Gaddi Vasquez

Ambassador Gaddi Holguin Vasquez (born January 22 1955) is the 8th United States Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, in Rome, Italy. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 2006. Mr. Vasquez was sworn into office on September 7 2006 by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Prior to that, he was the first person of Hispanic ancestry to head the U.S. Peace Corps.

Early Life and Education

Born in Carrizo Springs, Texas, Vasquez is a Mexican American and the son of migrant workers. [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/73242.htm United States State Department. "Biography of Gaddi H. Vasquez."] ] Vasquez grew up in poverty. He kept a photo of him and his father on his desk at the Peace Corps. "I have this here as a reminder every day," said Vasquez. "I lived in Third World conditions without having to go overseas."Orange County Register. "Gaddi Vasquez at peace in new role" by Dena Bunis. September 15, 2005. The link to the [http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=2827 original story] has expired. An archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/1009130.html available here] .] Vasquez's family lived in a trailer in Watsonville, California and worked as migrant workers until Vasquez went to first grade. "I remember that when I was very young, people who were homeless - they were called hobos then - would come up and bang on the door and literally ask for a meal. My mother would tell them to wait on the porch or wait outside and she |would cook them a burrito, not withstanding our own limitations. I watched this over and over again," he said, so much so that it became known, "If you needed a meal, go down to the Vasquez house." The family moved to Orange County, California where his father went to work in a furniture factory in Los Angeles and eventually to the Apostolic Church in Orange, where he is pastor. Vasquez went to school in Orange, to Santa Ana College and then on to the University of Redlands. "I was the first one to graduate college," Vasquez said.

Orange County official

Vasquez worked in the public sector for 22 years before his Peace Corps nomination, starting as a police officer for the city of Orange, California. He later worked as deputy appointments secretary for Governor George Deukmejian, followed by service as Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. [National Journal. "Decision Makers: Gaddi Vasquez, Peace Corps" by Gwen Glazer. June 20, 2005. An archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2032998.html available here] .] Vasquez resigned this position in 1994 after the county's bankruptcy. [Orange County Register. "Vasquez defends role in O.C. bankruptcy" by Dena Bunis. November 15, 2001. The link to the [http://www.ocregister.com/nation_world/gaddi01115cci4.shtml original story] has expired. An archival copy of the story is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/5991.html?1005883144 available here] .] The Orange County bankruptcy changed the course of his political ambitions, eventually leading Vasquez to reach out to his Republican colleagues for help in re-creating his career.Citation | last = Goldner | first = Liz | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link = | title = The Hottest 25 People in Orange County | newspaper = OC Metro magazine | pages = | year = 2001 | date = November 1, 2001 | url = http://www.ocmetro.com/archives/ocmetro_2001/metro110101/hot25/vasquez.html]

In 1988 Vasquez addressed the Republican national convention and said that Hispanics shouldn't support Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis for President just because Dukakis spoke Spanish. The Democratic nominee spoke Spanish, Vasquez said, but because of his liberal policies, "he doesn't speak our language." [http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/clinton_59179___article.html/mexican_hispanics.html Appeal-Democrat. "Latino voters deserve more than chips, guacamole" by Ruben Navarrette. January 20, 208.] ]

Peace Corps Director

Controversy over appointment as Director

Appointed as Director of Peace Corps under George W. Bush, Vasquez had donated $100,000 to Bush's campaign [Federal Election Commission. "Gaddi Vasquez's Campaign Committee made $100,000 contribution to Republican National State Election Committee August 14, 2000." To access the original document follow [http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml this link] to the Federal Election Commission's database "Transaction Query By Individual Contributor." Type "VASQUEZ CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE" into the last name field and hit enter. Then click on the link that says "20035953902" for a copy of the original document. An archival copy of the document is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2203733.html available here] .] and was criticized by former Volunteers for lacking experience with, or previous membership in, Peace Corps. The Los Angeles Times, [Los Angeles Time. "Not the One for Peace Corps." August 20, 2001. The original reference is now a [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000067417aug20.story dead link] . An Archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/5193.html available here] .] Boston Globe, [Boston Globe. "Bad choice for Peace Corps." August 6, 2001. The original story [http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/218/editorials/Bad_choice_for_Peace_Corps%2B.shtml has expired] . An archive copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/5068.html available here] .] Washington Post [Washington Post. "Peace Corps Deserves Better than GOP Deadwood" by Judy Mann. November 9, 2001. The original story [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64977-2001Nov8.html has expired] . An archive copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/5903.html available here] ] and New York Times [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EED71231F937A1575BC0A9679C8B63 New York Times. "An Uninspiring Peace Corps Nominee." August 24, 2001.] ] editorialized against Vasquez's nomination and returned Peace Corps volunteers signed a petition opposing his nomination. [http://peacecorpswriters.org/pages/2001/0109/prntvrs109/pv109all.html Peace Corps Writers. "The Gaddi Vasquez nomination" September, 2001.] ] However Vasquez cleared the United States Senate Foreign Relations committee by a vote of 14-4, [Orange County Register. "Vasquez survives critics in Senate" by Dan Nowicki. December 13, 2001. The link to the [http://www.ocregister.com/sitearchives/2001/12/13/local/gaddi01213cci.shtml original story] has expired. An Archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/6429.html available here] .] and was accepted in the full Senate on a voice vote. [Associated Press. "U.S. Senate confirms Gaddi Vasquez as Peace Corps director." January 26, 2002. The original story [http://www.ocregister.com/sitearchives/2001/12/13/local/gaddi01213cci.shtml has expired] . An archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/6762.html available here] ,]

