Mister Ambassador
Posted by: Scott W. Graves | 11/16/2007 6:37 PM
By Scott W. Graves
Speaking with the confidence of a United States Ambassador, Gaddi Vasquez offers a perspective honed by 25 years of public service and travel to more than 70 countries.
Along the way, he has developed a keen appreciation for the efforts of the United States to aid the developing world. As both Ambassador to the United Nations in Rome and as the immediate past Director of the Peace Corps, Vasquez has spent nearly six years dedicated to working with the international community on efforts to alleviate hunger, identify localized economic solutions for developing countries, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, and malaria. His is a daunting task.
But the ambassador's foray into public service did not begin on the world stage. Born in Texas, the son of migrant farm workers, Vasquez moved to California at an early age. The family lived in a trailer (a picture of which still sits on his desk) in Watsonville before relocating to Orange County. They settled in a close knit neighborhood in the city of Orange. Times were often difficult and finances were always tight. It was during these early years that his mother would remind him, "You may be poor, but so long as there is soap and water, there is no excuse for being dirty."
Vasquez describes a home filled with gratitude, optimism, and a sensibility towards volunteerism. His parents emphasized the importance of hard work and education. Vasquez' late father, who became a pastor at the Apostolic Church in Orange, used to tell his son, "You work hard every day so you have a job the next day."
Those values are fondly recalled as Vasquez describes his first experience as a volunteer during the fifth grade at West Orange Elementary School. Already on the Student Body, the young Vasquez was asked by his teacher to chair a fundraising committee that required him to sell medical identification bracelets to his classmates. Vasquez remembers going from classroom to classroom making his pitch, "That was my first exposure to being in a leadership role."
Vasquez interest in public service was sparked. He would later join the Police Explorer Program with the City of Orange Police Department, where he would also work as a police officer from 1975 to 1979.
Board of Supervisors
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Vasquez ventured into public affairs and community relations. He held positions with the city of Riverside, was the executive assistant to an Orange County Supervisor, and served as Chief Deputy Appointments Secretary in the office of California governor, George Deukmejian.
However, most Orange County political enthusiasts will recall their first exposure to Gaddi Vasquez was as a young, up and coming member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. In 1987, Vasquez was appointed to fill a seat vacated by Bruce Nestande. Vasquez was re-elected twice and served more than seven years, eventually becoming Chairman. However, his service was cut short in the wake of Orange County's disastrous 1994 bankruptcy filing. On September 22, 1995, Vasquez stepped down.
Vasquez acknowledges the Board's responsibilities for oversight and cites the extensive efforts he and the Board made to secure expert counsel to advise on the nature of Orange County Treasurer Bob Citron's, complex financial investments.
"At the center of it all, you have the failure of an elected official, the County Treasurer, who was elected by the people of Orange County to manage, to invest, to oversee the financial activities of the county."
Vasquez continues, "I think history will validate me that at that time, all the signals were positive from the professionals that were tasked with providing that information."
The Peace Corps
After the bankruptcy Vasquez returned to the private sector for nearly seven years, before being nominated to lead the Peace Corps by President George W. Bush. While there was vocal opposition to the nomination by former Peace Corps Directors and volunteers, Vasquez was unanimously confirmed by the Senate and led the organization for more than 4 ½ years.
As the first Director in the post 9/11 era, many were concerned about the organization's ability to attract new volunteers, especially in Muslim countries. However, Vasquez cites a recent survey that places the Peace Corps among the most highly desirable post-college experiences young adults would like to have and he is confident that greater awareness among youth about global events will continue to pique the interest of record numbers of volunteers.
Notably, Vasquez' efforts to recruit from the ranks of minorities and community college graduates led to the expansion of the Peace Corps to its highest level in thirty years.
"Serving as the Director of the Peace Corps is absolutely one of the highest honors and privileges I have ever had and on a very personal level, it has changed my life." He continues, "It was a life changing experience as a person, as an administrator, as a public official."
Ambassador to the United Nations in Rome
Based largely on his exemplary record at the Peace Corps, Gaddi Vasquez was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate in June, 2006. On the job for just over a year, Vasquez has settled in to a position that in many ways is an extension of his previous work. He is responsible for an inter-agency team comprised of the Department of State, the Department of Agriculture, and the Agency for International Development.
