Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-06-04

RECOGNIZING THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Taxes

Context

On 2026-06-04, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY" in the Senate.

Full Text

RECOGNIZING THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2573] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ RECOGNIZING THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, ADST. ADST is an educational organization dedicated to immortalizing the stories and experiences of former American diplomats. ADST was founded in 1986 by then-Director of the Foreign Service Institute Steven Low and Ambassador Richard Parker. That same year, freshly retired Foreign Service Officer Charles Stuart Kennedy began recording oral histories of retired American diplomats to capture their lived experience and insight. In 1988, Ambassador Parker invited Mr. Kennedy to incorporate his oral history program into ADST's work, creating the association we know today. In 1995, ADST inaugurated its book program to support diplomatic practitioners and scholars in their efforts to spread awareness of American diplomacy. Under the leadership of publishing director Margery Boichel Thompson, the program blossomed into an inspiring source of knowledge on diplomacy and the Foreign Service with over 120 books published. The program established a joint partnership with Diplomats and Consular Officers, Retired--DACOR--to form the Diplomats and Diplomacy Book Series, established the Memoirs and Occasional Papers series, and founded their very own Arlington Hall Press. For decades, ADST's Foreign Affairs Oral History Program has remained its cornerstone. Rich in historical insights, the archive is a treasure for congressional offices, current and aspiring diplomats, scholars, educators, students, and the American public. Today, ADST has collected over 3,100 oral histories spanning over 100 years of the American diplomatic legacy. Through their efforts, the ADST team has helped preserve the invaluable experiences of our foreign service officers--whether that be through archiving oral accounts, editing and publishing book manuscripts, sharing our history with the American public, or supporting the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, NFATC. Since its inception, ADST's work has grown from the vision of two men into a dedicated and professional foreign affairs organization, and I am confident that they will continue to carry their mission forward. I invite my colleagues to join me in applauding ADST's tremendous work in preserving our legacy. ____________________

View original source →

RECOGNIZING THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2573] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ RECOGNIZING THE ASSOCIATION FOR DIPLOMATIC STUDIES AND TRAINING'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, ADST. ADST is an educational organization dedicated to immortalizing the stories and experiences of former American diplomats. ADST was founded in 1986 by then-Director of the Foreign Service Institute Steven Low and Ambassador Richard Parker. That same year, freshly retired Foreign Service Officer Charles Stuart Kennedy began recording oral histories of retired American diplomats to capture their lived experience and insight. In 1988, Ambassador Parker invited Mr. Kennedy to incorporate his oral history program into ADST's work, creating the association we know today. In 1995, ADST inaugurated its book program to support diplomatic practitioners and scholars in their efforts to spread awareness of American diplomacy. Under the leadership of publishing director Margery Boichel Thompson, the program blossomed into an inspiring source of knowledge on diplomacy and the Foreign Service with over 120 books published. The program established a joint partnership with Diplomats and Consular Officers, Retired--DACOR--to form the Diplomats and Diplomacy Book Series, established the Memoirs and Occasional Papers series, and founded their very own Arlington Hall Press. For decades, ADST's Foreign Affairs Oral History Program has remained its cornerstone. Rich in historical insights, the archive is a treasure for congressional offices, current and aspiring diplomats, scholars, educators, students, and the American public. Today, ADST has collected over 3,100 oral histories spanning over 100 years of the American diplomatic legacy. Through their efforts, the ADST team has helped preserve the invaluable experiences of our foreign service officers--whether that be through archiving oral accounts, editing and publishing book manuscripts, sharing our history with the American public, or supporting the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, NFATC. Since its inception, ADST's work has grown from the vision of two men into a dedicated and professional foreign affairs organization, and I am confident that they will continue to carry their mission forward. I invite my colleagues to join me in applauding ADST's tremendous work in preserving our legacy. ____________________