U.S. Department of State

 

OUR MISSION

 

MISSION

Create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

 

OUR VALUES

 

VALUES

Loyalty Commitment to the United States and the American people. Character Maintenance of high ethical standards and integrity. Service Excellence in the formulation of policy and management practices with room for creative dissent. Implementation of policy and management practices, regardless of personal views. Accountability Responsibility for achieving United States foreign policy goals while meeting the highest performance standards. Community Dedication to teamwork, professionalism, and the customer perspective.

 

OUR ORGANIZATION

	State Department/Ann Thomas

American diplomacy is based on the fundamental beliefs that our freedom is best protected when others are free; our prosperity depends on the prosperity of others; and our security relies on a global effort to defend the rights of all. In this extraordinary moment in history, when the rise of freedom is transforming societies around the world, we recognize that the United States has an immense responsibility to use its diplomatic influence constructively to advance security, democracy, and prosperity around the globe.

The Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy, and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. All foreign affairs activities - U.S. representation abroad, foreign assistance programs, countering international crime, foreign military training programs, and services the Department provides to American citizens abroad - are paid for by the foreign affairs budget, which represents little more than 1% of the total federal budget, or about 12 cents a day for each American citizen.

At our headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Department's mission is carried out through six regional bureaus, the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, and numerous functional and management bureaus. These bureaus provide policy guidance, program management, administrative support, and in-depth expertise in matters such as law enforcement, economics, the environment, intelligence, arms control, human rights, counternarcotics, counterterrorism, public diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and consular services.

The Department operates approximately 260 embassies, consulates, and other posts worldwide. In each Embassy, the Chief of Mission (usually an Ambassador) is responsible for executing U.S. foreign policy goals and coordinating and managing all U.S. Government functions in the host country. The Diplomatic Mission serves the needs of Americans traveling and working abroad. The Mission is the primary U.S. Government contact for foreign nationals of the host country.

The Department operates national passport centers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Charleston, South Carolina; a national visa center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and a consular center in Williamsburg, Kentucky; two foreign press centers; one reception center; 13 passport agencies; five offices that provide logistics support for overseas operations; 20 security offices; and two financial service centers.

 

OUR PEOPLE

	Secretary Rice congratulates honorees at the State Department's Employee Awards Ceremony. State Department/Michael Gross

In the business of diplomacy, people are critical. The Department's success in achieving its mission is directly tied to the creativity, knowledge, skills and integrity of our dedicated team of employees. The Foreign Service and the Civil Service in the Department of State and U.S. missions abroad represent the American people. They work together to achieve the goals and implement the initiatives of American foreign policy.

Foreign Service Officers are dedicated to representing America and responding to the needs of American citizens living and traveling around the world. A Foreign Service career is a way of life that requires uncommon commitment. Members of the Foreign Service can be sent to any diplomatic mission around the world, at any time, to serve the diplomatic needs of the United States. The Department's Civil Service corps provides continuity and expertise in accomplishing all aspects of the Department's mission. Civil Service officers, most of whom are headquartered in Washington, DC., are involved in virtually every policy area of the Department. They also are the domestic counterpart to consular officers abroad, issuing passports and assisting U.S. citizens overseas. Foreign Service National (host country) employees contribute to advancing the work of the Department overseas. These essential employees perform vital services for U.S. citizens and ensure the effective operation of our diplomatic posts.

 

EMPLOYEE COMPOSITION AND NUMBERS

The tables below show the distribution of the Department's workforce by employment category, as well as what proportion of the workforce is located overseas.

Workforce Composition: Full-time Permanent Employees As of September 30, 2005 Service Type Percentage of Workforce Civil Service 28% Foreign Service 40% Foreign Service National 32%

Workforce Location: Full-time Permanent Employees As of September 30, 2005 Location Percentage of Workforce Overseas 58% Domestic 42%

 

Since FY 1997, the total number of employees at the Department has increased by 38% with the greatest increase manifested in the Department's Civil Service staff, which has increased by 63%. During that time, the Foreign Service increased by 45% and the Foreign Service National staff increased by 14%. The overall increases in staffing reflect the Department's increased emphasis on security, public diplomacy, counterterrorism, and management reforms.

Summary of Full-time Permanent Employees¹

	FY 1997	FY 1998	FY 1999	FY 20002	FY 2001	FY 2002	FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005
Civil Service	4,977	5,165	5,498	6,486	6,590	6,999	7,731	7,831	8,092
Foreign Service	7,724	7,769	8,169	9,023	9,162	9,931	10,579	10,988	11,238
Foreign Service Nationals	7,872	7,637	7,192	9,730	9,852	9,526	9,897	8,419	8,964
Total	20,573	20,571	20,859	25,239	25,604	26,456	28,207	27,238	28,294
Notes These numbers do not include Foreign Service Nationals employed under personal service agreements or as personal service contractors.(back to text) Reflects integration of employees of the United States Information Agency and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.(back to text)

 

 

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