Q&A > Deborah Jones
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What inspired or motivated you to become a diplomat?
I studied history, languages and the humanities in college, but becoming a diplomat was purely serendipitous: I was in Spain as a graduate student and a colleague asked if I would like her to register me to take the FS exam at the US Embassy. I asked if it cost anything; she said no. And the rest is history.
Who was your best boss and why?
That’s difficult. A toss-up between Dick Murphy, Ryan Crocker and Ted Kattouf, for different reasons. Each of them trusted and empowered me as a colleague. And I learned from all of them about diplomacy, strategic patience, “bureaucratics” and shepherding policy through the system. I learned from many others as well.
What would you tell your a-100 self?
Have confidence in your inherent capabilities. You’re here because you earned it. Diversity is a huge positive.
Describe a day you felt you made a difference.
First tour in Buenos Aires handling a very tragic death case involving the only daughter of a single mother. Last overseas tour leading a mission safely out of active hostilities in Libya. And others in between.
What has a colleague done for you that made you wish all of us had a colleague like that?
One signed me up for the FS exam! LOL. Another graciously provided space for me and my “rump embassy” at Embassy Valletta. Two phenomenal OMSes provided superlative executive support and spoiled me forever. A top notch Facilities Maintenance Officer in Kuwait freed me to focus on other things. And innumerable others in the Department offered a shared service orientation and intellectual collegiality, something I treasured most about the FS and Department.
What was the mistake you learned the most from?
Oh boy. I’ve had to learn to check my inclination to wisecrack, which can hurt feelings unintentionally. But the hardest lessons I’ve learned have involved exercising sufficient stewardship over policies, individuals and processes and ensuring you understand clearly the intent of the leadership before acting. The bureaucracy is about personalities.
What was your best and worst experience working with the interagency?
Can it be both in the same exercise? The F-16 Block 60 sale to the United Arab Emirates, and the evacuation of our mission from Libya under fire.
What is the one tour you would recommend FSOs consider?
A regional desk job traditionally offered the greatest exposure to policy and the interagency, as well as the Hill and legislative processes, while offering opportunities to engage diplomatically with the “client” state. I loved my tour on the Jordan Desk.
If the state department had a mascot, what animal should it be?
The Border Collie: Can learn a new command in under five repetitions; loyal; can herd others; defends its turf. And rather presentable.
What was the biggest challenge of FS life for your family, and how did you manage it?
The transitions, and the fact that my FS spouse and I both served ultimately in senior positions at separate posts in hardship settings. We established a “touchstone” home early on so we had a base in the USA and the girls attended the Madeira School as boarders. The marriage didn’t last (okay, technically it lasted for 29 years and ended amicably) but I like to think the opportunities outweighed the costs. You would have to ask the girls.
What is your leadership philosophy?
Transparency, inclusiveness, fairness. I’ve been called “tough but fair.” I’ll take that. I know I’m demanding but believe that is preferable to “the soft bigotry of low expectations,” as George W Bush used to say.
What tips would you give a first-time manager?
Know what is involved in the job you are asking others to do so that your expectations are reasonable and you can guide them toward success.
What would you change about the State Department?
When I entered, i was advised to avoid the Bureaus that began with I or O, i.e. International organizations or Oceans and Environmental Science, for e.g. Just as George Shultz made us think in different ways about economics and policy, we need to think differently about science and the environment. This may mean bringing in more subject-matter experts in addition to generalists.
What were your pet peeves?
Oy. Earlier on, dealing with senior FS who believed “diversity” meant bringing in women and “minorities” (under duress) and then expecting them to think and behave (and dress!) just like everyone else; dealing with regulations that were not written with the realities of tandems with dependents at different posts in mind; seeing positions that clearly were “off limits” to women; and, of course, all the different formats for talking points for various Secretaries of State.
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