Secretary Blinken is set to deliver remarks at a gala honoring the United States Foreign Service on Tuesday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the U.S. Department of State. The Director General of the Foreign Service, Marcia S. Bernicat, will also deliver remarks and co-host the gala with the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), which is the professional association of the Foreign Service. AFSA’s president, Tom Yazdgerdi, will MC the event.
The gala aims to commemorate 100 years of modern American diplomacy while celebrating the dedication and sacrifice of the men and women of the Foreign Service. Invited guests include retired and active members of the Foreign Service as well as U.S. government officials, journalists, and leaders within the U.S. foreign affairs community.
Remarks at this anniversary gala are open for press coverage. The pre-set time for video cameras is 6:15 p.m., accessed from the C Street entrance. Final access time for writers and still cameras is 6:40 p.m., also from the C Street entrance. Additionally, live streaming of the gala remarks will be available on both Department homepage and YouTube Channel.
Media representatives may attend this award ceremony upon presentation of either a U.S. government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), a media-issued photo identification card or a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their employment status as a journalist accompanied by an official photo identification such as driver’s license or passport. Those without a State Department building pass should allow adequate time for security processing at the 23rd Street entrance.
For more information about this centennial celebration of the Foreign Service and AFSA, please visit afsa.org/centennial. For specific information on this anniversary gala, Brenda Greenberg can be contacted at greenbergbl2@state.gov or Nikki Gamer at gamer@afsa.org.
