Peace Corps
Director Service dates Appointed by Summary of Wikipedia page
1 R. Sargent Shriver 1961-1966 Kennedy President Kennedy appointed Shriver three days after signing the executive order . Volunteers arrived in five countries during 1961 . In just under six years , Shriver developed programs in 55 countries with more than 14,500 volunteers
2 Jack Vaughn 1966-1969 Johnson Vaughn improved marketing , programming , and volunteer support as large numbers of former volunteers joined the staff . He also promoted volunteer assignments in conservation , natural resource management , and community development
3 Joseph Blatchford 1969-1971 Nixon Blatchford served as head of the new ACTION agency , which included the Corps . He created the Office of Returned Volunteers to help volunteers serve in their communities at home , and initiated New Directions , a program emphasizing volunteer skills
4 Kevin O'Donnell 1971-1972 Nixon O'Donnell 's appointment was the first for a former Peace Corps country director ( Korea , 1966-70 ) . He fought budget cuts , and believed strongly in a non-career Peace Corps
5 Donald Hess 1972-1973 Nixon Hess initiated training of volunteers in the host country where they would eventually serve , using host country nationals . The training provided more realistic preparation , and costs dropped for the agency . Hess also sought to end the down-sizing of the Peace Corps
6 Nicholas Craw 1973-1974 Nixon Craw sought to increase the number of volunteers in the field and to stabilize the agency 's future . He introduced a goal-setting measurement plan , the Country Management Plan , which gained increased Congressional support and improved resource allocation across the 69 participating countries
7 John Dellenback 1975-1977 Ford Dellenback improved volunteer health care available . He emphasized recruiting generalists . He believed in committed applicants even those without specific skills and instead training them for service
8 Carolyn R. Payton 1977-1978 Carter Payton was the first female director and the first African American . She focused on improving volunteer diversity
9 Richard F. Celeste 1979-1981 Carter Celeste focused on the role of women in development and increased women and minority participation , particularly for staff positions . He invested heavily in training , including the development of a worldwide core curriculum
10 Loret Miller Ruppe 1981-1989 Reagan Ruppe was the longest-serving director and championed women in development roles . She launched the Competitive Enterprise Development program , the Caribbean Basin Initiative , the Initiative for Central America and the African Food Systems Initiative
11 Paul Coverdell 1989-1991 G.H.W . Bush Coverdell established two programs with a domestic focus . World Wise Schools enabled U.S. students to correspond with overseas volunteers . Fellows/USA assisted Returned Peace Corps volunteers in pursuing graduate studies while serving local communities
12 Elaine Chao 1991-1992 G.H.W . Bush Chao was the first Asian American director . She expanded Peace Corps ' presence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia by establishing the first Peace Corps programs in Latvia , Lithuania , Estonia , and other newly independent countries
13 Carol Bellamy 1993-1995 Clinton Bellamy was the first RPCV ( Returned Peace Corps volunteer ) ( Guatemala 1963-65 ) to be director . She reinvigorated relations with former volunteers and launched the Corps ' web site
14 Mark D. Gearan 1995-1999 Clinton Gearan established the Crisis Corps , a program that allows former volunteers to help overseas communities recover from natural disasters and humanitarian crises . He supported expanding the corps and opened new volunteer programs in South Africa , Jordan , Bangladesh and Mozambique
15 Mark L. Schneider 1999-2001 Clinton Schneider was the second RPCV ( El Salvador , 1966-68 ) to head the agency . He launched an initiative to increase volunteers ' participation in helping prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa , and also sought volunteers to work on information technology projects
16 Gaddi Vasquez 2002-2006 G.W . Bush Gaddi H. Vasquez was the first Hispanic American director . His focus was to increase volunteer and staff diversity . He also led the establishment of a Peace Corps program in Mexico
17 Ron Tschetter September 2006 - 2008 G.W . Bush The third RPCV to head the agency , Tschetter served in India in the mid-1960s . He launched an initiative known as the 50 and Over , to increase the participation of older men and women
18 Aaron S. Williams August 2009 - September 2012 Obama Aaron S. Williams became director on August 24 , 2009 . Mr. Williams is the fourth director to have served as a volunteer . Williams cited personal and family considerations as the reason for his stepping down as Peace Corps Director on September 17 , 2012
19 Carrie Hessler-Radelet September 2012 - 2017 Obama Carrie Hessler-Radelet became acting Director of the Peace Corps in September 2012 . Previously , Hessler-Radelet served as deputy director of the Peace Corps from June 23 , 2010 , until her appointment as acting Director . From 1981-83 , she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Western Samoa with her husband , Steve . She was confirmed as Director on June 5 , 2014
20 Josephine K. Olsen February 2018 - Trump Jody Olsen was confirmed Director of the Peace Corps on February 27 , 2018 . Olsen previously served the Peace Corps as Acting Director in 2009 , Deputy Director from 2002 to 2009 , Chief of Staff from 1989 to 1992 , Regional Director , North Africa Near East , Asia , Pacific from 1981 to 1984 , and Country Director in Togo from 1979 to 1981 . Olsen also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia from 1966 to 1968
Leadership -- Directors
On January 3 , 2018 , President Donald Trump nominated Josephine `` Jody '' Olsen as the 20th director of the Peace Corps . [ 95 ] Olsen has a long history with the agency , serving as Acting Director in 2009 , Deputy Director from 2002 to 2009 , Chief of Staff from 1989 to 1992 , Regional Director , North Africa Near East , Asia , Pacific from 1981 to 1984 , and Country Director in Togo from 1979 to 1981 . Olsen also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia from 1966 to 1968 . [ 95 ] [ 96 ]
The Peace Corps is a volunteer program run by the United States government. Its official mission is to provide social and economic development abroad through technical assistance, while promoting mutual understanding between Americans and populations served. The program was established by Executive Order 10924, issued by President John F. Kennedy on March 1961 and authorized by Congress on September 21, 1962 with passage of the Peace Corps Act (Pub.L. 87-293). Peace Corps Volunteers are American citizens, typically with a college degree, who work abroad for a period of two years after three months of training. Volunteers work with governments, schools, non-profit organizations, non-government organizations, and entrepreneurs in education, youth development, community health, business, information technology, agriculture, and the environment. After 24 months of service, volunteers can request an extension of service. Since its inception, more than 235,000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps and served in 141 countries.