U.S. Department of State

Mission and Organization

FY 2003 Performance and Accountability Report

Bureau of Resource Management

December 2003

Report

American diplomacy in the 21st century is based on fundamental beliefs: our freedom is best protected by ensuring that others are free; our prosperity depends on the prosperity of others; and our security relies on a global effort to secure the rights of all. The history of the American people is the chronicle of our efforts to live up to our ideals. In this moment in history, we recognize that the United States has an immense responsibility to use its power constructively to advance security, democracy, and prosperity around the globe.

Diplomacy is an instrument of power. It is essential for maintaining effective and international relationships, and a principal means by which the United States defends its interests, responds to crises and achieves its foreign policy goals. The Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy; its mission is based on the Secretary of State's role as the President's principal foreign policy advisor.

MISSION

Create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

OUR ORGANIZATION

Organizational Structure in Washington, DC

At its headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Department's mission is carried out through six regional bureaus, each of which are responsible for a specific geographic region of the world. The regional bureaus and the overseas posts are supported by functional bureaus and management bureaus which provide policy guidance, program management and administrative expertise in matters such as economics, intelligence, human rights, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and consular services.

Organizational Structure at Embassies

In each Embassy, the Chief of Mission (usually an Ambassador) is responsible for executing U.S. foreign policy goals and coordinating and managing all U.S. Government functions in the host country. The President appoints each Ambassador, whom the Senate confirms. Chiefs of Mission report directly to the President through the Secretary. The Diplomatic Mission is also the primary U.S. Government contact for Americans overseas and foreign nationals of the host country. The Mission serves the needs of Americans traveling and working abroad, and supports Presidential and Congressional delegations visiting the country. The Department operates more than 260 embassies, consulates and other posts worldwide.

Other Key Locations and Offices

The Department also operates national passport centers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Charleston, South Carolina; a national visa center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and a consular center in Williamsburg, Kentucky; two foreign press centers; one reception center; 13 passport agencies; five offices that provide logistics support for overseas operations; 22 security offices; and two financial service centers.

D

Our People

Composition and Number

The Department's workforce consists of more than 28,000 employees in the Civil Service and Foreign Service, and Foreign Service Nationals in the 162 countries where the United States is represented. The pie charts below show the distribution of the workforce among these three categories as well as what proportion of the workforce is located overseas.

Workforce Composition: Full-time Permanent Employees As of September 30, 2003 Service Type Percentage of Workforce Civil Service 27% Foreign Service 38% Foreign Service National 35%

Workforce Location: Full-time Permanent Employees As of September 30, 2003 Location Percentage of Workforce Overseas 59% Domestic 41%

Since FY 1996, the total number of employees at the Department has increased by 33% with the greatest increase manifested in the Department's civil service staff which has increased by 54%.

The increases in staff reflect the Department's increased emphasis in the areas of security, public diplomacy, counterterrorism, and management reforms.

Summary of Full-time Permanent Employees

	FY 1996	FY 1997	FY 1998	FY 1999	FY 2000[1]	FY 2001	FY 2002	FY 2003
Civil Service	5,021	4,977	5,165	5,498	6,486	6,590	6,999	7,731
Foreign Service	7,994	7,724	7,769	8,169	9,023	9,162	9,931	10,579
Foreign Service National	8,212	7,872	7,637	7,192	9,730	9,852	9,526	9,897
Total	21,227	20,573	20,571	20,859	25,239	25,604	26,456	28,207
Note 1: Reflects integration of employees of the United States Information Agency (USIA) and the Arms Control Disarmament Agency (ACDA) .

Where We Are Located

As shown below, the Department's embassies, consulates, and passport/visa centers are located throughout the world in support of America's foreign policy goals and to assist Americans traveling abroad.

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