Q&A > Paul Folmsbee
What inspired or motivated you to become a diplomat?
Service. My parents spent a life of service in the medical field working in developing countries. They inspired me and encouraged me to make a contribution too.
Who was your best boss and why?
I had two amazing best bosses of all time: Ambassador Johnny Carson and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Both put people first. They taught me it’s always about people and how you work with them.
What would you tell your a-100 self?
Smile and laugh a lot more, work very hard but don’t take anything personally—be flexible.
Describe a day you felt you made a difference.
The Foreign Service gives you many wonderful opportunities to make a difference and my career was no exception. I worked hard in Mali attempting to mitigate the north / south conflict there—and we did make a difference. I was in Haiti during the collapse of the government in 2004—we made a great effort to stabilize the situation at great personal risk. I was in Dar es Salaam working with our amazing local staff as they participated in the trial in New York of the East Africa bombings when 9/11 happened. We made a difference in the lives of our team that day and I learned about the great resilience of the human spirit too. I could go on and on.
What has a colleague done for you that made you wish all of us had a colleague like that?
On my second tour my boss, Steve Nolan, adopted me and mentored and coached me on a career in the Foreign Service. He taught me how to reach out to people, be kind, get things done and make a difference.
What was the mistake you learned the most from?
When I served in India, I was not paying enough attention to Washington conflicts and priorities. I learned to sharpen that skillset and make sure I was listening. You might think you are far removed from Washington, but you never are.
What was your best and worst experience working with the interagency?
During the collapse of the government in Haiti, the USAID EXO and I closed ranks and completely collaborated on post management—sharing resources and helping each other as the country disintegrated. Our partnership was a great success. Our worst day was related. We were called to Washington and put before the interagency to explain our success in combining operations. We sat down before a very hostile interagency, very much not interested in how we could come together. We did our best to bridge the divide.
What is the one tour you would recommend FSOs consider?
Our bread and butter is country desk officer so that is high on my list. I would also strongly encourage practical management experience early on. The Foreign Service often undervalues management skills, to our detriment.
If the state department had a mascot, what animal should it be?
We have a mascot in the American Eagle—strong and powerful, able to fly high to get the broadest view, able to pinpoint and land anywhere to capture understanding on the ground.
What was the biggest challenge of FS life for your family, and how did you manage it?
Constant traveling and family separation is a challenge. The key is to develop strong communication links to your family and friends and add structure to it. That is, make sure you set regular times to call and really call. Do it weekly if not daily. Let your kids know they can call you anytime they need you (as much as practical)—all that will help.
What is your leadership philosophy?
It's all about people—remind yourself of that fact every day. When I was assigned to Bolivia, my staff was so strong that I almost felt like we could have built a rocket and sent it to the moon. Everyone was so hard working, positive, fun and always came through. Invest in your team.
What tips would you give a first-time manager?
Do your best to learn everyone’s name and make sure you spend time talking and LISTENING. Be clear about expectations, smile, and don’t get ruffled when incoming is identified (for real or just metaphorically).
What would you change about the State Department?
We need to allow State to have some ability to explain foreign policy and what we are doing for the American people. Right now we are grossly misunderstood. As a military friend of mine in Iraq used to explain: In the movies, you are the guy that Rambo has to shoot to save the hostages. We need to change that image. American communities should be adopting their amazing FSO citizens with pride. A close second: We need to change the clearance process—simply abominable. We can’t respond to posts and vice versa in a timely fashion. We need to change that.
What were your pet peeves?
My pet is named “Chance” a loyal, fun loving basset hound. He has no peeves.
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