Agreed. And the same holds true for Pat Kennedy. Unfortunately, it perpetuates a small clique that runs the management of the Department for long periods of time making it difficult to implement change. I know from firsthand experience.
Kabar, maybe we both work at State.
In the case of Mary Ryan, I know of several very good consular officers who for whatever reason weren’t on “her team.” Which meant they couldn’t get any decent consular jobs. They were pretty much put out to pasture during Mary’s tenure. That’s an outrageous state of affairs.
I believe in having a cap of, say, four years for anyone to serve as an assistant secretary.