The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2005

FSJ: So this is a methodology exercise, not a budget exercise. KP: Right. Depending on the outcome of the review, we may recommend more resources for area studies. FSJ: As you prepare to leave FSI, what do you see as the main challenges and opportunities facing your succes- sor? KP: The primary challenge for my successor will be to institutionalize and maintain the momentum we have developed over the last four years with regard to changing the department’s culture. Specifically, it will be FSI’s responsibility to translate Secretary Rice’s “transforma- tional diplomacy” into concrete training requirements; i.e. what new skills do the diplomats of the future need and how do we train for them? Director General Pearson’s new Career Development Program has a heavy training component, particularly in terms of languages but also professional development courses, as well. We’re already crunching numbers to see what additional resources will be required to respond to the increased demand for train- ing, but clearly it will be a major challenge. We are also committed to supporting the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, and that will require a significant commitment to training. State employees need more knowledge and skills on a whole range of glob- al issues, from trafficking in persons to HIV/AIDS to sci- ence and technology. Information technology is a rapidly changing environment that requires constant training and retraining of our employees, both IT professionals and end-users, to ensure that we are making the best use of these valuable tools. Strong leadership and management skills throughout the department are critical to meeting all these goals. There is no question that training in the department is a growth industry. Secretary Rice is committed to it, and Congress is keen to have our employees well prepared professionally to deal with an increasingly complicated world. Continuing education and training are key ele- ments in any profession, and diplomacy is no exception. FSJ: Thank you very much, Amb. Peterson.  F O C U S 48 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 2000 N. 14th Street  Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Telephone (703) 797-3259 Fax (703) 524-7559 Tollfree (800) 424-9500