Employee Organizations
The U.S. Department of State encourages individualism in its workforce and offers several employee organizations to help strengthen and support its diversity.
Foreign-born Americans and other recent immigrants have always been a cornerstone of the United States and are a robust and growing demographic within the Department. Americans by Choice (ABC) was created with the mission to: · Raise awareness about the contributions of foreign-born professionals in foreign affairs. · Provide a support network to ABC’s members, enhance their professional skills, and strengthen their professional and institutional ties; and, · Advocate for equitable access and opportunities for the ABC community and work to remove obstacles stemming from discrimination and biases our members face. ABC membership is open to all civil and foreign service employees. We welcome all those who wish to support our efforts to build a more inclusive and diverse foreign affairs community. To share questions and ideas, email us at ABC@state.gov.
AAFAA is an association of Civil Service and Foreign Service employees, fellows, contractors, interns, and retirees at the U.S. Department of State with the mission to improve recruitment, outreach, and professional development of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) officers. AAFAA was originally founded in 1981 as the Asian Pacific American Foreign Affairs Council (APAFFAC). AAFAA supports the Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity mission and diversity and inclusion initiatives through its annual leadership dinner, May AAPI Heritage Month celebrations, and professional development, mentoring, and networking events. In 2018, AAFAA created the AAFAA Internship Scholarship Fund, in partnership with the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), to provide financial assistance to underrepresented AAPI interns. AAFAA promotes policy issues and concerns of the AAPI community to Department officials, and informs, educates, and dialogues with the broader community. For more information, please contact AAFAA@state.gov.
American Muslims and Friends at State (AMFAS) fosters community among and promotes professional development for U.S. Department of State employees identifying as Muslim and those interested in Muslim cultures. Membership is open to individuals of all backgrounds and faiths or no faith. AMFAS provides members with mentoring, professional development, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) resources, and opportunities for employees, and prospective employees, to learn about the U.S. Department of State, and to advance diversity, inclusion, and equity in the Department. To learn more about AMFAS or to join the employee organization, email AMFAS@state.gov.
Biking and Sustainable Transportation @State (BST@State) is a group of Department employees and contractors who are passionate about biking and other forms of sustainable transportation. Our goals are to serve as a forum for Department employees and contractors who are interested in biking and sustainable transportation to meet, socialize, and share ideas and experiences; serve as an advocate for the interests of those who use bikes and other forms of sustainable transportation; serve as a resource for Department management on issues related to biking and sustainable transportation; serve as a link with entities outside the Department that are working on issues related to biking and sustainable transportation; and serve as a living memorial for Department employees and contractors who have been injured or killed while biking or using sustainable transportation. We are also committed to being a voice for all Department employees and contractors who seek to use sustainable transportation, including people with disabilities. Membership in BST@State is open to all State Department employees and contractors, whether serving in the United States or abroad, including Locally Employed Staff and Eligible Family Members. For more information, please contact bikeandsustainabletransportorganizers@groups.state.gov
The Blacks In Government, Carl T. Rowan Chapter (BIGCTR), a 501(c)(3) organization, is one of 200+ chapters within the Blacks In Government national organization (BIG). Chartered in April 2001, the Department of State recognized the United States Information Agency (USIA) BIG Chapter and recommended a name change when USIA closed. The Chapter became known as the Carl T. Rowan Chapter in August 2001, renamed in honor of the former Director of USIA, Carl Thomas Rowan. BIGCTR promotes policies and recommendations that address professional development, recruitment, promotion, retention, diversity, equity, and inclusion for professionals of color. BIGCTR supports future leaders and college bound high school seniors through the Evangeline “EJ” Montgomery Scholarship Fund and hosts an annual spring oratorical competition for young people. Membership remains open to all who aligns with the BIG mission, goal, and objectives. For more information, please contact BIGCTR@state.gov.
The Civil Service Association (CSA) is a department-based employee organization whose members are primarily GS civil service employees in all personnel categories at every level including GG, as well as contract staff. The CSA is concerned with the elevation, fortification, and utilization of the knowledge, skills, experience, and professional assets civil service employees commonly share. CSA is a primary resource of relevant expressed views, experiences and ideas that can be shared among its 11,000 civil service employees at State. CSA membership is open to all in compliance with Department of State 3FAM 5300. CSA membership is not based on status, ethnicity, race, or ranking, but rather on the shared affinity for civil service philosophy and values. For more information, please contact @Civil ServiceAssociation or find us on social media by searching your browser @csadosd.
