U.S. Foreign Service Gala Celebrating 100 Years of American Diplomacy

Secretary Blinken will 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.  Director General of the Foreign Service Marcia S. Bernicat will deliver remarks and co-host the gala with the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the professional association of the Foreign Service. AFSA’s president, Tom Yazdgerdi, will MC the gala.   

The event will 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 the anniversary gala are open for press coverage.  Pre-set time for video cameras is 6:15 p.m. from the C Street entrance. Final access time for writers and still cameras is 6:40 p.m. from the C Street entrance. The gala remarks will also be streamed live on the Department homepage  and YouTube Channel.  

Media representatives may attend this award ceremony upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from the requester’s employer on letterhead verifying his/her employment status as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport).  Those who do not have a State Department building pass should allow adequate time for security processing at the 23rd Street entrance. 

For more information about the centennial of the Foreign Service and AFSA, please visit afsa.org/centennial. For information on the anniversary gala, please contact Brenda Greenberg at greenbergbl2@state.gov or Nikki Gamer at gamer@afsa.org.