The Legacy of Intelligence:
The Inauguration of the Jack Segal Diplomacy Series

Jace Dunlap

Editor-In-Chief

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“[Jack was] at the vanguard of a lifetime commitment to public service, education, and bridging global issues through humility and informed dialog” said Alex Tank, in remembrance of his late colleague, and friend, Jack Segal. On Sept. 17 the International Affairs Forum (IAF) kicked off the beginning of the Segal Diplomacy Series. After the passing of Jack Segal earlier this year, the veteran's nieces established the diplomacy series in his honor, and recognition of his wife Karen Segal. 

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Jack Segal served in Vietnam, and had a distinct career as a diplomat, and educator. He worked internationally with foreign policy, and varieties of intelligence work. It would be this work that would take him to Russia, where he would meet Paul Hollingsworth.

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The Segal's work in Russia took place around the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. There was an opportunity to establish a diplomatic post in the middle of Russia for the first time in 70 years. The two were sent to Yekaterinburg, the heart of Russia’s military where they would spend their time gathering intelligence and establishing a diplomatic community. 

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Hollingsworth was in Russia working in intelligence for the CIA around the same time. During his time there, he got to know Jack and Karen Segal, forming a friendship that would cross borders back to the USA. 

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Hollingsworth’s career in the CIA started off a whim in Washington D.C. Fresh out of university, he needed a job. Hollingsworth applied to a variety of agencies, taking an offer for the CIA. He would go on to have a 27 year long career, working up to a senior executive. 

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Hollingsworth specializes in intelligence, a field that is continuously evolving due to disruption. The modern community of intelligence was formed after Pearl Harbor, World War॥, and the Cold War. It would later get revamped after 9/11. 

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Disruption isn’t always a bad thing. Hollingsworth says that intelligence officers use it as a tool. When we are disrupted, or disrupt ourselves, we gain knowledge, and we use that knowledge to learn more about possible threats and advisories. 

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The information that we glean is used to allow agencies like the CIA to recognize new and possible threats, it also gives us context. Hollingsworth says, “It’s not enough to tell the president something has just happened, or what's going on at the current moment, but you have to put it in context so that the policy options that are presented to him are put in the broadest current and historical context”.

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This context gives us information about risk. Hollingsworth describes risk as a threat that has the intention and capability to do us harm, if there is a threat then there is risk. Often risk assessment and management analyzes the impact of risk. It is not always possible to avoid the threat, but it is possible to have knowledge of its impact.                                   

The risk of international threat is a topic to keep attentive of, however risk can show up in a variety of ways. Hollingsworth includes climate change, developments in cyberspace such as artificial intelligence, drones, and outer space. All of these factors include risk, something we are vulnerable to, and can have the intentions and means to cause harm. 

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Despite these efforts, intelligence officers cannot make world leaders or policy makers use this information. Hollingsworth says, “We just did the mission, no matter what… you can lead a policymaker to intelligence, but you can’t make them think”.

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Hollingsworth identifies that there are times when policymakers, intelligence officers, and world leaders can listen to each other, play their part, and improve foreign policy for the better. However, he has also seen instances where the system goes out of sync. 

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Hollingsworth is not a politician.  He is not a diplomat or strategist. When he provides intelligence, that is the extent of his job. It is up to the systems in place to work as they should, and collaboration across departments. When talking about knowledge Hollingsworth quotes the philosopher Antisthenes saying, “you should never have anything to unlearn”. 

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Now that Hollingsworth’s 27 year career with the CIA is over, he has stepped into a new role. Since 2023 he has served on the board for the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO). Now, he holds the position of President. 

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AFIO was established in 1975. The motivations behind the organization are to champion the importance of intelligence work, and advocate for reforms to avoid the violations of human and civil rights. Hollingsworth's time with the association has focused on this advocacy work, along with outreach to High School and College students about joining the intelligence field. AFIO gives out scholarships and goes to events such as IAF to spread awareness. 

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Hollingsworth isn’t necessarily worried about future generations' motivation. He recognizes that when the USA is in times of disparity or conflict it reinvigorates Americans' motivations to support their country. While there may be times where political tensions take away from that motivation, Hollingsworth does not foresee it dying out.