1991. From 1986 to1990, Mr. Dewey was U.N. assistant secretary-generaland deputy high commissioner for refugees. From 1981to 1986, he was deputy assistant secretary in the Bureauof Refugee Programs. He was a U.S. Army officer from1957 to 1981, serving as the executive officer in the Officeof the Assistant Secretary of Defense for InternationalSecurity Affairs from 1978 to 1981. He was an Army avi-ation officer in Vietnam and earned a DistinguishedFlying Cross in 1971. He and his wife Priscilla have onegrown daughter.

Ambassador at Large for International ReligiousFreedom. John V. Hanford III of Virginia, a CongressionalFellow in the office of Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), isthe new Ambassador at Large for International ReligiousFreedom. From 1996 to the present, Mr. Hanford has

30 State Magazine

served as a Congressional Fellow with the NationalHeritage Foundation in Falls Church, Va. From 1987 to1995, he was a Congressional Fellow with theInternational Foundation in Washington, D.C. He direct-ed the Congressional Fellows program in internationalreligious freedom in Arlington, Va., from 1986 to 1987. Hewas assistant to the pastor at West Hopewell PresbyterianChurch, Hopewell, Va., from 1983 to 1985. Mr. Hanfordand his wife Laura have one daughter.

Designated Chief of Mission in Pristina, Kosovo. RenoL. Harnish III, a career member of the Senior ForeignService, class of Minister-Counselor, will assume hisduties in August as designated chief of mission inPristina, Kosovo. He was deputy chief of mission at theU.S. Embassy in Cairo and at the U.S. Embassy inStockholm. From 1992 to 1995, he handled U.S. policy onCentral Asian politics and scientific cooperation with theNew Independent States. He was environment, scienceand technology counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Romeand economic and commercial counselor in the U.S.Embassy to the German Democratic Republic (Berlin,East Germany). He has also served in Saipan and Lagos.Mr. Harnish and his wife Leslie have two children.

U.S. Ambassador to the Republicof Gabon and to the DemocraticRepublic of São Tomé andPrincipe. Kenneth P. Moorefield ofFlorida, a career member of theSenior Foreign Service, class ofCareer Minister, is the new U.S.Ambassador to Gabon and, concur-rently, to the Democratic Republicof São Tomé and Principe. He was

senior commercial officer at the U.S. Embassy in Parisfrom 2000 to 2002 and at the U.S. Mission to the EuropeanUnion in Brussels from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Moorefield wassenior commercial officer in Hanoi from 1995 to 1998 andheld the same position at U.S. Embassies in London,Caracas and Lima. He served two tours of duty as a U.S.Army officer in Vietnam, first as an infantry officer,where he earned a Silver Star, Bronze Stars and a PurpleHeart, and later as special assistant to AmbassadorGraham Martin. After his tour of duty with the Army, Mr.Moorefield continued to serve as a civilian with the U.S.Embassy until the fall of Saigon in 1975. He and his wifeGeraldine have one daughter.

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

U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and, concurrently, U.S.Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, to theCommonwealth of Dominica, to Grenada, to theFederation of St. Kitts and Nevis, to Saint Lucia, and toSaint Vincent and the Grenadines. Earl N. Phillips Jr. ofNorth Carolina, president and chief executive officer ofPhillips Interests, Inc., a real estate holding company inHigh Point, N.C., is the new U.S. Ambassador toBarbados, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth ofDominica, Grenada, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis,to Saint Lucia and to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.Mr. Phillips was executive vice president of First FactorsCorp., High Point, N.C., from 1972 to 1983 and presidentand CEO of the corporation from 1983 to 2000. GeneralElectric purchased the firm in 1998 and changed its nameto GE Capital First Factors. He was appointed to the U.S.Small Business Administration’s National AdvisoryCouncil and served as a member from 1990 to 1992. Heand his wife Sarah have two children.

U.S. Ambassador to the Republicof Mauritius and, concurrently, tothe Federal Islamic Republic ofthe Comoros and to the Republicof Seychelles. John Price of Utah,chairman and chief executive offi-cer of JP Realty, Inc., of Salt LakeCity, Utah, is the new U.S.Ambassador to the Republics ofMauritius, the Comoros and

Seychelles. JP Realty, Inc., listed on the New York StockExchange since 1994, evolved from a number of prede-cessor companies involved in construction, development

PERSONNE

and real estate ownership. Mr. Price is also the director ofthe executive committee of Alta Industries. He was amember of the board of trustees of the University of Utahfrom 1992 to 1999 and served as chairman of the Salt LakeArea Chamber of Commerce. From 1974 to 1994, he waschairman and CEO of Price Broadcasting Co. He servedon the government relations and planning subcommitteeof the U.S. Olympic Committee during 2001. Mr. Priceand his wife Marcia have three children.

U.S. Ambassador to the BolivarianRepublic of Venezuela. Charles S.Shapiro of Georgia, a career mem-ber of the Senior Foreign Service,class of Minister-Counselor, is thenew U.S. Ambassador to theBolivarian Republic of Venezuela.He was deputy chief of mission atthe U.S. Embassy in Santiago from1995 to 1998 and at the U.S.