The Council for Career Enhancement and Professionalization is a professional organization in the Department that supports entry level employees. The CEP Council aims to improve CEP visibility, promote networking between current and former CEPs, and to encourage career development for its members. The Council also has a strong emphasis on leadership development and diversity awareness by promoting a variety of events both internal and external to the Department. Through frequent contact with HR, S/OCR, and senior Department executives, the CEP Council strives to provide a positive experience for entry level employees. For more information, please contact CCEP@state.gov.
The Disability Action Group strives to promote the full and equal participation of people with disabilities Department-wide, improve disability awareness, and provide a platform for discussing issues of accommodation. DAG advocates for the rights of people with disabilities by providing a forum for information exchange and exploring goals for enhancing life for individuals with disabilities and their families. DAG hosts a variety of events such as speaker series and an annual mentoring day, and engages with officials in Human Resources, Med, and AFSA, among others, to improve awareness and the work-life of Department employees with disabilities. For more information, please contact DAGCouncil@state.gov.
EW@S is the Department of State Employee Organization (EO) advocating for gender parity at all levels. To achieve this, EW@S promotes policies that will improve the recruitment, advancement, and retention of career women at all levels, in addition to sustained gender advocacy on all topics with Department leadership. Membership in EW@S is open to all personnel in the Department of State, both domestic and overseas, of all employment types, at all levels, and of all genders. EW@S began in 2007 as a support network for women in senior leadership positions at the Department, which sparked the establishment of similar groups for both mid and entry-level employees. Eventually, the three groups unified under the banner of Executive Women@ State in 2018, with the understanding that including “Executive” in its name is aspirational, rather than as a reference to its members’ position or rank. EW@S aims to meet each member where they are, and support them at every step of their career, wherever it may lead. Today, EW@S’s membership is over 2,000 Department of State employees, serving in Washington, throughout the United States, and at U.S. embassies and missions around the world. EW@S meets regularly with leadership in the State Department, USAID, and other agencies on policies in support of gender parity. To join EW@S, please click here.
FirstGens@State supports, develops, and advocates for first-generation (FirstGen) professionals, first-generation college graduates, and individuals otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty, discrimination, inequity, or inequality as identified in EO 14035. A FirstGen college graduate refers to an individual who completed at least a bachelor’s degree but did not have a parent or primary caregiver who completed at least a bachelor’s degree (or did not complete a degree in the United States). Our goal is to heighten public and workforce awareness of the challenges facing FirstGens and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds while focusing on retention. FirstGens@State membership is open to all U.S. Department of State employees. We welcome all those who wish to support our efforts to build a more inclusive and diverse foreign affairs community. To share questions and ideas, email us at FirstGensState@state.gov.
The Foreign Service Families with Disabilities Alliance (FSFDA) is an employee organization formed in 2016 with members drawn from all foreign affairs agencies, primarily consisting of parents and guardians within the U.S. government foreign affairs community who have dependents with disabilities. It currently has just over 500 members. FSFDA has two primary objectives: (1) provide a community where parents of children who have disabilities can share information, insights and advice in support of their children given the unique challenges associated with educating and raising a child with disabilities while posted overseas; and (2) advocate on behalf of those parents with Department stakeholders (e.g., MED, GTM, Overseas Schools, Office of Allowances, etc.) to promote policies and practices that support, rather than hinder, the ability of parents to support their children in overseas environments, including through the use of Department-provided support such as the Special Needs Education Allowance (SNEA). FSFDA believes that the primary responsibility for supporting children with special needs resides with their respective parents (just as with any child) and that broadly speaking the Department should therefore take approaches to support such children that both (1) fully recognizes and responds to both employee and dependent concerns and (2) sustains parental rights and roles with respect to their children rather than taking away parental prerogatives. FSFDA also firmly supports broader Department DEIA objectives, noting that having children with disabilities touches on Foreign Service employees of every description. Providing appropriate support to foreign service community children with disabilities therefore directly promotes diversity and accessibility through promoting broader access to career-enhancing overseas assignments for employees. This is particularly true for employees leading single parent families, who face particular challenges in balancing career demands and supporting their child/children with special needs.
