Matthew Asada
Matthew is a mid-level political officer who has served in South Asia and in Europe. Most recently a Special Assistant to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP), he is now on a one-year APSA congressional fellowship. He has had several unaccompanied assignments, including on a PRT in Kunduz, Afghanistan. Matthew, a fourth generation Japanese-American and third generation public servant, has contributed articles to the Foreign Service Journal, STATE Magazine, and the new edition of AFSA’s "Inside a U.S. Embassy."
William Bent
A Foreign Service Officer since 1992, Bill started out at USIA. He has served in Prague, Kingston, and Santo Domingo. As a consular officer, Bill has been the Chief of Diplomatic Liaison in the Visa Office and the Chief of Public Outreach for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. He is now serving as the Chief of the Visa Office's Post Liaison Division. Bill has a B.A. from Boston University and an M.A. from American University. He is married and has a teenage son.
Grace Choi
Grace H. Choi currently serves as post management officer in EAP/EX. Her previous tours include Seoul and Santiago. Before joining the Department in 2004, she worked as a communications consultant for various human resources consulting firms.
Les Hickman
Les has 30 years of experience with the Department of State. He is currently serving a tour as a Special Projects Officer in HR\EX. He is a career Consular Officer with tours in Venezuela, the Philippines, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan as well as interfunctional positions in the Department. A Crisis Management trainer, he has conducted crisis management exercises in various U.S. Embassies. An AFSA member since 1982, he has served as Post Representative and served as a State Representative on the 2009-2011 AFSA Board.
Kenneth Kero-Mentz
Ken Kero-Mentz joined the Department in January 2000 and has served in Rio, Washington, Berlin, Baghdad, Colombo, and is now in EUR/PGI. He also served a year as Kosovo desk officer at the German Foreign Office through the Fellowship of Hope program. In 2009, Ken was named AFSA Post Representative of the Year while serving in Berlin. Ken previously worked five years on Capitol Hill for two Members of Congress. Ken has also been an active member of GLIFAA, including two stints on that organization’s board. Ken married in Berlin in 2008.
Kimberly Krhounek
Kimberly Krhounek is an active-duty political officer who has served in Haiti, the Czech Republic, Egypt and France, and in the Department as a desk officer and a Special Assistant in Legislative Affairs. She is currently the Deputy Director in the office of Central European Affairs. She has served AFSA members as a post representative and contributor to the Foreign Service Journal.
Elise Mellinger
Joyce Namde
A Consular Officer by cone, Joyce Namde has served as post representative in two locations and on the AFSA Board from 2005-2007. Her overseas tours include London, Lagos, Manila, Ciudad Juarez and currently as Narcotics Affairs Director in Port au Prince. In Washington she served in OES and IO.
David Zwach