Beyond Official Duties
Ambassador Vasquez spends his spare time embracing the culture of his host country. Using (by his own admission) a somewhat hybrid version of Spanish, and Italian, Vasquez seems to transition effortlessly from his official role as a U.S. Ambassador to an unofficial role as an ambassador of goodwill to the many small communities and major destinations located within driving distance of his residence in Rome.
When time allows, he and his wife Elaine enjoy short trips throughout the region. With each new destination comes new friends and small reminders of their trip. Their home is filled with local artwork collected during their travels, while their conversations are filled with interesting stories about the people they met along the way.
Looking forward, Vasquez recognizes his time in this position is limited and will end shortly after the election of the next administration. Reflecting on time spent visiting a makeshift African hospital used to care for terminally ill children, Vasquez notes, "Time is not on our side. There is much to be done." --------------------------------------------------------------
BONUS FEATURE: For the Record
During his January, 2003 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush proposed the United States spend $15 billion over 5 years to combat HIV/AIDs in developing countries. Of the $15 billion, $10 billion would be allocated for programs related to HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, and malaria in fifteen of the hardest hit countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. $4 billion would be allocated to research and similar programs for 100 additional countries. Another $1 billion would be allocated for contributions to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDs, TB, and Malaria.
Under the Bush Administration, the results of this and other assistance initiatives have been impressive:
• $3.3 billion in HIV/AIDs funding through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2006, with a Presidential proposal to double the initial 5 year, $15 billion commitment to $30 billion over the next 5 years (2009-2013).
• The United States in the world's largest single country donor of foreign aid. U.S. official development assistance of $22.7 billion (estimated) in 2006 is the second highest annual level ever provided by any donor country.
• U.S. bilateral aid to Sub-Saharan Africa increased in 2006 to a record $5.6 billion, a $1.4 billion (33%) increase from 2005.
• U.S. humanitarian assistance granted in 2006 estimated to be $3.2 billion estimate.
• $13.4 billion in private charitable non-governmental organizations' contributions to developing countries.
• As of March 31, 2007, President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for approximately 1,101,000 men, women and children through bilateral programs in the fifteen focus countries.
• Prevention of an estimated 101,500 infant infections of HIV/AIDs.
• Care for nearly 4.5 million people including more than 2 million orphans and children.
Source: United States State Department
Speaking with the confidence of a United States Ambassador, Gaddi Vasquez offers a perspective honed by 25 years of public service and travel to more than 70 countries. Along the way, he has developed a keen appreciation for the efforts of the United States to aid the developing world. As both Ambassador to the United Nations in Rome and as the immediate past Director of the Peace Corps, Vasquez has spent nearly six years dedicated to working with the international community on efforts to alleviate hunger, identify localized economic solutions for developing countries, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, and malaria. His is a daunting task.
But the ambassador's foray into public service did not begin on the world stage. Born in Texas, the son of migrant farm workers, Vasquez moved to California at an early age. The family lived in a trailer (a picture of which still sits on his desk) in Watsonville before relocating to Orange County. They settled in a close knit neighborhood in the city of Orange. Times were often difficult and finances were always tight. It was during these early years that his mother would remind him, "You may be poor, but so long as there is soap and water, there is no excuse for being dirty."
Vasquez describes a home filled with gratitude, optimism, and a sensibility towards volunteerism. His parents emphasized the importance of hard work and education. Vasquez' late father, who became a pastor at the Apostolic Church in Orange, used to tell his son, "You work hard every day so you have a job the next day."
Those values are fondly recalled as Vasquez describes his first experience as a volunteer during the fifth grade at West Orange Elementary School. Already on the Student Body, the young Vasquez was asked by his teacher to chair a fundraising committee that required him to sell medical identification bracelets to his classmates. Vasquez remembers going from classroom to classroom making his pitch, "That was my first exposure to being in a leadership role."
Vasquez interest in public service was sparked. He would later join the Police Explorer Program with the City of Orange Police Department, where he would also work as a police officer from 1975 to 1979.
Board of Supervisors
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Vasquez ventured into public affairs and community relations. He held positions with the city of Riverside, was the executive assistant to an Orange County Supervisor, and served as Chief Deputy Appointments Secretary in the office of California governor, George Deukmejian.
However, most Orange County political enthusiasts will recall their first exposure to Gaddi Vasquez was as a young, up and coming member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. In 1987, Vasquez was appointed to fill a seat vacated by Bruce Nestande. Vasquez was re-elected twice and served more than seven years, eventually becoming Chairman. However, his service was cut short in the wake of Orange County's disastrous 1994 bankruptcy filing. On September 22, 1995, Vasquez stepped down.
