United States University Of Diplomatic Studies Foundation

TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF FOREIGN SERVICES OFFICERS (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND THEIR CIVIL SERVICE COLLEAGUES AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

PEACE GAMES PROGRAM DSF LAUNCHED THE FIRST PEACE GAME ON OCTOBER 5TH AND 6TH, 2021. LEADING UP TO THIS LAUNCH, THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP KEY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, AND 95TH CIVIL AFFAIRS BRIGADE TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS AND ENROLL OVER FIFTEEN PARTICIPANTS IN THE DSF-LED CRISIS MANAGEMENT EXERCISE. DSF ALSO RECRUITED MORE THAN TEN FORMER SENIOR LEADERS OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, INCLUDING AMBASSADORS, ASSISTANT SECRETARIES, AND GENERAL-RANK OFFICERS, TO PARTICIPATE. THE FOUNDATION PRIORITIZED FOSTERING CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM AS WELL, LEADING TO CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS ATTENDING THE EXERCISE AS OBSERVERS.

COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY PROGRAMTHE COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY PROGRAM MADE GREAT STRIDES THIS YEAR, CULMINATING IN THE FIRST COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY ROUNDTABLE HELD IN DALLAS ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2021. OVER A DOZEN SENIOR LEADERS FROM THE DALLAS BUSINESS COMMUNITY CONVENED AT SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY TO CONSIDER HOW U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE HELPED AND HINDERED EXPANSION OF AMERICAN BUSINESS INTERESTS ABROAD. THE ROUNDTABLE OPENED WITH VIRTUAL REMARKS OF SUPPORT FROM TWO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THIS YEAR MARKED THE TRANSITION FROM A CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT PHASE TO A PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION PHASE AND, CRITICALLY, LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE SMU COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP A CENTER WITHIN THE BUSINESS SCHOOL FOCUSED ON COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAININGDSF SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS. THEY FUNDED A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT FSI THAT ENABLED THE UPDATING AND EXPANDING OF AREA STUDIES COURSES. AS A RESULT, THE JUNE 2020 ENROLLMENTS IN SUCH COURSES SAW AN 180% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DSF LAUNCHED A SEMINAR SERIES IN FEBRUARY 2020 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. THE SERIES ENROLLED 26 RISING LEADERS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND CONGRESSIONAL STAFF IN FOUR SEMINARS THAT EDUCATED PARTICIPANTS ON THE INTERSECTION OF THE ROLES OF CONGRESS AND THE DEPARTMENT IN FOREIGN POLICY AND OFFERED PARTICIPANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER WORKING-LEVEL RELATIONSHIPS.