Ask Me Anything: Inside the Foreign Service Career

How can you start preparing for a diplomacy career? What is it really like professionally, for your family, and as a member of the Church? Ambassador Jeffrey M. Hovenier (ret.) left the State Department in 2024 after more than 34 years in public service representing the US in Europe and Latin America. He developed a record of success as a senior leader and manager of interagency teams to advance US strategic priorities and as a strategist and negotiator. His senior positions included Ambassador to Kosovo and Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission in Turkey. He also served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the US Embassy to Germany; at embassies in Peru, Greece, Croatia, Paraguay, and Panama; and at the US Mission to the OSCE. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center for International Studies and the Foreign Service Student Organization.