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Dr. Joan B. Keston , THIS for Diplomats President
May 20, 2010 - present
Biography
President | THIS for Diplomats 2010-present
In May 2010, Dr. Joan Keston became President of THIS for Diplomats. Previously she held the positions of Vice President for Programs and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, the Waltz Ball and the Mardi Gras Celebration.
Dr. Keston retired from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) where she developed new programs and facilitated new agencies and consolidations by creating environments that encouraged effectiveness, innovation and foresight. Successful outreach programs were instituted to appropriate Department of Defense audiences.
During her extensive government career she worked for the Director of Administration and Management/Washington Headquarters, the Director of American Forces Information Service and the Director of the newly created Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Her wide range of accomplishments ranged from securing accreditation for the newly consolidated Defense Information School (DINFOS) to designing an Employee Awareness/Preparedness Programs after 9/11 for the occupants of the Pentagon Reservation and Department of Defense (DoD) delegated buildings. Dr. Keston’s service to OSD was recognized with the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
Early in her OSD career, Dr. Keston was detailed to a new non-partisan coalition of non-profit federal professional and management associations as Executive Director. Working with the Chairman they built an active coalition of 32 professional and management associations and 30 government agencies. Public Employees Roundtable (PER) became a strong advocate for public service. In partnership with the President’s Council on Management Improvement (PCMI) she developed and implemented Public Service Recognition Week celebrated annually in May in 1200 cities across the country and with a National Mall event showcasing over one hundred government exhibits. Other joint programs included a senior International Government Conference on the Changing Role of Public Service in a Democracy and development of Speaker and Teacher Guides on Public Service. Her service to PER was recognized with the Public Employees Roundtable Metal of Honor and the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Exceptional Civilian Service Award.
Dr. Keston began her government career with the Social Security Administration where she left as Branch Manager. She holds a BA Degree from New York University in Political Science, and a Masters and a Doctorate Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Her leisure activities include spending time with her partner, Hugh Grindstaff, 3 children, and 4 grandsons. Joan also enjoys travel, concerts, ballet, theatre, the beach, and of course being part of THIS.