GRACE is an affiliation of Civil and Foreign Service professionals working to promote a culture at the State Department that embraces the ability of employees to manifest religious belief generally, and Christianity specifically, in the workplace. GRACE seeks to connect Department employees that share this vision; to advocate for religious freedom and religious expression for everyone within the Department; and to highlight the value added by the perspective of people of faith in general, and Christians in particular, to the Department and its mission. In doing so, GRACE aspires to emulate Jesus’ love and respect for all people, regardless of their background or religion. Accordingly, GRACE’s membership is open to all Department employees and contractors, whether stateside or deployed overseas. For more information, please contact GRACE-SteeringCommittee@state.gov.
The Alumni of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, also referred to as JETs@State, provides an informal conduit primarily for Department employees who are former JET Program participants, but also for those otherwise interested or invested in US-Japan relations to continue contributing to strengthen the US-Japan relationship, arguably one of the most important US bilateral relationships on the globe. JETs@state does this by hosting speaker, networking, and community-service project events related to Japan, hosting programs with DC-area Japan-affiliated organizations such as the JET Alumni Association, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, the Japan-America Society, and of course the Japanese Embassy to the United States. JETs@state shares information on Japan-related events and activities run by these other organizations and seeks to make opportunities available to JETs@State members to make use of their expertise and or interests to informally strengthen US-Japan relations. This includes mentoring programs that can harness Department employees’ experience in US-Japan relations for the benefit of recent returnees seeking to move forward in US-Japan or US-Asia relations in their careers or studies. JETs@state.gov
Jewish Americans in Diplomacy (JAD) aims to offer an institutional voice in advocating for the consideration of Jewish employees’ religious and cultural needs and concerns regarding Department management policies and to be a source of information for its members on reasonable accommodation and matters of interest to Jewish-American Department of State employees and their friends. It also seeks to provide a forum for Jewish-American Department of State employees and their friends to counter antisemitism and other obstacles to full inclusion that continue to exist within our organization. It further serves as a vehicle to engage with its fellow EAGs on diversity issues, to foster an environment of inclusion for all employees, and to support the promotion of religious tolerance and human rights within the Department. For more information, please contact JAD-Members@state.gov.
Glifaa represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) personnel, their families, and their allies in the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Agency for Global Media/BBG, Peace Corps, and other foreign affairs agencies of the U.S. Government. Officially recognized as a State Department Employee Affinity Group, glifaa advances diversity and workplace equity in U.S. foreign affairs agencies. glifaa seeks to challenge the continued barriers that LGBT+ Foreign Service, Civil Service, contract employees, and Locally Employed Staff (and all their families/family members of allies) encounter as a result of prejudice or discrimination. glifaa welcomes the participation of all U.S. government foreign affairs employees and their families regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. For more information, please contact board@glifaa.org or visit glifaa.org.
The Limited Non-Career Appointee Association (LNAA) is a State Department employee organization representing Limited Non-career Appointees (LNAs). The LNAA was founded in March of 2024 and seeks to connect members with employment resources and development opportunities, support resolution of challenges arising from their respective hiring mechanisms, and advocate for long-lasting and sound policies that are mutually beneficial for both LNAs and the Department. The mission of LNAA is to advocate for the career success and retention of LNAs within the Department, while providing the Department insight into the equities, assets, and challenges of LNA programs. Membership is open to all State Department employees. For more information, please contact LNAAMember@state.gov.
The Military/DoD Family Employee Organization strives to help the U.S. Department of State (“the Department”) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) better attract and retain an agile, skilled, and representative workforce by developing creative, inclusive solutions to the unique challenges facing military/DoD spouses and their families. Retaining the best employees and staying competitive in today’s dynamic work environment requires the U.S. government to invest in its employees and ensure they can balance their work and personal lives. The Military/DoD Family Employee Organization seeks to represent the interests of military/DoD spouse employees by providing a forum for discussing issues impacting them and advocating for policies that take into account military/DoD spouse interests and contributions. The group seeks to ensure these employees and their families are protected from discrimination in employment and benefits on the basis of their status as military/DoD spouses. We strive to promote diversity in the U.S. government by fostering the inclusion of military/DoD employees at all ranks and in all areas of the foreign affairs community; to provide these employees and their families with the support and guidance they need to have fulfilling careers and lives in public service; and to support and encourage efforts by the U.S. government to advance and defend the diversity, equity, and inclusion of this community. For more information, please contact militaryspouseandfamilyboarderg@usaid.gov
Mission Purpose: The National War College Alumni Association is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment that aligns with the Department’s mission of fortifying American leadership on the global stage. Our mission is to facilitate the identification, development, and retention of adept leaders within the organization. Through the strategic partnership between the NWCAA and the Department’s functional and regional bureaus, we ensure that the investment made in nurturing these future leaders is maximized.
