Archive - October 7, 2017

I’ve heard that the Peace Corps has decided to get involved in the relief effort caused by the recent hurricanes. But not with Volunteers like the Crisis Corps (Response) where Volunteers worded with the communities affected by these hurricanes. Peace Corps has sent staff and managers, mostly from HQ, to be “detailed” to the Department of Homeland Security. They will work with Homeland and be paid by Homeland. I believe they will all work in DC. Does this give new meaning to the Peace Corps . . . flexible? This has not yet been covered by the press. . .Peace Corps working alongside Homeland Security! What would Sarge say?

The National Peace Corps Association has discussed the new political appointees to the Peace Corps and notes that we still do not have a nomination for Peace Corps Director.  None of the appointees profiled here are RPCVs. Since 2007, when then President Bush appointed RPCV Ronald Tschetter Peace Corps Director, each Director has been a RPCV. John Coyne notes Carol Bellamy (Guatemala 1963-65) and that Mark Schneider (ElSalvador 1966-68) both were RPCVs and had the directorship. There is an interesting article in Government Executive suggesting that the deadline for temporary appointments to leadership postions in the federal government is approaching in November. Many vacancies remain. Currently, the Peace Corps Director is a temporary appointment.  Her leadership team is dominated by temporary appointments.  At the Peace Corps Connect Gathering last August, Ashley Bell suggested that we might have a Deputy Director before we had a permanent Director. Read the article about November deadlines, . . .