About ADST

The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1986. Located at the State Department’s George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC, shown at left) in Arlington, Virginia, ADST advances understanding of American diplomacy and supports training of foreign affairs personnel at the NFATC’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI) through a variety of programs and activities. This close collaboration results in a special public-private relationship between FSI and ADST.

ADST has several ongoing activities:

- The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection, which grows by some 80 histories per year, conveys the experiences, analyses, knowledge, and wisdom of both career and non-career foreign affairs practitioners. Users include people in  academia, business, the media, and government. Some 1,700 oral histories are accessible on the website of the Library of Congress and many more are in various stages of completion.

- Two book series on diplomats and diplomacy help increase public knowledge and appreciation of the involvement of American diplomats in the events of world history. Moreover, ADST provides advice on publishing to serving and former foreign affairs personnel. Almost 50 books have been published in the two series, and more are forthcoming.

- Support for Foreign Service Institute training programs as well as seminars and policy conferences bring together academics, the private sector, and senior government officials in discussions of critical foreign relations issues.

- An instructional website, usdiplomacy.org, provides background on the history of U.S. diplomacy.

- Its annual awards to Foreign Service Institute instructors recognize excellence in foreign language training.

- Biennial awards highlight accomplishments for outstanding leadership in diplomacy, international business, and promotion of the study of diplomacy.

- Exhibits illuminate the history and artifacts of American diplomacy.

- Sponsoring distinguished ADST Senior Fellows enable them to pursue special projects on diplomacy.

Donations to ADST

Are you interested in providing a financial contribution to ADST? Donations are tax-deductable! Our donation page lists several ways to help ADST continue its projects.