“Her Name was Anne Smedinghoff” is the title of the first chapter of a new book by Glen Johnson, who served as US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for strategic communications from 2013 to 2017. He accompanied Secretary of State John Kerry throughout the world, including on his first trip to Afghanistan in March 2013, when they both met Anne, who was serving as Control Officer for the Secretary’s visit, days before she was killed.
Glen’s book, “Window Seat on the World,” is an all-access look at life inside the U.S. State Department, the complexity of State Department protocols, the grueling schedules, the delicacy of engagement with world leaders in foreign cultures, and the dedication of a longtime public servant and his team to the practice of diplomacy.
We thank Glen for his tribute to Anne in his book. It is a reminder of the vital contributions of Foreign Service officers and, more personally, of the ways in which Anne continues to affect all of our lives.