Why I Am Running
I’m running because I’ve spent my life serving this country and our communities, and I know our district needs a representative who understands real people’s challenges. I want to cut through the partisan gridlock in Washington and focus on what matters here at home: keeping the American Dream alive, supporting our veterans, protecting family farms and ranches, strengthening rural hospitals and infrastructure, and making sure our kids can build good lives without leaving our communities. I’m not a career politician; I’m someone who’s lived these struggles and will work honestly and directly for the people of this district.
Military Service
Carl Segan enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1996 as a 12B Combat Engineer. In 1998 he completed the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) and later transitioned into the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR). After the September 11 attacks, he returned to active status, joining a Combat Engineer instructor unit, where he was promoted to Sergeant (E-5) and then Staff Sergeant (E-6). As an instructor, he trained Soldiers reclassifying to MOS 12B in demolition and other engineer skills, preparing them for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
In November 2003 he volunteered for a 548-day mobilization to Iraq with an engineering unit attached to the 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood. While deployed, he supported several missions, including the transfer of Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) facilities to Iraq’s Ministry of Transportation. He also applied his civilian engineering design skills to assist another engineer unit and managed more than 30 local nationals supporting U.S. operations in the BIAP area. During this deployment he met his wife, Lina. Upon leaving Iraq, he received the traditional Gold Spurs awarded to Soldiers attached to the 1st Cavalry Division during wartime service.
In 2008 Carl volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was posted at Tarin Kowt, a remote Dutch and Australian base between Kabul and Kandahar, where he managed key infrastructure projects.
After returning from Afghanistan, Carl was promoted to Sergeant First Class (E-7) and served as First Sergeant of a multi-role bridge company in Georgia. He later accepted an Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) assignment as the Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC) Operations NCO with a Colorado-based engineer unit, supporting a mission in Panama. After leaving the AGR program, he transitioned to a South Carolina engineer battalion as the S-2 NCOIC (Intelligence), where he supported a mission in Romania. Carl declined a promotion to Master Sergeant (E-8) and retired in 2020 after 24 years of combined Reserve and active duty service.
His career was recognized with multiple honors, including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the prestigious de Fleury Medal from the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment.
Civilian Engineering & Project Leadership
Alongside his military service, Carl built a successful civilian career as an engineering designer and project manager. He worked for several engineering firms, advancing to Senior Civil Designer with Texas-based Mustang Engineering, where he led design efforts on major civil and industrial projects. He also served as a camp engineer, providing life support operations such as facilities maintenance, utilities, and essential services to support companies training the Iraqi Special Police Force. Later, he worked internationally, including living in Dubai to contribute to the Palm Jumeirah development.
Carl was later recruited by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan, where he engineered, designed, and managed key infrastructure projects such as police training centers, prison facilities, and garrison bases. He also served as a project manager for a U.S. Department of State contract, overseeing the construction of secure communications towers across Afghanistan.
Community Service
Beyond his military career, Carl’s most notable community service was volunteering his technical skills to support the Young Marines program in South Carolina. He built and maintained the unit’s website to promote their activities and help parents and the community stay informed. While he did not work directly with the youth, Carl strongly supports the program and wishes more people knew how it builds discipline and leadership in young men and women. Young Marines who retire from the program when they graduate high school can often qualify to enter the military at a higher rank, much like Eagle Scouts are recognized. For this volunteer effort, Carl’s unit awarded him the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM).