Friday, February 27, 2009

Former Spokesman McCormack Moves On, To Boeing

Photo added on 2/28 - from DipNote

Sean McCormack, the former State Department Spokesman signed off yesterday with one last post in DipNote.

"Today will be my last day at State after nearly fourteen years in the Foreign Service, and what I am most proud of in that time is what we accomplished in this space beyond the bricks and mortar of Foggy Bottom. Now I’ll transition from helping guide DipNote and our other digital media efforts (as well as on occasion providing content) to being a reader, user, and commenter."

Today, Friday, he showed up at his new gig as VP for communications in Boeing’s Washington office. If you were following his twits, you would have seen the following updates:

  • Just arrived new job. Waiting for HR person so can start sign in process. about 2 hours ago from Tweetie
  • Start Friday new job with Boeing as VP for communications in Washington office. Tomorrow is last day at State. 10:01 AM Feb 25th from Tweetie
  • Good to see Secretary Clinton picking up on what we started in digital media at the State Department http://tinyurl.com/ahkxyc11:33 AM Feb 22nd from web
  • In final weeks at State. Still work digital media. Welcome your ideas how to improve and employ new apps/tech. Will on pass to my successor 7:56 PM Feb 4th from Tweetie
  • Starting post-spokesman recovery. First step/remove toiletries from travel case. Must believe no longer on semi- permanent road trip. 7:46 PM Feb 3rd from Tweetie

I don’t know what other gig he could have gotten in the career ladder if he stayed. Sean McCormack began his career in the Foreign Service in 1995 and initially served at the U.S. embassy in Ankara from 1996-1998. He went on detail assignment at the NSC and the WH. A mid-level officer when he was appointed as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in 2005, he was last promoted in 2007 to the rank of FS-01. Now he's off to a new adventure.

2 comments:

Consul-At-Arms said...

I've quoted you and linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms2.blogspot.com/2009/03/re-former-spokesman-mccormack-moves-on.html

Domani Spero said...

Dancing bear, hmmmnn?!

Thanks CAA for the quote and the link! I've cross-posted this over at your blog.

Nick Burns came into the FS in 1982 I think, and became Spokesman in 1995 (13 years). Richard Boucher came in 1977/78 and was Spokesman in 1992 (15 years). Sean came in 1995 and was Spokesman 10 years later. I don't know if the other two were SFS when they were appointed to that gig, but Burns went on to become Ambassador to Greece after his PA stint. Boucher also became A/S for SCA after his PA stint.

How big a stretch assignment do you get after a stint up in the 7th Floor, I can't really say. As to the knives, I think that's something that's not unique to DOS.