After a tour of duty in Caracas, Venezuela, Smedinghoff volunteered for an assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and had been working there since July, her parents said.

CNN: U.S. diplomat died 'doing what she loved' in Afghanistan

After a tour of duty in Caracas, Venezuela, Smedinghoff volunteered for an assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and had been working as a public diplomacy officer there since July, her parents said in a statement.

CNN: Diplomat's killing believed to be first since Benghazi