UNCLASSIFIED (U)

10 FAM 100
public diplomacy and public affairs

10 FAM 110 

introduction

(CT:PEC-93;   09-28-2021)
(Office of Origin:  R/PPR)

10 FAM 111   introduction

(CT:PEC-34;   08-18-2017)

a. Public diplomacy (PD) has grown and evolved dramatically since the United States Information Agency (USIA) was first founded in 1953.  PD has been central to the U.S. Department of State's mission since the consolidation of USIA into State in 1999.  That consolidation brought to the Department the PD Civil Service, PD Locally Engaged Staff, a new Foreign Service PD Cone, and two cadres of Foreign Service Specialists:  Regional Public Engagement Specialists and English Language Officers.

b. PD plays a central role in advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security, as described in the Public Diplomacy Mission Statement:  To support the achievement of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance national security by informing and influencing foreign publics and by expanding and strengthening the relationship between the people and government of the United States and citizens of the rest of the world.

c. At the Department, public affairs informs and engages the domestic American public and the domestic and international media to communicate timely and accurate information and advance the Department’s work at home and abroad.

10 FAM 112  Overview

(CT:PEC-55;   11-20-2018)

The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R) oversees all public diplomacy and public affairs activities (see 1 FAM 046 for a complete list of the R responsibilities, oversight, and authorities).   A brief summary of R’s major components and their principal activities follows.  (See 10 FAM 200, 10 FAM 300 and 10 FAM 400 for official and complete descriptions of the R family of bureaus, and 1 FAM 046.6 for an R organizational chart.)

10 FAM 113  Outline

(CT:PEC-93;   09-28-2021)

ECA – As mandated by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) works to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities through international education and cultural programs that build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, youth, professional and private sector exchanges.

GPA - The Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA) carries out the Secretary's mandate to articulate the foreign policy of the United States and to communicate with and engage U.S. and global audiences.  

GEC – The Global Engagement Center is an interagency entity, housed at the U.S. Department of State, which is charged with coordinating U.S. counterterrorism messaging to foreign audiences. It was established pursuant to Executive Order 13721, signed on March 14, 2016, which states that the Center “shall lead the coordination, integration, and synchronization of Government-wide communications activities directed at foreign audiences abroad in order to counter the messaging and diminish the influence of international terrorist organizations.”

PD Offices – All regional and most functional bureaus in Washington include a Public Diplomacy Office that coordinates public diplomacy policy, messaging, and operations with PD professionals in the field.  In addition, each of the regional bureaus has a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy.

10 FAM 114  public diplomacy leadership

(CT:PEC-25;   08-30-2013)

The challenges of PD’s role place an ever-greater premium on leadership and good management.  Our Public Diplomacy Leadership Tenets are seven core values for all PD practitioners – Foreign Service, Civil Service and Locally Employed Staff alike.  These tenets are:

(1)  Be Visionary - We create and implement a strategic vision that advances U.S. foreign policy and promotes mutual understanding between American and foreign publics.  In pursuing this vision, we connect public diplomacy programs to policy through outreach strategies that are creative, focused, and results-oriented.

(2)  Communicate Effectively - We are communications professionals.   Through mastery of many languages and diverse platforms, we inform, influence, and engage foreign audiences in support of U.S. policy.   We are honest brokers who communicate credibly and transparently and listen actively to promote two-way dialogue.

(3)  Know the Public - We study and value foreign cultures, media, and political and social environments, and exchange viewpoints with diverse audiences to strengthen people-to-people relationships and to ensure that our policymaking incorporates a nuanced understanding of public perceptions.  

(4)  Innovate - We encourage fresh approaches to public diplomacy and reward adaptability, critical thinking, and risk-taking.  We adopt new technologies and outreach platforms that make our work more effective.   We strive for excellence through continuous enrichment of our unique expertise in U.S. policy, values, history, and culture.  

(5)  Model Integrity - We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and professional conduct, both internally and in our external engagement work.  We are reliable and effective stewards of the manifold personnel and financial resources entrusted to us. 

(6)  Build Great Teams - Our ability to unite disparate groups and find common purpose grounds our work and represents the best of American values.  We build diverse teams and value the input of each person on our team, including non-PD colleagues. 

(7)  Strengthen the Community - We create a robust esprit de corps within our community to shape the future of public diplomacy.  We recruit high-caliber candidates for PD positions and hone our professional skills through career-long learning.  We believe that mentoring and professional development are priorities and responsibilities for all members of the PD community.  We are advocates for PD within the Department and across government and the private sector. 

10 FAM 115 Through 119  unassigned

UNCLASSIFIED (U)