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Appointee Directory View:   Gaddi Vasquez -- Peace Corps Director of the Peace Corps Gaddi H. Vasquez is the 16th director of the Peace Corps. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on January 23, 2002. Mr. Vasquez is the first Hispanic American to serve as director of the Peace Corps. Under Mr. Vasquez’s leadership, the Peace Corps has realized a 29-year high of Volunteers in the field, opened an historic program in Mexico—allowing Americans to share their skills in information technology, small business development, science, and water and environmental technology with Mexican citizens—and, worked with six countries to participate in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. As Director, Mr. Vasquez has placed a high priority on revitalizing the Peace Corps through a comprehensive outreach and recruitment program focused to attract the best and the brightest that America has to offer, including a diverse group of volunteers and administrative staff. Additionally, Mr. Vasquez has directed the entry or re-entry into 21 Peace Corps countries, significantly enhanced the safety and security systems world wide and has also overseen the largest congressional appropriation in the Peace Corps’ history for three consecutive years. Mr. Vasquez's public career includes service at the city, county, state, and federal levels of government. He began his 25-year career in public service as a police officer in Orange, California. Mr. Vasquez served as an appointee of three former California Governors and was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush to federal commissions. Mr. Vasquez is an active public servant and has received numerous awards for leadership and community service, including: the 2003 Outstanding Alumni Award by the American Association of Community Colleges, the Coro Foundation Crystal Eagle Award, and the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund Globe and Anchor Award. He is the recipient of the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce Award for Community Leadership, the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award, the B'nai Brith Award for Leadership and Community Service. A native of Carrizo Springs, Texas, Mr. Vasquez is the son of migrant farm workers of Mexican descent who instilled in him a strong work ethic and the value of always giving his utmost to any endeavor. Mr. Vasquez became the first member of his family to earn a college degree. He is a graduate of the University of Redlands and has served as a trustee professor at Chapman University. In addition, he was recently honored by the University of LaVerne with an honorary P.h.D. of Humane Letters.

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