Executive Women at State (EW@S) The name Executive Women at State (EW@S) actually describes three groups connected under one banner.
EW@S began in January 2008 as an informal coalition to bring together senior women and promote effective networking among women in the Department of State and the broader foreign affairs community. Today, the most senior level of EW@S's programming focuses on networking, idea-sharing, professional learning through guest speakers, and advocacy for women in the Senior Executive Service and Senior Fo
reign Service, as well as women in the GS 15 and FS 01 levels. A year after founding EW@S, the board decided it was time to extend a hand to women at the next level, and worked with a group of volunteers to form the Executive Women at State Associates (EW@S/A). Founded in August of 2009, the Associates focuses on networking, education, and advocacy for women between the GS 12-14 and tenured FS 04 to FS 06 levels. The Associates represents the largest of the three EW@S groups. Yet, EW@S's growth did not stop with the Associates. Less than two months after the Associates held its first public event, they helped another group of women launch an affiliate focused on the issues pertaining to women at the GS 4-11, FS 04 untenured to FS 06, and intern levels launch the Executive Women at State: Entry and Junior Level (EW@S/EJ). The three groups cover Department of State's female employees at every level of the Foreign and Civil Service, and reflect this in their missions. Executive Women at State's mission is to promote support and mentor women for senior leadership positions in the Department of State. Executive Women at State Associates' mission is to unite mid-career women and men who support women's issues to share information regarding career growth, advocate for positive changes at the Department of State, and network with women at more senior and more junior levels. Executive Women at State: Entry and Junior Level's mission is to encourage, support, and facilitate the development, retention and advancement of entry and junior level women in the Department of State. All three EW@S are open to men and women who support issues related women in the Department of State.