Vasquez acknowledges the Board's responsibilities for oversight and cites the extensive efforts he and the Board made to secure expert counsel to advise on the nature of Orange County Treasurer Bob Citron's, complex financial investments.
"At the center of it all, you have the failure of an elected official, the County Treasurer, who was elected by the people of Orange County to manage, to invest, to oversee the financial activities of the county."
Vasquez continues, "I think history will validate me that at that time, all the signals were positive from the professionals that were tasked with providing that information."
The Peace Corps
After the bankruptcy Vasquez returned to the private sector for nearly seven years, before being nominated to lead the Peace Corps by President George W. Bush. While there was vocal opposition to the nomination by former Peace Corps Directors and volunteers, Vasquez was unanimously confirmed by the Senate and led the organization for more than 4 ½ years.
As the first Director in the post 9/11 era, many were concerned about the organization's ability to attract new volunteers, especially in Muslim countries. However, Vasquez cites a recent survey that places the Peace Corps among the most highly desirable post-college experiences young adults would like to have and he is confident that greater awareness among youth about global events will continue to pique the interest of record numbers of volunteers.Notably, Vasquez' efforts to recruit from the ranks of minorities and community college graduates led to the expansion of the Peace Corps to its highest level in thirty years.
"Serving as the Director of the Peace Corps is absolutely one of the highest honors and privileges I have ever had and on a very personal level, it has changed my life." He continues, "It was a life changing experience as a person, as an administrator, as a public official."
Ambassador to the United Nations in Rome
Based largely on his exemplary record at the Peace Corps, Gaddi Vasquez was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate in June, 2006. On the job for just over a year, Vasquez has settled in to a position that in many ways is an extension of his previous work. He is responsible for an inter-agency team comprised of the Department of State, the Department of Agriculture, and the Agency for International Development.
Beyond Official Duties
Ambassador Vasquez spends his spare time embracing the culture of his host country. Using (by his own admission) a somewhat hybrid version of Spanish, and Italian, Vasquez seems to transition effortlessly from his official role as a U.S. Ambassador to an unofficial role as an ambassador of goodwill to the many small communities and major destinations located within driving distance of his residence in Rome.
When time allows, he and his wife Elaine enjoy short trips throughout the region. With each new destination comes new friends and small reminders of their trip. Their home is filled with local artwork collected during their travels, while their conversations are filled with interesting stories about the people they met along the way.
Looking forward, Vasquez recognizes his time in this position is limited and will end shortly after the election of the next administration. Reflecting on time spent visiting a makeshift African hospital used to care for terminally ill children, Vasquez notes, "Time is not on our side. There is much to be done." --------------------------------------------------------------
BONUS FEATURE: For the Record
During his January, 2003 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush proposed the United States spend $15 billion over 5 years to combat HIV/AIDs in developing countries. Of the $15 billion, $10 billion would be allocated for programs related to HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, and malaria in fifteen of the hardest hit countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. $4 billion would be allocated to research and similar programs for 100 additional countries. Another $1 billion would be allocated for contributions to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDs, TB, and Malaria.
Under the Bush Administration, the results of this and other assistance initiatives have been impressive:
• $3.3 billion in HIV/AIDs funding through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2006, with a Presidential proposal to double the initial 5 year, $15 billion commitment to $30 billion over the next 5 years (2009-2013).
• The United States in the world's largest single country donor of foreign aid. U.S. official development assistance of $22.7 billion (estimated) in 2006 is the second highest annual level ever provided by any donor country.
• U.S. bilateral aid to Sub-Saharan Africa increased in 2006 to a record $5.6 billion, a $1.4 billion (33%) increase from 2005.
• U.S. humanitarian assistance granted in 2006 estimated to be $3.2 billion estimate.
• $13.4 billion in private charitable non-governmental organizations' contributions to developing countries.
• As of March 31, 2007, President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for approximately 1,101,000 men, women and children through bilateral programs in the fifteen focus countries.
• Prevention of an estimated 101,500 infant infections of HIV/AIDs.
• Care for nearly 4.5 million people including more than 2 million orphans and children.
Source: United States State Department
1.7 billion lost in Orange County, nuff said!!