Modern American Diplomacy - The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST)

Latest Episodes:

Amb. Roberta Jacobson talks about reestablishing U.S. ties with Cuba, forging a path as America’s first female and civil servant ambassador to Mexico, enjoying Latin America, and dealing with populism throughout the Western Hemisphere. Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

Amb. Roberta Jacobson talks about reestablishing U.S. ties with Cuba, becoming America’s first female and civil servant ambassador to Mexico, and dealing with populist leaders. Ambassador Jacobson also discusses reestablishing diplomatic ties with Cuba, lost opportunities in Havana, populism in the Western Hemisphere, and what she loved about Latin America.

Amb. Lino Gutierrez discusses his path from Cuban immigrant to two-time U.S. ambassador. He shares lessons on leadership, managing up, negotiating with Cubans in Grenada, navigating Washington politics, Hurricane Mitch, and political change in Argentina. Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

Amb. Lino Gutierrez served as Ambassador to Argentina as well as to Nicaragua, and as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau. In this episode, Amb. Gutierrez discusses his experience from Cuban immigrant to diplomat. He shares lessons on leadership, managing up, negotiating with Cubans in Grenada, navigating Washington politics, increasing diversity at State, dealing with the crisis of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua and stark political change in Argentina.

Senior Foreign Service Officer Tim Davis shares lessons learned on leadership, diversity, managing State Department principals, closing the U.S. Consulate in Basra, and navigating Secretary Clinton’s email controversy Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

Tim "Timmy" Davis is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. In this episode, Tim shares lessons learned on leadership, building strong teams, encouraging diversity, and increasing recruitment. Mr. Davis also shares lessons learned closing of the U.S. Consulate in Basra, managing State Department principals, and navigating Secretary Clinton's e-mail controversy. Special thanks to the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and Harvard's Sama Kubba and Syed Ahmed.

Amb. Chris Hill discusses growing up in the foreign service, working with Amb. Holbrooke and Sec. Eagleburger, his ambassadorship in Iraq, and leading Six-Party talks with N. Korea Jun 05, 2021

Show notes

Ambassador Chris Hill discusses growing up in the foreign service, working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, and formative experiences working with Secretary Eagleburger and Amb. Holbrooke. Ambassador Hill also discusses leading Six-Party talks with N. Korea, his ambassadorship in Iraq, and the importance of diversity in today's Foreign Service. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Amb. Beth Jones discusses growing up in the Foreign Service, her first tour in Afghanistan, Amb. Arnie Raphel's death, and Benghazi Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

Ambassador Beth Jones discusses attending local schools in Moscow and Berlin, her first tour in Afghanistan, and working as a control officer for Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Ambassador Jones also discusses rising to the top of the Foreign Service, lessons learned from Ambassadors Pickering and Platt, managing the European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau following 9/11, and Benghazi.

Amb. Nancy Jo Powell discusses growing up in rural Iowa, first tours in Ottawa and Kathmandu, ambassadorships in India and Pakistan, and pandemic lessons learned during Avian Influenza and Ebola Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell discusses her childhood in rural Iowa, gender discrimination at the State Department in the 1970's, and her first big break as Acting Consul General in Lahore, Pakistan in 1988. Ambassador Powell also discusses cultivating high morale in difficult posts, serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan in the wake of 9/11, the importance of mentorship, and lessons learned during her stints as the State Department's Senior Coordinator for both the Avian Influenza and Ebola.

Amb. William Brownfield discusses growing up in West Texas, his first tour in Maracaibo, claims of Venezuelan interference in the U.S. presidential election, and the importance of hiring the right mid-level managers. Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

Ambassador William Brownfield discusses his family's history in West Texas, life as a Junior Officer in Maracaibo, how to engage with the media, his tumultuous years as U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, and accusations of Venezuelan involvement in the U.S. presidential elections. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Amb. Marc Grossman discusses his first tour in Islamabad, working as an NEA staffer, testifying before Congress, and the morning of 9/11 Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

Ambassador Marc Grossman discusses life as a Junior Officer in Islamabad, his tumultuous year as an NEA staffer, tips for testifying before Congress, lessons learned from the morning of 9/11, and answering the call to return to service.

Amb. Steve Mull discusses life as a Junior Officer, apartheid South Africa, communist Poland, Indonesia post-9/11, and the Iran deal Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

Ambassador Stephen D. Mull discusses life as a Junior Officer in The Bahamas, reporting tours in apartheid South Africa and communist Poland, and life on seventh floor. Ambassador Mull also discusses his first DCM tour in post-9/11 Jakarta, the importance of public diplomacy, and implementing the Iran deal. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Amb. Tom Shannon discusses the importance of strategic thinking, Covid-19 and globalization, and the future of U.S. diplomacy Jul 09, 2020

Show notes

Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. discusses the importance of history and strategic thinking in the practice of diplomacy, and the social, economic and political forces likely to shape the future. Ambassador Shannon also discusses his multiple White House tours, his service as Under Secretary (and Secretary) of State, and what it means to serve as a U.S. Diplomat. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.