Government Careers in International Affairs: 100 Years of the U.S. Foreign Service

On October 9, 2024, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy hosted a discussion with Tom Yazdgerdi on the history and role of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), highlighting how AFSA advocates for the long-term institutional well-being of career Foreign Service officers.

The event also featured a presentation and Q&A session on the various pathways and application procedures for careers in the U.S. Department of State. USC’s Public Diplomat in Residence, Joshua Shen, along with other current Foreign Service Officers, provided valuable insights during this portion.

Key topics of interest included concerns about supporting U.S. policies that one may disagree with and the role of career FSOs in shaping foreign policy amid shifts in presidential administrations.

About Tom Yazdgerdi

A member of the Senior Foreign Service, Tom Yazdgerdi serves as President of AFSA. Before that, he was special envoy for Holocaust issues in the European and Eurasian Bureau at the Department of State.

Mr. Yazdgerdi has served as director of the Office of South Central European Affairs, political counselor at U.S. Embassy Kabul, head of U.S. Consulate Kirkuk, and deputy political counselor for Iran affairs at U.S. Embassy Baghdad. He also served as deputy chief of mission and political-economic chief at U.S. Embassy Pristina during the run-up to and aftermath of Kosovo independence.

Before joining the Foreign Service in 1991, Mr. Yazdgerdi worked on Capitol Hill. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Central European history, security studies, and American diplomatic history from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.