AFSA is proud to announce this year's recipients of the association's awards for constructive dissent. Each year, AFSA recognizes and celebrates the exceptional individuals within the Foreign Service who have demonstrated a commitment to effect positive change while working within the system. Their dedication to improving the Foreign Service profession and U.S. policy has earned them this honor. These awards, unique in the federal government, highlight the responsibility of U.S. Foreign Service members to voice their perspectives and embrace innovative approaches to protect and advance our country's interests. A more detailed write-up will be published in the December issue of The Foreign Service Journal. We will honor these individuals at the annual AFSA awards ceremony on October 16, 2024, at the Department of State.
F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award
David Houston
Regional Technical Manager
Bureau of Diplomatic Technology
As a Foreign Service Specialist, David played a key role in advancing U.S. foreign policy on digital assets (DA) and distributed ledger technology by leveraging his technical expertise and leadership skills. Representing the Department of State in an interagency working group on digital assets research and development, he took an inclusive, evidence-based approach. David analyzed three years’ worth of cables written on the subject (over 600 documents), indexing them into a searchable database and distilling relevant conclusions. His analysis revealed gaps in the DA portfolio in the context of U.S. foreign policy, notably with respect to human rights and cyberspace and digital policies. With the problem identified, he built consensus at the working level on new approaches, proposing two novel ideas to the Policy and Planning Staff, but ultimately turned to the dissent channel to initiate an urgent conversation on a subject that is inherently complex. David drafted a 13-page cable outlining both a substantive and procedural dissent across the digital assets' portfolio. His efforts have led to senior leadership concurring with certain key findings in his analysis, resulting potentially in several foreign policy shifts via an ongoing collaborative process among diverse stakeholders.
W. Averell Harriman Award
Mariya Ilyas
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
After the attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza in fall 2023, Mariya Ilyas displayed extraordinary initiative, leadership, and constructive dissent. Mariya’s sustained efforts through community building, engagement with senior leadership, and proactive advocacy resulted in an improved public message, greater dialogue with Department leadership, better workforce morale, and the drafting of the first-ever cable to combat Islamophobia by the International Religious Freedom Office. Her tireless work included advocating for inclusive policies, such as challenging the availability of Employee Consultation Services (ECS) and persuading leadership for their expansion to ensure all employees were supported. As chair of the American Muslims and Friends at State (AMFAS), Mariya worked to engage and unite Muslim, Jewish, and Christian employee organizations at the State Department and USAID to ensure all employees felt seen and supported. She also organized numerous community gatherings which elevated workforce voices and engaged senior leadership, including a Department-wide “Moment of Silence for Unity and Peace” and an interfaith “Gathering of Solidarity,” which were later disseminated through records or published articles which Mariya penned. Despite criticism from some, Mariya was resolute in her decision to invite the Secretary of State to host an iftar gathering during Ramadan in an effort to engage Muslim employees amidst an ongoing war in Gaza. Believing in the importance of dialogue and engagement, even in the most challenging times, Mariya demonstrated intellectual courage in meeting with State leadership to articulate the concerns of and perspectives of Muslim employees as it related to U.S. policy among the on-going conflict. Mariya’s commitment to dialogue and community building as key tools for meaningful change make her an outstanding recipient of this award.
William R. Rivkin Award
Caryl Tuma, Emily Green, Mike Casey, and Konrad Turski Office of Palestinian Affairs
Caryl Tuma, Emily Green, Mike Casey, and Konrad Turski have been selected as co-recipients of the William R. Rivkin Award in recognition of their efforts, initiative, and leadership in the face of an evolving and sensitive situation. Following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, they--along with their colleagues--used their resources and information on the ground to provide Washington accurate details and thoughtful analysis on the various and often conflicting U.S. policy interests and priorities. Over the next few months, policy discussions progressed about the impact the war was having on the lives of Gazan civilians. These four OPA officers decided a dissent channel was their best option to ensure that their concern, based on their on-the-ground experience and nuanced perspectives, would be evaluated and considered. The cable they drafted exemplified the value of intellectual courage: it clearly defined the topic on which they disagreed, and it was narrow enough for the Department to take action if it chose to do so. Their dissent cable showed their understanding of the nuances of America’s policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its regional implications, and clearly articulated why, despite the complexity, the Department should take specific actions. Their integrity, courage, and clear-eyed commitment to speaking up demonstrates the importance of constructive dissent, particularly in a crisis situation, and makes them outstanding recipients for this prestigious award.
AFSA thanks our sponsors and partners for helping to make the Awards Program possible. For further information please email awards@afsa.org.