Accomplishments as Director

Vasquez's major initiatives and accomplishments as Peace Corps Director include: an agreement with Mexico in 2003 to host volunteers, [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,103881,00.html Fox News. "Peace Corps on a High-Tech Mission to Mexico" by Peter Brownfeld. November 24, 2003.] ] emphasis on recruitment of minorities and of community college graduates, [ [http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1071311693294160.xml Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Peace Corps to begin recruiting community college graduates." December 13, 2003.] ] upgrading Peace Corps' infrastructure, especially IT upgrades in the online application tracking process, the Volunteer Delivery System, [ [http://peacecorps.gov/news/news/view.cfm?news_id=618 Peace Corps Press Release. "Web-Based Tools Assist Peace Corps Applicants." March 29, 2002.] ] an emphasis on safety and security of volunteers (including the creation of a Situation Room at Peace Corps Headquarters), [Peace Corps. "The 2002 Annual Report of Volunteer Safety Peace Corps." October 14, 2003. An arcival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/scanned/2002reportonvolunteersafety.pdf available here] .] modifying Peace Corps' "Five Year Rule" for employment, [ [http://www.daytondailynews.com/project/content/project/peacecorps/daily/0402peacecorps.html Dayton Daily News. "Bill would create Peace Corps watchdog" by Mei-Ling Hopgood. April 2, 2004.] ] and the expansion of the Peace Corps to one of its highest levels in 30 years. [ [http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1001 Peace Corps Press Release. "Highest Number of Americans Serving in the Peace Corps in 29 Years" November 29, 2004.] ] Vasquez visited 60 countries during his tenure as Director, meeting with volunteers in the field to advance the agency’s mission and goals of promoting world peace and friendship. [http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1149 Peace Corps Press Release. "Peace Corps Director Bids Farewell to Washington and "Ciao!" to Italy." September 7, 2006.] ]

Minority recruitment

Vasquez placed a high priority on recruitment of minorities. During his confirmation hearings Vasquez said "We all recognize that the face of America looks vastly different today than 40 years ago - or even 10 years ago. In step with those changes, I consider it a high priority to expand the diversity of the Peace Corps so that it becomes a true reflection of America. Diversity of ethnic backgrounds, life experiences and beliefs has strengthened our country in countless ways. And in doing so we achieve an opportunity to engage a broader segment of the American population in one of our nation's greatest programs." [United States Senate Foreign Relations committee. "Statement of Gaddi H. Vasquez" November 15, 2001. An archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/scanned/allvasquez.pdf available here] .] Vasquez had a personal experience when he was visiting Morocco as Peace Corps Director that brought home to him the importance of his diversity initiatives. A young man stopped Vasquez and said, "You don't look like an American." And Vasquez answered, "What do you mean, I don't look like an American? Why do you say I don't look like an American?" He said, "The color of your skin. You don't look like an American." And I said, "Well, my grandparents came from Mexico to the United States, pursuing dreams and opportunities." National Press Club. "Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Muslim Countries" October 14, 2004. An archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2028065.html available here] .] By the end of Vasquez's tenure, 16 percent of the 7,810 volunteers were minorities — the highest percentage since the agency began collecting data on volunteer diversity.

National Call to Service program

Portions of the sometimes controversial expansion were successfully challenged by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer community when former volunteers and the National Peace Corps Association raised objections to the continued inclusion of Peace Corps in the National Call to Service program, which had been used to allow military service members with at least three years and three months of military service completed, to finish their service obligation in the Peace Corps.Fact|date=September 2007 Vasquez argued unsuccessfully for continued inclusion of the Peace Corps in that program,Fact|date=September 2007 and the Peace Corps was removed from the National Call to Service program on December 22 2005, when the United States Senate completed congressional action on the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.Fact|date=September 2007

