243. Memorandum From the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Personnel (Barnes) to Secretary of State Vance1

SUBJECT

  • Trends in FSO Minority Representation

You asked me to send you the figures I had used in our Affirmative Action meeting April 2,2 with regards to trends in minority representation in the Foreign Service Officer Corps.

I mentioned that at the beginning of 1977 5.9% of our FSOs and FSO candidates were minorities. At the beginning of 1980 that figure stands at 8.3%. By way of illustrating the results of the emphasis we have put on affirmative action, I also gave the following figures for the Junior Officer ranks (as of the end of 1979):

30–6 13.6%
40–7 20.7%
50–8 36.0%
With regard to the proportion of women, the corresponding figures are:
0–6 20.0%
0–7 23.0%
0–8 30.0%
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Under Secretary for Management (M), 1980, Box 3, Chron March 31–April 5, 1980. No classification marking. Sent through Read, who did not initial the memorandum. Drafted by Barnes on April 3. Copies were sent to Gershenson, Palmer, Andrew Steigman, Burroughs, and Lauderdale. A typed notation at the top of the page indicates that the information was “handled orally.”
  2. No minutes of this meeting were found.
  3. FSO and FSR Career Candidates. [Footnote is in the original.]
  4. FSO and FSR Career Candidates. [Footnote is in the original.]
  5. FSO and FSR Career Candidates. [Footnote is in the original.]