Our Vision: Our vision is to play a vital role in reinstating American leadership globally by cultivating a cadre of visionary leaders capable of harmonizing efforts not only across the entire spectrum of the U.S. Government but also on an international and multilateral scale. The NWCAA recognizes the pivotal role that the National War College plays in this endeavor by training individuals to think expansively and strategically.
Our Approach: By leveraging the expertise of approximately 160 active alumni and students at the National War College, the NWCAA bolsters the Department’s efforts. Our association spotlights the fact that these individuals are engaged in pursuing or have achieved a master’s degree in National Security Strategy, solidifying their prowess in the field. We are committed to expanding our purview to encompass graduates of all three masters’ programs within the National Defense University to which the Department sends its employees. This includes the Eisenhower and the College of International Security Affairs (CISA), whose graduates specialize in National Resource Strategy and International Security Strategy. The year-long immersion of these individuals in building expansive networks within the defense and intelligence communities enhances the Department’s global reach and influence.
The mission of the Native American Foreign Affairs Council (NAFAC) is to enhance awareness of the contributions of Native American foreign affairs agencies; to assist in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of Native Americans; and to develop the leadership abilities of Native Americans at U.S. foreign affairs agencies. NAFAC employees desire to honor their cultural heritage and enhance the contributions of Native Americans to the mission of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other U.S. foreign affairs agencies, including with other indigenous societies and associations both domestic and abroad. For more information, please contact NAFACBoard@state.gov.
Parallel Professionals (NEW) Parallel Professionals tackles the career development challenges of federal workers and contractors who are Foreign Service spouses and partners. We work to support workforce mobility for Eligible Family Members (EFM) and Members of Household (MOH) working domestically or overseas as Civil Servants, government contractors, or at U.S. Missions abroad. Allies are also welcome to join Parallel Professionals’ Microsoft Team. The Employee Organization organizes monthly panel discussions, networking events, and mentorship opportunities. Email ParallelProfessionalsBoard@state.gov for more information.
The Pickering and Rangel Fellows Association (PRFA) was established in 2010 and has created opportunities for alumni worldwide to connect, network, engage in professional development and community service activities. PRFA remains committed to outreach and mentoring the next generation of Foreign Service Officers. More than 700 Pickering and Rangel fellows contribute to the Department’s Mission and serve with distinction around the globe. As an employee organization, PRFA will continue to support the Department through its mission of retention, recruitment, and morale-boosting efforts through networking, career development, and community service activities. PRFA looks forward to partnering with other Department employee organizations on areas where our missions overlap. With any questions, please email PRFABoardMembers@state.gov.
The Presidential Management Fellowship Advisory Council supports the PMF program within the Department and U.S. Agency for International Development and seeks to promote the professional development of its members. PMFAC facilitates communication among PMF /PMI alumni and informs HR and other Department leadership on issues of concern to the PMFAC membership. In addition, PMFAC provides support to PMF finalists interested in the State Department and USAID, conducts diversity outreach, encourages civil service advancement, and provides career development, networking, and community service opportunities to members. For more information, please contact PMFAdvisoryCouncil@state.gov or visit PMF
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers at State aims to encourage the Department to hire eligible RPCVs. The group communicates opportunities at the Department to RPCVs and seeks to foster a sense of community amongst and between RPCVs and other employees. RPCVs@State also promotes career development and networking opportunities for RPCVs and provides a support network and information-sharing tools for employees who are interested in the work of RPCVs at the Department. For more information, please contact RPCVs@state.gov.
In a department that aims to be representative of the broader public we serve, single employees represent a key demographic. In 2017, the U.S. Census reported 110.6 million unmarried people over the age of 18 – that’s 45.2 percent of the American adult population – embracing a new set of societal norms. In the Department of State, single employees represent 25 percent of the direct-hire workforce. The Singles at State Employee Affinity Group aims to increase awareness across the Department of State about how Department norms and policies affect single employees (i.e., unmarried, divorced, widowed employees, including single parents) and advocate for how the Department can support this growing demographic. This group is open to all employees of the Department of State and interagency community who have an interest in advocating for single employees at the Department. For more information, please Contact SinglesAtState@state.gov.
