In his career as a journalist covering the Cold War and its aftermath, Robert Kaplan often found himself crossing paths with Bob Gersony, a State Department consultant whose quiet dedication and consequential work made a deep impression on him. Here Kaplan recounts the life story of Gersony—a high school dropout later awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam—who has risked his life all over the world. As Kaplan argues here, Gersony's practical yet compassionate diplomacy has repeatedly resulted in policies that are smarter and more humane.