Foreign Service

The State Department’s top HR official told members of the House committee she’s doubling down on the agency’s commitment to recruit the next generation of diplomats.

Within the next decade “nearly all” of the current senior Foreign Service members will be eligible to retire, as will 80 percent of the current Civil Service’s SES, according to the agency’s five-year Workforce and Leadership Succession Plan.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general found that when it comes to detention facilities contractors, Immigration and Customs Enforcement doesn’t adequately hold them accountable for written performance standards.

Whether it’s standing up an emergency medicine program in Mozambique or developing a love for reading in the children of Mexico, the men and women who travel alongside their spouses in the Foreign Service often find themselves serving in pivotal roles overseas.

Agencies face an uphill battle competing with the private sector to recruit top cyber talent right out of college or advanced degree programs, but the State Department, and the opportunity to explore new cultures, serves as an enticing lure to recent graduates to federal service.

Karen Mummaw joins Gigi Schumm on Women of Washington to remind those who wish to join the foreign service to be patient and trust that things will work out.

In today’s Federal Newscast, The American Foreign Service Association penned a letter to members citing its president’s concerns about the current state of the State Department workforce.

New diversity efforts include requiring any open ambassador position to include at least one minority candidate.

More than 35,000 State Department employees voiced concerns to management about some of the changes being proposed under its agency reorganization.

The State Department could do a better job creating new leadership and education and professional development opportunities for its career employees. That’s according to a recent report from the American Academy of Diplomacy which found the department is too focused on its political appointees — and politics in general — marginalizing the career employees in the foreign service. Charles Ray is a former ambassador and member of the Foreign Service and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for prisoners of war and missing personnel affairs. He says the foreign service itself is in need of a bit of an overhaul. He tells In Depth guest host Jared Serbu that it’s time to start treating the Foreign Service as a profession — and its members as true professionals.