FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Peace Corps Office of Inspector General receives two awards for excellence

WASHINGTON – The Peace Corps Office of Inspector General (OIG) received two awards for excellence at the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s (CIGIE) 21^st Annual Awards Ceremony held on Oct. 17, 2018.

CIGIE presented the Award for Excellence in Evaluations to a Peace Corps OIG team for its “exemplary coordination and timeliness on the evaluation of Peace Corps/Kosovo.” In December 2016, a team of evaluators identified serious weaknesses within the community development (CD) project in the country.

OIG’s ability to quickly identify problems resulted in a decision to recommend postponement of Peace Corps/Kosovo’s June 2017 input of CD volunteers. Peace Corps management quickly found alternative placements for the 16 individuals who had already been invited to serve as CD volunteers, set about redesigning the CD project goals and training for future volunteers, and improved the staff support for the project. Assistant Inspector General for Evaluations Jerry Black, Evaluator Kaitlyn Large and Program Analyst Alexandra Miller received the award.

Another OIG team received an Award for Excellence in Investigations for its “excellence in conducting an initiative against volunteer drug use.”

Between April 2015 and February 2018, OIG agents conducted field investigations of illicit volunteer drug use at nine Peace Corps posts. This initiative led to the issuance of a Management Advisory Report on Volunteer Drug Use, which made recommendations encouraging the agency to examine all facets of its drug policy, including enforcement, record keeping, research and training.

Assistant Inspector General for Investigations John Warren, Expert Joe Bodensteiner, Senior Investigator Doug Bonaro, Diplomatic Security Liaison John Carlock, Senior Investigator Germàn Melo, Senior Investigator Jennifer Pallotta, Senior Investigator Terrick Turner and Investigator Jeffrey Reichert received the award.

Inspector General Kathy A. Buller stated, “The breadth of work that was honored today exemplifies the passion, skill and depth of knowledge housed in our small office. I am so proud of these teams and their efforts to help the Peace Corps achieve its mission.”

The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, established OIGs within federal agencies to combat fraud, waste, abuse and to improve economy and efficiency. The inspector general community has more than 14,000 audit, investigation, inspection and other professionals across 72 IGs.

CIGIE is an independent entity within the executive branch representing 72 OIGs in the federal government. CIGIE’s mission is to promote integrity, economy and effectiveness in government agencies as well as to increase the professionalism and effectiveness of personnel in the community of inspectors general. For more information on the IG community, visit http://www.ignet.gov.

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