Tag Archives: diversity & inclusion

@StateDept Launches New Awards For Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion

May 24, 2021 By in Ambassadors, Annual, Awards, Diversity, Foreign Service, Realities of the FS, State Department Tags: , , , ,
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The State Department recently launched the Edward J. Perkins Memorial Award(s) for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion. According to the FAM, this annual award recognizes employees’ outstanding accomplishments in furthering the Department’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) goals — including equal employment opportunity — through exceptionally effective leadership, skill, imagination, and innovation in extending and promoting diversity and inclusion for those who work at the Department.

“The Edward J. Perkins Memorial Award(s) for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion recognize outstanding contributions toward improving D&I for a function, a mission, personnel of one facility regional area, or an organizational element of headquarters.  Recipients may demonstrate their commitment across a range of activities: employee-centered inclusion initiatives; promotion of equal employment opportunity principles, efforts to support recruitment and retention of employees from varied backgrounds; efforts that expand and embrace our understanding of inclusiveness; multicultural programming or related initiatives; community outreach activities; and/or several other possibilities.  The Edward J. Perkins Memorial Award(s) for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion may also recognize significant actions to ensure a workplace free of discrimination (including harassment) or other behavior detrimental to an inclusive work environment.”

There are two award categories. The award recipient in each category receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State.
(1)  Senior Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award: The recipient of the Senior Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award does not receive a cash award. Members of the Senior Foreign Service and Senior Executive Service (or equivalent) are only eligible to receive the Senior Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award.
(2)  Outstanding Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award:  The recipient of the Outstanding Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award receives a cash award of $10,000. Employees at the GS-15/FS-01 (or equivalent) grade and below are only eligible to receive the Outstanding Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award.
Political appointees are also eligible for the award “consistent with OPM guidance.” Also eligible for the award are Locally Employed (LE) staff, whether employed under a direct-hire appointment or on a Personal Services Agreement and eligible family members (EFMs) serving under a family member appointments are also eligible.  (EFM as defined per 14 FAM 511.3).
The award is named after Ambassador Edward J. Perkins, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister. “As Director General of the Foreign Service, he was lauded for a demonstrated commitment to a broadly diverse Foreign Service at all levels of the profession, including the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship initiative.” He served as U.S. ambassador to Australia, the United Nations, Liberia, and was the first Black U.S. Ambassador to apartheid South Africa.  He passed away in November 2020.

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