Attache, << `at` uh SHAY, >> is an officer attached to a diplomatic office. The word is French for attached. An attache is usually an officer of the army, navy, or air force, and is called a military, naval, or air attache. The United States often sends officers from the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, or Labor as attaches to an ambassador. This officer is called a commercial, agricultural, or labor attache. Most large countries send attaches of some kind. The United Kingdom assigns scientific-research attaches to important embassies.
Cultural and social-welfare officers have attache status. Attaches usually accompany ambassadors or other high officials on missions of state. Their duties are similar to those of secretaries. Some attaches of the U.S. government are assigned to consular offices, particularly in larger cities of the world. Most are appointed from the list of foreign-service officers in the Department of State. But many attaches with special skills and experience are selected from private industry.
