Well known journalists Paul Richter and Karen Tumulty will speak at the April 20, 2020, PDAA lunch on the topic of Covering Foreign Affairs in a Changing World.
Paul Richter is one of two speakers at the April 20 PDAA luncheon.
Richter, who is also the author of a new book, The Ambassadors: America’s Diplomats on the Front Lines, most recently covered the State Department and foreign policy for the Los Angeles Times. He previously covered the Pentagon, the White House, and the New York financial institutions. A native of Minneapolis, he graduated from Clark University.
Washington Post political columnist Karen Tumulty
Tumulty is a political columnist for The Washington Post. She previously worked for the Los Angeles Times and Time Magazine. She has received numerous awards for her Congressional and diplomatic coverage and is a frequent guest on national television. She is a native Texan who graduated from the University of Texas and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Richter and Tumulty are married.
The discussion will take place on Mon., Apr. 20, from 12:00 to 2:00, at DACOR-Bacon House, 1801 F St. NW. To register, please complete the form on page 7 of the newsletter or register on-line using the drop-down menu below. Deadline is Apr. 16.¤
With concerns about the spread of COVID-19 rising rapidly, we have changed the order of First Monday programs. The April 6 First Monday will feature a panel on Public Diplomacy and COVID-19.
Speakers at the panel will include Kia Henry and Mike Zeltakalns; PDAA Vice President Joan Mower will moderate.
Henry is the OES PD officer for Covid-19 and other health issues. Zeltakalns is director of Crisis Response at the State Department.
May’s First Monday program on May 4 will feature a panel discussion on the projected presentation of public diplomacy at the National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD). The program will take place at the museum, 330 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, beginning at noon.
A panel discussion will feature Deputy Director of Museum Content Jane Carpenter-Rock–a Public Diplomacy Officer–and the Museum content team.
Jane Carpenter-Rock, Ph.D. Deputy Director, NMAD
Jane Carpenter-Rock joined the NMAD as Deputy Director for Museum Content in July 2018. She has served as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State for over eighteen years. Prior to joining NMAD, she was Deputy Director in the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs. From 2013 to 2016, she was the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Cape Town. Other tours have included Deputy Director in the Office of Public Diplomacy for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Senior Australia Desk Officer; Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá; Watch Officer in the State Department’s Operations Center; and Consular Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg. Before joining the State Department, Jane held several pre-doctoral fellowships in Art History, including the Sara Roby Fellowship in 20th-Century American Realism at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. She is the author of the book Betye Saar in the David C. Driskell Series of African American Art (Pomegranate, 2003). Jane has a B.A. from the College of William and Mary (1992), an M.A. from Howard University (1995), and a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Michigan (2002).
Participants are urged to arrive early in order to go through security and to pick up a sandwich. Although participation is free, registration is requested.
First Monday programs are presented by the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, the Public Diplomacy Association of America, and the Public Diplomacy Council.
PDAA’s annual awards brunch, an occasion to celebrate excellence and innovation in public diplomacy while enjoying fine cuisine and the company of friends, is scheduled for Sun., May 3, at Washington’s Army and Navy Club at noon.
Natella Svistunova, Public Affairs Officer, Embassy Belmopan, accompanied by Jon Piechowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, receives award at 2019 awards brunch from PDAA President Cynthia Efird for combating gender-based violence in Belize.
The brunch, a PDAA tradition since 1993, is a chance to recognize and reward inspired projects with measurable results carried out to advance the goals of building understanding of our nation’s policies, society, and values. For nearly three decades, PDAA has sought nominations of professionals working for the USG and non-governmental organizations, of Foreign and Civil Service officers, Locally Employed staffers, and those working for American Spaces, Fulbright programs, and EducationUSA who have made notable strides in public diplomacy.
The 23rd annual PDAA Awards for Achievement in Public Diplomacy will honor those who demonstrated leadership and evidence of effectiveness in creative use of exchange programs as well as traditional, social, and digital media, particularly in challenging environments. For a list of previous winners, please see pdaa.publicdiplomacy.org.
