Blinken appoints new DEI chief after 10 months of vacancy

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the appointment of a new chief diversity and inclusion officer at the State Department on Tuesday, 10 months after the role became vacant.

Blinken said Zakiya Carr Johnson will be the new CDIO and is expected to create a workforce that “reflects America.” Carr Johnson previously worked for the State Department from 2010 to 2017.

“American diplomacy can only succeed if it fully harnesses all of the talent that our nation has to offer,” Blinken said in a statement. “That is why I created the position of CDIO to elevate [diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility] within our organization and give it the dedicated senior-level attention that it deserves. … We will continue to pursue this mission aggressively, because recruiting, nurturing, and promoting the most capable workforce possible is critical to our national security.”

Carr Johnson built several organizations that work with minority groups during her break from the State Department. Her appointment comes as the department is experiencing a major “retention” problem among women and minorities.

“Her previous work promoting entrepreneurship and access to opportunity for underrepresented populations, as well as her commitment to inclusive leadership make us stronger, smarter, and more innovative,” Blinken said.

The move also comes after an internal survey from the State Department in 2022 found that 44% of respondents said they experienced discrimination, and 27% said they faced harassment, including sexual harassment. A government accountability report last year also noted that the majority of federal employees who experienced discrimination and harassment chose not to report it.

“What we’re finding is that employees didn’t trust the system or don’t trust the system,” an unnamed senior State Department official told NBC News. “So they’re looking for somewhere else to go.”

State Department officials also noted that black, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern Americans were among those who remain underrepresented in the department’s workforce. However, the department has exceeded its hiring and retention rates for employees with disabilities.

Carr Johnson said she was honored to return to the State Department and serve her country.

“We stand more determined than ever to address both historic inequalities and new challenges in order to strengthen our modern workforce,” Carr Johnson said in a statement.

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Carr Johnson’s appointment comes 10 months after former Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley resigned as DEI chief. No reason for her resignation was given.

Abercrombie-Winstanley had served in the State Department for 30 years at the time of her departure, including as the deputy coordinator for counterterrorism during former President George W. Bush’s administration.