Embassy in Port of Spain from 1991 to 1994. Mr. Shapirowas political counselor in San Salvador from 1985 to1988. He has also served in Copenhagen. He served in theU.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 1971 to 1977. He and hiswife Robin Dickerson have two sons.

L ACTIONS

Foreign Service Retirements Booth, Jackson B.Burton, GuyCallahan, James PhilipFerro, Nicholas Anthony

Lynch, Christopher F.McWhirter, James A.Olszewski, Arlene C.Rabadan, David J.

Wagenseil, StevenWilliams, Michael A.

Civil Service RetirementsBean, Lily Bravo,Bennett, Carol AnnJorgensen, Linda R.Linhart, Edward W.

Nyhus, Elizabeth Dolbey.Petchik, Carl A.Tyson, Patricia A.Watkins, Shirley L.

April 2002 31

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O B I T U A R I E S

Milan D. Bish, 72, former U.S.Ambassador to the EasternCaribbean and former chairman ofthe Nebraska Republican Party,died Nov. 5 in Grand Island, Neb.,of complications from Parkinson’sdisease and cancer. He was appoint-ed ambassador by President RonaldReagan and served from 1981 to1984, during the 1983 Grenada

intervention. Mr. Bish, a longtime resident of GrandIsland, founded Mid-Continent Enterprises, a develop-ment and property management company.

George E. Brown, 69, a retiredForeign Service officer, died ofcomplications after surgery forlung cancer on Jan. 23 in SanAntonio, Texas. He joined theForeign Service in 1963 and servedin Santo Domingo and three sepa-rate tours in Brazil. Mr. Brown wasone of the Department’s mostrespected Brazilianists. He was the

Panama desk officer at the time of the ratification of thePanama Canal Treaty. After retiring in 1987, Mr. Brownreturned to Texas, where he perfected his bridge gameand attained the rank of master.

Howard W. Calkins, 85, a retiredForeign Service officer, died Sept. 24at his home in Charles Town, W. Va.,while under hospice care. He joinedthe Foreign Service in 1946 and heldpublic affairs positions in Europe,Africa and Vietnam. Mr. Calkins wasa World War II veteran who servedin Europe in the infantry and spe-cialized in psychological warfare.

Woodard E. (Woody) Davis III, 53, aninformation management specialistat the U.S. Embassy in London, diedthere Jan. 18 of cardiac failure. AVietnam veteran, he joined theForeign Service in 1995 after serving26 years in the U.S. Army. His firstDepartment assignment was at theU.S. Embassy in Brussels. He wouldhave completed a four-year tour in

London this summer. Among IRM’s most innovative infor-mation professionals, Mr. Davis and a colleague were rec-ognized last year for a technological invention with world-wide applicability.

32 State Magazine

Jim E. Engelhart, 75, a retired commu-nications specialist, died of cancerOct. 11 in San Antonio, Texas. Heserved in Asuncion, Caracas, Lisbon,Rawalpindi (Islamabad), Bangkok,London, Nairobi and Mexico City.He was assistant manager for theNational Communications System inWashington, D.C. He retired in 1982.Mr. Engelhart earned a Purple Heart

while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Herbert George Ihrig, 86, a retiredForeign Service officer, died Oct. 8 athis home on Bainbridge Island,Wash., after a three-year illness. Hejoined the Foreign Service in 1959 andserved as a labor attaché in Jakarta,Stockholm and Tokyo. During WorldWar II, Mr. Ihrig was an officer in theU.S. Navy in the Pacific theater. Nearthe end of the war he received

Japanese language training and was appointed temporarygovernor of the islands of Ponape and the Eastern Carolines.As a U.S. Army civilian, Mr. Ihrig was a labor specialist for10 years in Japan during the U.S. occupation.

Dorothea I. Martin, 85, a retired Foreign Service executivesecretary, died Oct. 31 in Hingham, Mass., of Alzheimer’sdisease. After joining the Foreign Service in 1950, her firstassignment was as a court reporter in Bonn, Germany,during the final phase of the Holocaust trials. Ms. Martinalso served in Japan, Brazil, India, Cameroon,Yugoslavia, Poland, the Netherlands, Mexico and France.While serving in Mexico, she was selected to accompanyPresident Nixon on his visit to Bolivia. Later, she traveledto Poland with President Ford. After retiring in 1975, sheworked in New York City as an adviser to USIA’sInternational Visitor Program.

Irwin B. Newman, 66, a retiredForeign Service officer, died of aheart attack Nov. 22 at his home inLas Vegas. Mr. Newman joined theForeign Service in 1965 and servedtwo tours in Kenya and one toureach in Okinawa, Afghanistan,Cambodia, Indonesia and theDemocratic Republic of Congo.While abroad, he was involved in

international youth sports and was responsible for startingLittle League Baseball in both Indonesia and theDemocratic Republic of Congo. Mr. Newman also served inKorea with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

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