The menu includes:
- Seasonal Fresh Fruit & Berries
- Assorted Breakfast Breads, Muffins, and Croissants
- Whipped Honey Butter, Fruit Preserves
- House-Cured Smoked Salmon
- Assorted Bagels, Herbed Cream Cheese
- Bacon and Sausage links
- Breakfast Potatoes
- Seasonal Vegetables
- Eggs Benedict
- Pecan Crusted Trout with Butternut
- Squash Risotto & Maple Butter
Assorted Juice Carafes
COFFEE STATION
Regular and Decaf Coffee, Fine Teas, Standard accompaniments
MIMOSAS
Mimosa Pitcher
Tickets for the brunch remain at $45 per person. The Army and Navy Club is located at 901 17th St. NW. Street parking is available and should not be a challenge on a Sunday, and the Club is a block away from the Farragut North and Farragut West Metro stations.
To register, please complete the form on page 7 of the March newsletter or register on-line using the button below. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Fri., April 24. Early reservations are advised in order to ensure seats.
PDAA relies on contributions from its budget and donations from PDAA members to fund this prestigious award. If you wish to contribute to the award fund, please complete the form on page seven of the March PDAA News or contribute online here.
With more than 225,000 alumni, the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2020. On Monday, March 2, a panel will examine the impact of this important public diplomacy tool as well as look ahead to the program’s future.
The panelists will include:
His Excellency Pjer Šimunović, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Republic of Croatia, IVLP Alumnus, 1991
Ms. Teta Moehs, Deputy Director, Office of International Visitors, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Dr. Sherry Lee Mueller, Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, School of International Service, American University, President, Public Diplomacy Council
Moderator, Mr. Mark Rebstock, Vice President, External Relations, Meridian International Center, Board member, Public Diplomacy Council
The program on March 2 starts at noon. Lunch is included, but we request that you register here.
These programs are presented by the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, the Public Diplomacy Association of America, and the Public Diplomacy Council. They take place at George Washington University’s Elliott School Lindner Family Common, 1957 E Street, NW, 6th floor, starting at 12 noon.
William Armbruster, 1953-2013 Mr. Armbruster was held hostage by Saddam Hussein following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait
I first met William when he was assigned to Algiers when I was PAO there in the late 80s. He settled in very quickly and within a short time had developed a clear understanding of what lay ahead for him in Algeria, a country that was only recently warming to the U.S. With a keen intellect and wry sense of humor, William adapted to the work environment and our audiences.
William had a natural affinity for things technical and played a major role in establishing our WorldNet capabilities. At his suggestion in another tech area, we chose not to continue with the Wang system, but rather investing in laptops.
What impressed me the most about William was that he, unlike other FS officers I knew, never once complained about having been assigned to the post, nor did he ever have a negative word about any of his American and Algerian workmates.
Moving ahead, he was assigned to Kuwait with his infant daughter accompanying. I had just taken over as NEA Deputy Director. Within a few days of his arrival, Iraq invaded Kuwait, with William having a first-hand view from his hotel room. His telephone reporting provided valuable insight regarding the Iraqi intentions. Most importantly he kept his cool.
He was detained by the Iraqis, along with other Embassy Officers. Throughout this period, he dealt with his dangerous situation calmly and without fear. He was later evacuated by bus to Baghdad where he sat out more months of detainment without a complaint.
Our next encounter was at the Foreign Service Institute Arabic program in Tunis. Once again, William energetically demonstrated his total ability to adjust to his environment and pursued his studies with enthusiasm. He went on to Morocco, while I was assigned to Riyadh. I did not see him after that and was shocked when I learned about his passing after retirement. A positive note, however, is that in retirement he continued his support of U.S. diplomacy by speaking to local community groups in his town of retirement.
From day one I considered William a dear friend, one whose advice I appreciated.
William Armbruster (USIA entry class summer 1986) died in Aug. 2013 at age 59 from a pulmonary embolism. At the time, his obituary could not be published in State Magazine, due to a technical difficulty with the publication. William grew up in San Diego and got his B.S degree in Russian area studies and biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1975, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Gao, Mali, teaching physics from 1977 to 1980. With USIA, he served in Algiers, Tunis, London, Casablanca, and Washington, D.C.. He also served briefly in Kuwait, where he and his infant daughter were taken to Baghdad as diplomatic hostages just before the first Gulf War. He retired from State, after the merger, in 2008, and moved to Missouri where he enjoyed five good years of retirement before his untimely death. His wife, Lisa, would like to hear from those who knew William. She can be reached at admin@publicdiplomacy.org.
PDAA relies on contributions from its budget and donations from PDAA members to fund this prestigious award. If you wish to contribute to the award fund, please complete the form on page seven of the March PDAA News or contribute online 