The Secretary’s Leadership Seminar Alumni Network (SLSAN) is a professional organization that establishes a robust support network for State Department employees who share a commitment to the mission of the Secretary’s Leadership Seminar (SLS). Acting as a bridge between past and current SLS participants, the SLSAN facilitates networking, collaboration, and peer-to-peer mentoring to foster professional growth and innovation. Furthermore, the SLSAN serves as a pivotal liaison between the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Harvard Business School (HBS), benefactor Howard Cox, and State Department leadership, ensuring seamless coordination and support. By providing a forum for dialogue and idea exchange, the SLSAN catalyzes the development of innovative solutions to address enterprise-wide challenges within the Department of State. For more information, please contact SLSAN@state.gov.
The South Asian-American Employee Association seeks to educate members about Department employment opportunities, self-improvement, and well-being. SAAEA also provides community outreach by educating citizens about the South-Asian culture and promoting diversity in the workplace. The mission of SAAEA is to meet the diverse educational and social needs of its members. For more information, please email SAAEA@state.gov.
The Thursday Luncheon Group (TLG) is a 501(c)(3) founded in 1973 to increase the representation and participation of African Americans in the formulation, articulation, and implementation of United States foreign policy. Membership is open to all employees of U.S. foreign affairs agencies. TLG gives particular attention to the recruitment, advancement, retention, and empowerment of Foreign and Civil Service employees. TLG’s public programs offer members the opportunity to interact with leaders in the foreign affairs community and discuss and debate foreign policy. For more information, please contact ThursdayLuncheonGrp@state.gov.
Toastmasters is a non-profit organization that promotes training in public speaking and leadership development through a network of clubs which are open to anyone over the age of 18 to join. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management encourages low cost or no cost training such as Toastmasters : https://www.opm.gov/wiki/training/Low-Cost-Training-Options.ashx. Agencies may have various professional development /affinity groups or communities of practice that employees can take advantage of to increase their knowledge and skill sets in a specific field of study. Toastmasters is one example of a group that can help you develop presentation skills which are essential to any job. There is a minimal fee for this group (See your agency’s Toastmaster representative.)”
At State we have 7 Toastmasters Clubs and our POC is the ToastmastersAtStateTeams page.
Working Parents@State Mission:
To advocate for employees with caregiving responsibilities as parents (as defined in EO 13152) and their families in the Department of State by working to protect against discrimination, promote diversity, and provide support and resources. WorkingParentsLeadership@state.gov
Board Members:
- President – Michelle Romo
- Vice President – Elana Mendelson
- Director for Communications – Ioana DiFiore
- Director for Outreach – Stephanie Straface
- Secretary – Patrick Ball
- Board Members – Daniel Kimmage and Rachel Peterson
Working in Tandem strives to help the U.S. Department of State (“the Department”) better attract and retain an agile, skilled, and representative workforce by developing creative, inclusive solutions to the unique challenges facing tandem employees and their families. Retaining the best employees and staying competitive in today’s dynamic work environment requires the Department to invest in its employees and ensure they can balance their work and personal lives. Working in Tandem seeks to represent the interests of tandem employees by providing a forum for discussing issues impacting tandem employees and advocating for policies that take into account tandem interests and contributions. WorkinginTandem@state.gov
Formed in 2014, Veterans@State adds to the agency’s diverse and inclusive workforce by highlighting the unique skillsets, backgrounds, and esprit de corps that our approximately 7,000 Veteran employees (which includes civil service (CS), foreign service (FS), personal services contractors (PSCs), and third-party contactors (TPCs) offer worldwide.
The mission of the Veterans at State employee affinity group is to be a professional association that supports military Veterans at the U.S. Department of State. The Veterans at State employee affinity group is a link between military Veterans at the Department, the Department’s diversity management program, human resources staff, and senior management. The Veterans at State employee affinity group strives to promote the full and equal participation of the estimated 7,100 military Veterans Department-wide, participating in community service activities, improving military Veteran awareness, advocating for the rights of military Veterans by providing a forum for information exchange, assisting in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of military Veterans, and developing the leadership abilities of military Veterans at the Department of State. If there are any questions, please email veterans@state.gov.