The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2005

JULY-AUGUST 2005 • AFSA NEWS 5 F or his courage to do the right thing despite clear warn- ings that his actions could damage his career, James Arlen Holt was selected for the 2005 W. Averell Harriman Award. Serving as assistant general services officer in his first Foreign Service assignment, a rotational consular/general services officer position at Embassy Seoul, J. Arlen Holt showed exemplary courage and strong character by discovering and reporting apparent fraud and abuse of power committed by a more senior officer. Soon after transferring to the GSO section of the embassy, “Holt began to notice irregularities in property disposal records and practices,” according to his award nomination. “He politely raised the issues with a more senior officer whowas involved in the problem. The initial response to his concern was an order that Holt should focus on fulfilling instructions without question or disagreement.” He later discov- ered further questionable prac- tices, which took place during an embassy auction sale. Making his position evenmore dif- ficult was the fact that Holt was one of only two officers working for themore senior officer on a compound several miles from the chancery. The physi- cal isolation was further complicated by the fact that, as was later found, sev- eral Foreign Service National employ- ees in the section were complicit in defrauding the U.S. government. Holt then raised his concerns with his section chief, whowarned him that his actions could have serious conse- quences for his future career. He was counseled by his supervisors to stop making trouble and keep quiet. Determined to do what he believed was right, Holt took his concerns up the chain of com- mand to the deputy chief of mission, who had been unaware of these issues. The DCM assured him that his concerns would be thoroughly investigated and that Holt would not suffer any ret- ribution. As a result of the investigation, the senior officer is now fac- ing criminal charges, a senior FSN in the section was terminat- ed and other FSNs have been suspended or reprimanded. “Sure, doing ‘the right thing’ required determination and I was concerned it would short-circuit my career,” comments Holt, “but I also knew it was what the folks back home would expect of me, especially overseas representing what we stand for. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to what I knew was wrong.” Embassy Seoul was the first Foreign Service posting for James Holt. Following a brief stint at FSI for Spanish language train- ing, he will head off to San Jose this summer. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Holt was the public information officer for the Pitt County government in Greenville, N.C. He served as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard for five years before that. Holt and his wife Thania, who is from the former U.S. Canal Zone in Panama, have three daughters, ages 13, 10 and 22 months. Holt was raised in eastern North Carolina where his father was a Baptist minister and his mother a high school social studies and history teacher. “Their lives of public service influenced me greatly even though they passed away when I was young,” he says.  Arlen and Thania Holt, with their three daughters. Inset: Arlen Holt at the office in Seoul. W. Averell HarrimanAward FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE JUNIOR OFFICER James Arlen Holt AFSA’S 2005 DISSENT AWARD WINNERS