Diplomatic group lauds Powell’s management record

One of the nation's top diplomatic advisory groups heaped praise on Secretary of State Colin Powell this week, calling him "an exemplary CEO of the State Department."

The Foreign Affairs Council, an umbrella group of 11 diplomatic advocacy organizations, released a report Monday commending Powell for his leadership and management. The study was based on interviews and surveys of State Department employees.

Powell, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who has served as Secretary of State since the beginning of the Bush administration, recently announced that he would step down. President Bush has nominated National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to replace him.

Foreign Affairs Council President Thomas Boyatt called Powell "the best leader and manager … of the organization in living memory."

Powell's tenure marked a "historic reversal in the management and the leadership of the State Department," Boyatt said. "Apart from [former Secretary of State] George Shultz, I am hard pressed to think of another secretary who was a manager at all."

Specifically, the council's report praised Powell's efforts to boost resources, overhaul information technology systems and improve training programs. Boyatt said the reforms were desperately needed in light of sinking morale. He noted that in 2000, many State Department employees were still using Wang computers, which have not been actively marketed since the company filed for bankruptcy in 1992.

"We were in serious trouble four years ago," Boyatt said.

The council said it was vitally important that Powell's reforms be institutionalized. The report called on Rice to continue efforts to upgrade technology and training.

"A permanent training program for all substantive personnel in use of the hardware and associated applications needs to be instituted," the report said. "Right now there is much more [information technology] capacity within State than there is user skill to exploit it."

Council members rejected the idea that morale might fall with Powell's departure. Retired Ambassador Edward Rowell, who co-wrote the report, said State Department employees would serve with equal dedication under Rice.

Boyatt said, however, that the Foreign Affairs Council would monitor the actions of the incoming secretary.

"We know what good management is," he said. "We've experienced it now."