Larry leaves Georgetown

I haven't told everyone what's going on, and the people I have told all have the same questions, so I'm starting a blog. I'm going to need it where we're going...

After nine years of service at Georgetown University, I'm leaving the university's employ tomorrow, March 8. I've accepted a position as an "Information Management Specialist" (IMS) with the US Foreign Service. IMSs provide computing, telecommunications, and network support in US embassies and consulates around the world.

My training will start on March 20; I'll have three weeks of orientation, followed by technical training through at least August 11. Depending on which post State assigns me to, I may have further post-specific technical and/or language training after that.

State assigns FSSs (Foreign Service Specialists) to post after a bidding process, which starts at the same time as my orientation. State will provide a list of available posts and give us a week to research and consider our preferences. We'll also meet with the Career Development Officer (CDO) to discuss and defend our preferences. For example, I might list a francophone country and justify it because I speak fluent French.

The CDO will inform us of our assignment on April 4. It's unlikely we'd be assigned to Khartoum, Kabul, or Baghdad, because State is not sending families to those posts right now.

We don't have our hearts set on any particular post. It would be nice to leave the Western Hemisphere for our first post, but there are interesting countries on every continent. One of our two first assignments must be a "hardship" post in any case.

We're excited about this new opportunity.