2007 AFSA Award Winners

AFSA's annual Awards Ceremony took place on June 28, 2007 in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the Department of State. AFSA President Tony Holmes welcomed the honorees and guests and spoke about the significance of these awards. He offered special thanks to Director General George Staples for co-sponsoring the event, to the members of the AFSA Awards Committee for devoting their time and energy on a voluntary basis to overseeing the awards program each year, to the judges who served on the panels to select the winners, and to the nominators who took the time to submit nominations for each of the awards. He also expressed AFSA's gratitude to the presenters and sponsors of the AFSA Awards for their continuing support of this program.

In addition to the awards for constructive dissent and exemplary performance, AFSA presented two special awards of appreciation. The first of these went to Faye Barnes
who recently retired as the Customer Service Coordinator in the Office of Retirement. AFSA worked very closely with Faye on retiree issues, and AFSA president Holmes expressed our gratitude and appreciation for her willingness to assist retirees and their families.

The second award of appreciation went to Robert J. Wozniak, who stepped down as the chairman of AFSA’s Election Committee, after eight years of service. His commitment and dedication to AFSA were gratefully acknowledged by AFSA president Holmes.

Three awards for exemplary performance and outstanding professional contributions were presented.

Judi Marquardt, Embassy Yaounde, received the Avis Bohlen Award, given to an eligible family member of a Foreign Service employee whose relations with the American and foreign communities at post have done the most to advance American interests, in the tradition of the late Avis Bohlen. The award is funded by the Harriman Foundation, and was presented by Mary A. Fisk, great-grandaughter of Averell Harriman. Runner-up was Gabriella Christiansen, Embassy Guatamala City
Linda Lockwood, Embassy Pretoria, was the recipient of the M. Juanita Guess Award honoring a Community Liaison Officer who has demonstrated outstanding dedication, energy and imagination in assisting the families of Americans serving at an overseas post; Runner-up was Jennifer Mauldin, Consulate General Chennai. The award is funded by Clements & Company and was presented by Jon B.Clements.
Margaret Baker, Embassy Tel Aviv was the recipient of the Delavan Award, which recognizes a Foreign Service Office Management Specialist who has made extraordinary contributions to effectiveness, professionalism and morale. The runner-up was Robyn Davis, Embassy Guatamala City. Ambassador Bill Harrop presented this award on behalf of the Delavan Foundation, which funds the award.

Only one of the four Constructive Dissent Awards was presented this year. The William R. Rivkin Award, awarded to a mid-level Foreign Service Officer who has exhibited extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity, and intellectual courage, was given to two individuals. Ronald Capps, Embassy Khartoum and Michael Zorick, Embassy Nairobi, each received the award for their willingness to challenge conventional wisdom on aspects of foreign policy-- Mr. Capps for his work on Darfur and Mr. Zorick for his work in Somalia.

Ambassador Joan M. Clark received AFSA's prestigious Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award in recognition of her important contributions to the career Foreign Service as well as her work with the Foreign Service Protective Association and the Senior Living Foundation. Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger presented the award to Ambassador Clark.

For more information on AFSA's Awards program and a nomination form, please go to www.afsa.org/awards/index.cfm.