Join us on Tuesday, March 11th, at 5:15 pm for the WACC meeting discussing Diplomacy in the 21st Century.  In an increasingly interconnected world, U.S. diplomats face a growing array of complex global challenges—from climate change and cyber threats to geopolitical tensions and humanitarian crises. As these challenges evolve, the question arises: Are our diplomats equipped with the tools, resources, and support they need to navigate them effectively?
Against the backdrop of a transitioning administration, this discussion will explore the state of the U.S. Foreign Service, the key role diplomats play in safeguarding American interests, and what the future holds for diplomacy in a rapidly changing global landscape.
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Tom Yazdgerdi is the president of the American Foreign Service Association, which represents 16,800 active duty and retired members of the Foreign Service, the U.S. diplomatic corps. Mr. Yazdgerdi served as the AFSA State VP from 2019 to 2023. Before that, he was special envoy for Holocaust issues in the European and Eurasian Bureau at the Department of State.
Mr. Yazdgerdi has served as director of the Office of South Central European Affairs, political counselor at U.S. Embassy Kabul, head of U.S. Consulate Kirkuk, and deputy political counselor for Iran affairs at U.S. Embassy Baghdad. He also served as deputy chief of mission and political-economic chief at U.S. Embassy Pristina during the run-up to, and aftermath of, Kosovo independence.
Before joining the Foreign Service in 1991, Mr. Yazdgerdi worked on Capitol Hill. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Central European history, security studies, and American diplomatic history from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.