Political briefings at Peace Corps Headquarters

On July 24, 2007 the "Washington Post" reported that during the tenure of Gaddi Vasquez as Peace Corps Director a "general political briefing" occurred at the Peace Corps headquarters after the 2002 midterm elections. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/23/AR2007072301907.html Washington Post. "Diplomats Received Political Briefings." July 24, 2007.] ] Senator Joseph Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is seeking to determine whether the meetings complied with Hatch Act of 1939 that bars the use of federal resources -- including office buildings, phones and computers -- for partisan purposes. [ [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/07/rovetaylor_powerpoint_gop_cond.html Washington Post. "Rove-Taylor PowerPoint: GOP "conduct" caused losses, not Iraq." July 24, 2007.] ] On July 25, 2007 in Senate subcommittee hearings chaired by Senator Chris Dodd, Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter disclosed that approximately fifteen Peace Corps officials including then Director Gaddi Vasquez attended one of the political briefings at Peace Corps Headquarters. In testimony before the committee, Tschetter said that he did not condone the meetings and that in his opinion they should not have happened. [http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-08/2007-08-02-voa9.cfm?CFID=131878357&CFTOKEN=39806915 Voice of America. "Peace Corps Politicization and Bureaucracy Criticized" by Ralph Mayrell. August 2 2007] ] Dodd concluded by saying that "The reputation of this institution suffers when that happens. We have a reputation and we have a good one over the years and to have it soiled because people want to turn it into a political operation is something that I am not going to tolerate at all and I will call for heads if there are still people there involved in this. They should know better than this, to engage in that kind of activity."

Ambassador to FAO

Vasquez completed his term as Peace Corps Director September 7 2006, just over two months after he was confirmed as the new US Ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy.Fact|date=October 2007 "The first day I went to work at the U.N., I was led into the governing council's meeting room for my first meeting," said Vasquez. "You see the nameplates around the table – France. U.K. Italy. United States of America. That's one of those moments you stop in your tracks and reflect on where you've been and what you're doing," Vasquez said. "I am fortunate, and blessed." [http://www.ocregister.com/news/vasquez-united-food-1966879-around-world Orange County Register. "Gaddi Vasquez champions efforts to end hunger" by Teri Sforza. January 24, 2008.] ]

To publicize work done by the WFP, FAO, and IFAD to help reduce poverty and make agriculture more productive, Ambassador Vasquez accompanied journalists on media tours to Mali in December, 2006 [ [http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/USINFO/Products/online_discussions/mali.html Department of State. "Gaddi Vasquez posted an online journal of his recent trip to Mali as U.S. representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome" December 15, 2006.] An archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2147154.html available here] .] and to Guatemala and Honduras in May, 2007. [ [http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=May&x=200705101303511xeneerg5.117434e-02 Department of State. "Gaddi Vasquez showcases U.S. food aid work in Guatemala and Honduras." May 10, 2007.] An archival copy is [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2147146.html available here] .] His trips aim to increase visibility for the anti-hunger efforts of the United States and the international community around the world.Fact|date=October 2007

Vasquez has also spoken out on hunger to groups in the United States. In an address to the Orange Rotarians in Orange County, California on January 24, 2008, Vasquez talked about the $1 billion that the United States spends on food aid every year and how part of Vasquez's job is to make sure that money is spent as wisely as possible. "Over 840 million people suffer from chronic malnutrition," Vasquez said. "My hope is to raise your awareness. Consider how you can contribute to this effort."

The Daily Titan reported on April 21, 2008 that Vasquez had been the keynote speaker at the 'Connecting Worlds" conference at California State Fullerton speaking to about 250 conference members about global hunger. Vasquez said his life had been transformed while Director of the Peace Corps by the things he had witnessed traveling all over the world and recounted that once while in the Caribbean he had encountered a boy who he gave a piece of candy to. The boy broke the candy in three, ate one piece and sold the other two. "This is the desperation some parts of the world are reaching," Vasquez said. [http://media.www.dailytitan.com/media/storage/paper861/news/2008/04/21/News/International.Conference.Focuses.On.World.Poverty-3336976.shtml Daily Titan. "International Conference focuses on world poverty" by Juliette Funes. April 21, 2008.] ]

Honors and Awards

* Outstanding Alumni Award by the American Association of Community Colleges
* Coro Foundation Crystal Eagle Award
* Marine Corps Scholarship Fund Globe and Anchor Award
* Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce Award for Community Leadership
* Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award
* B'nai Brith Award for Leadership and Community Service

Citations

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/73242.htm Official State Department biography]
* [http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=Learn.whatispc.management.dir Peace Corps biography]
* [http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/pages/2001/0111/111dodnogv.html Peace Corps Writers: formal opposition to Vasquez's nomination to direct Peace Corps]
* [http://www.friendsofnigeria.org/Newsletter_files/vol6_2.htm Friends of Nigeria article regarding Vasquez nomination]
* [http://www.hws.edu/news/update/showwebclip.asp?webclipid=428 Hobart & Williams Smith College article on Vasquez's first year in Peace Corps]
* [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2036686.html Returned Peace Corps Volunteers' analysis of National Call to Service program, from Peace Corps Online]
* [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/5319.html Gaddi Vasquez Orange County fiasco]