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leadership group (SLG) positions. The policy sought to enact and
enforce a minimum eight-year overseas requirement and a three-
year minimum as an FS-1 to be eligible to bid on an SLG position.
The policy was rescinded to allow for wider discussion to deter-
mine the best mix of criteria for eligibility.
In addition, to better leverage the field perspective in agency
policymaking, AFSA pushed for, and has begun to see, the cre-
ation of more Foreign Service positions in Washington.
Outreach and Honors
As AFSA’s USAID VP, I had the pleasure of serving as emcee at
a Congressional Networking event in March celebrating Women’s
History Month and International Women’s Day. The event placed
a spotlight on the profound role played by women in the history of
the Foreign Service, diplomacy and AFSA.
In a first-ever event, AFSA hosted a happy hour for mission di-
rectors during the annual Mission Directors’ Conference in Wash-
ington, D.C., to hear from agency leadership on issues from the
field. We hope to make this an annual occurrence.
In May, AFSA held a memorial ceremony at USAID for For-
eign Service Health Officer Antoinette “Toni” Tomasek, who died
at post in Haiti from injuries sustained in a car accident. FSO To-
masek’s name was also added to the AFSA Memorial Plaques at
State in a separate ceremony.
This year we were proud to honor USAID FSO Ambassador
Jonathan Addleton, who received AFSA’s Christian A. Herter
Award for constructive dissent by a Senior Foreign Service officer.
His dissent addressed the State Department’s restrictive outreach
policies and the resulting missed opportunities.
The coming year will hold many challenges, including keeping
the momentum going on revamping our performance manage-
ment system. AFSA USAID plans to launch a standing committee
in early 2015 to allow for more engagement and communication
on the issues that affect us all.
l
AFSA members mingle with invited guests from Capitol Hill at a networking event and presentation honoring Women’s History Month
and International Women’s Day.