American Foreign Service Association
Encyclopedia
The American Foreign Service Association is the professional association certified by the United States Department of State
, the Commercial Service
, Foreign Agricultural Service
, and U.S. Agency for International Development
to represent members of the United States Foreign Service
. AFSA's history dates back to 1918 with the establishment of the American Consular Association. In 1924, the Consular Corps was combined with the Diplomatic Corps to form the U.S. Foreign Service . In that year, the Consular Association reconstituted as the American Foreign Service Association. AFSA is located in Washington, D.C.
AFSA's principal missions are:
AFSA publishes the monthly Foreign Service Journal
, presents an annual set of awards for intellectual courage and creative dissent, organizes programs of speakers on foreign affairs
, maintains meeting facilities for its members, provides a college scholarship
program for Foreign Service children and offers specialized insurance plans to its members. AFSA's legislative affairs department coordinates efforts to keep U.S. Congress aware of the concerns of the Foreign service and of active and retired Foreign Service personnel.
AFSA recruits members from the Foreign Service employees of the Department of State
, US Agency for International Development
(AID), Foreign Agricultural Service
(FAS), Foreign Commercial Service / US Commercial Service
, and the International Broadcasting Bureau
(IBB). In 2009, AFSA had over 14,000 members. In this capacity, AFSA negotiates with the managements of the principal foreign-affairs agencies on personnel policies and practices affecting members' working conditions. AFSA also represents members in formal grievance proceedings, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
and Office of the Inspector General
investigations, and Equal Employment Opportunity cases, while providing them informal assistance in dealing with administrative problems. Foreign Service retiree concerns are also part of the AFSA agenda and retirees are an integral part of the AFSA Governing Board and the AFSA membership. AFSA works with retired Foreign Service personnel on legislative issues related to retiree pensions and benefits.
housing the Department.
. The school is today (2011) attached to the Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore
, Maryland
. The second and name-giving co-founder in 1943 was Paul H. Nitze.
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, the Commercial Service
United States Commercial Service
The United States Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, which helps U.S. companies succeed in markets around the world. Led by Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General Suresh Kumar and located across the...
, Foreign Agricultural Service
Foreign Agricultural Service
The Foreign Agricultural Service is the foreign affairs agency with primary responsibility for the United States Department of Agriculture's overseas programs—market development, international trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection of statistics and market information...
, and U.S. Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
to represent members of the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
. AFSA's history dates back to 1918 with the establishment of the American Consular Association. In 1924, the Consular Corps was combined with the Diplomatic Corps to form the U.S. Foreign Service . In that year, the Consular Association reconstituted as the American Foreign Service Association. AFSA is located in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
AFSA's principal missions are:
- "To enhance the effectiveness of the Foreign ServiceUnited States Foreign ServiceThe United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
, to protect the professional interests of its members, to ensure the maintenance of high professional standards for both career diplomats and political appointees, and to promote understanding of the critical role of the Foreign Service in promoting America's national security and economic prosperity."
AFSA publishes the monthly Foreign Service Journal
Foreign Service Journal
The Foreign Service Journal is a monthly publication of the American Foreign Service Association founded in 1924. It covers foreign affairs from the perspective of American Foreign Service officers, members of Washington's foreign policy establishment, as well as features on living overseas as a...
, presents an annual set of awards for intellectual courage and creative dissent, organizes programs of speakers on foreign affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
, maintains meeting facilities for its members, provides a college scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
program for Foreign Service children and offers specialized insurance plans to its members. AFSA's legislative affairs department coordinates efforts to keep U.S. Congress aware of the concerns of the Foreign service and of active and retired Foreign Service personnel.
AFSA recruits members from the Foreign Service employees of the Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, US Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
(AID), Foreign Agricultural Service
Foreign Agricultural Service
The Foreign Agricultural Service is the foreign affairs agency with primary responsibility for the United States Department of Agriculture's overseas programs—market development, international trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection of statistics and market information...
(FAS), Foreign Commercial Service / US Commercial Service
United States Commercial Service
The United States Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, which helps U.S. companies succeed in markets around the world. Led by Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General Suresh Kumar and located across the...
, and the International Broadcasting Bureau
International Broadcasting Bureau
The International Broadcasting Bureau is an entity within the Broadcasting Board of Governors , which is a U.S. independent agency. The IBB supports the day-to-day operations of Voice of America and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting...
(IBB). In 2009, AFSA had over 14,000 members. In this capacity, AFSA negotiates with the managements of the principal foreign-affairs agencies on personnel policies and practices affecting members' working conditions. AFSA also represents members in formal grievance proceedings, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, more commonly known as Diplomatic Security, or DS, is the security and law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State. DS is a world leader in international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security, counterterrorism, security technology, and...
and Office of the Inspector General
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State
is an independent office within the U.S. Department of State with a primary responsibility to prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement...
investigations, and Equal Employment Opportunity cases, while providing them informal assistance in dealing with administrative problems. Foreign Service retiree concerns are also part of the AFSA agenda and retirees are an integral part of the AFSA Governing Board and the AFSA membership. AFSA works with retired Foreign Service personnel on legislative issues related to retiree pensions and benefits.
Foreign Service Memorial Plaques
AFSA maintains marble plaques listing the names of persons in the civilian employment of the US government who have died abroad in the line of duty. Originally in the Executive Office Building, then in the original wing of the State Department ("Old State"), the plaques now reside on opposite sides of the C Street "Diplomatic Entrance" to the Harry S Truman BuildingHarry S Truman Building
The Harry S. Truman Building is the headquarters of the United States Department of State. It is located in the national capital of Washington, D.C.....
housing the Department.
Christian A. Herter Award
The award was established in 1968 to honour senior diplomats who speak out or have controverse views. It bears the name of the co-founder of the Washington-based Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International StudiesPaul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies , a division of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's leading and most prestigious graduate schools devoted to the study of international affairs, economics, diplomacy, and policy research and...
. The school is today (2011) attached to the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The second and name-giving co-founder in 1943 was Paul H. Nitze.