If you face a bit of trouble when you travel out of the country, you might need to reach out to a U.S. embassy for help. But have you ever thought about the people who work at these official government headquarters?
U.S. diplomats live and work overseas, helping U.S. citizens abroad as well as building relationships with host countries. They get a new assignment to change countries — and often the languages they’re working in — about every two years. What is their life and work really like? And who are the people working here in the U.S. to support U.S. foreign policy goals? Today we’re talking with native Tennesseans who are serving in the U.S. State Department’s Civil Service and Foreign Service. We’ll find out what it takes to represent the U.S. internationally and the steps anyone can follow to have their own “globally available” adventure. Join us!
This episode was guest-hosted and produced by Katherine Ceicys.
Today’s Guests:
Lou Fintor, Diplomat in Residence North Central Region (MI, IN, KY, TN), U.S. Department of State
Joanna Wulfsberg, U.S. Foreign Service Officer
Paul Wulfsberg, U.S. Foreign Service Officer
Shavangi Sutaria, U.S. Civil Service Officer
Further Reading and Listening:
- Check out: careers.state.gov to learn more about the U.S. Foreign Service and the Civil Service and how to apply. As of 2024, the Foreign Service application process is conducted fully virtually.
- You can also reach out to Lou Fintor, Diplomat in Residence for the North Central Region which includes Tennessee, here.
- Interested in military service? Check out our episode A soldier, a sailor and a marine all walk into the studio…
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