washington one rex tillerson first directives u.s. secretary state order senior staff brief materials exceed two page reflection tillerson management style hone helm exxon mobil oil company know relentless focus efficiency one reason close aid state department refer ceo rather secretary dozen current former u.s. officials familiar brief procedures say tillerson predecessors would typically request far detail information aide r.c hammond say directive reflect tillerson focus key facts rather lack interest fine point foreign policy ask people efficient information hammond say add tillerson need information would ask decision-maker need facts front him first-time government official prior diplomatic experience tillerson face close scrutiny successful manage state department bureaucracy relations donald trump administration senior state department officials attend meet tillerson say find sociable man substance whose direct manner probe question reflect train engineer seek solve problems rather play politics veteran oil executive also make good impression first foreign trip group 20 summit bonn germany last week four senior diplomats meet tell reuters relieve find pragmatic open dialogue yet key concern u.s. diplomats effective team shape foreign policy new administration two state department position 116 key post require executive branch nomination fill accord nonpartisan partnership public service tillerson u.s. ambassador unite nations example tillerson still deputy trump reject top choice elliott abrams people want back one veteran senior official say former exxon mobil boss people feel build strip say official refer sense many top position vacant state department fully equip help make policy new administration also unease possible deep staff cut future departments two people say employees bureau management resources tell apply position within state department hammond tillerson aide say decision take close division one recent matter longstanding u.s. foreign policy tillerson appear sideline feb. 14 tillerson dinner israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu state department din room news headline emerge suggest unite state back away support two-state solution israelis palestinians two-state solution bedrock international community policy settlement israel palestinians trump suggest last week open abandon side agree one inform change policy secretary leave first major trip say one senior state department official refer tillerson visit bonn tillerson act deputy tom shannon also take part trump meet netanyahu white house follow day boss way europe accord one u.s. official unclear whether tillerson leave loop deliberately accident say two officials white house official tell reuters know whether tillerson brief advance response broad concern communication state department new administration say coordinate well open line communications directions official decline name say white house state department coordinate closely across full range issue concern organizations sure another important issue tillerson say persuade trump back washington stance one china policy acknowledge beijing position taiwan part trump past appear question whether unite state would continue respect hammond say tillerson phone trump several time day general style president quick check-ins people get people advice things say information ceos flow former ceo tillerson understand that tillerson say little publicly since start aid quick draw contrast predecessor john kerry former senator presidential candidate revel extensive foreign travel deal make tillerson john kerry unfair compare two say hammond quietly go job counselor advisor president tillerson state department concern maintain similar degree communication administration grapple succession crises nine officials involve foreign policy security issue say past month white house face legal setbacks immigration order resignation trump national security adviser investigation possible link campaign russian intelligence monday resignation michael flynn serve trump national security adviser 24 days particular create vacuum national security council act key partner state department formulate washington foreign policy 'ceo tillerson face internal skeptics crisis-battling white house