A New Career Begins

Today marks the end of my Generalist Orientation at the Foreign Service Institute, called A-100.  At 3:00 pm today, I will swear an oath to protect my country, uphold the constitution, and to become one of America's newest diplomats.  It is the culmination of a life-long dream, and I couldn't be happier to be embarked on this long-awaited phase of my life.
Shelly, Heather, and Damon have been tremendously supportive as their aging husband and dad pursues his dream.  I couldnt do any of this without them.  My sole regret is that Mom and Dad can't be here to share this moment.  More and more I think of them and the unfairness of their untimely passing.   I constantly find myself twirling Dad's wedding ring on my right finger and thinking how much he would have enjoyed seeing me join the service of the Nation. And how Mom would have reminded me that she moved 4 kids overseas, all under the age of 7; and she was 29 years old at the time. 
Our group of 89 new diplomats has been together for 6 weeks.  It has been an invigorating and enlightening session with lectures on all manner of statecraft from some of America's top diplomats.  We've also had field trips, experiential practical skills training, and team building exercises.  Some of us were fortunate enough to be in the audience for a discussion on diplomacy between these two top diplomats:


Dr. Henry Kissinger



Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

The discussion was part of a TV show taping of the Charlie Rose Show.  The full interview can be seen on this link:  http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11631

Our A-100 course has taken place during an extraordinary time in diplomatic and world history.  We began the session in the midst of what is now being called the Arab Spring . . . the protests and responses in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, and Libya.  The international armed response in Libya, and finally the killing of Osama bin Laden by the United States.  A very historic 40 days and 40 nights. 

The other extraordinary part of the past month has been getting to know my classmates in A-100.  This is an incredible collection of very talented individuals, many of whom have already had very successful careers in other fields.  I've been fortunate to get to know many of them well, and this only adds to my pride in joining the Nation's service alongside such an outstanding group of officers. 

Here we go!!!