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by Jose M. Peña (Author)
Rich in technical analysis, here is a fascinating and educational book that emphasizes the author's 38 careers as a Foreign Service Officer with the US Agency For International Development and his international consulting work. It contains exceptional descriptions of most countries, extraordinary insight into his work, and is a terrific education for everyone who reads the book. Here is a brief synopsis. The first two chapters show his early life and the start of his professional career. The Author presents an exceptional panoramic view of what USAID is all about and his Biodata of all the types of reviews he made. After that fabulous background, each chapter represents life and work in each country he lived in or reviews he made - Peru,
Ecuador, Vietnam, Colombia, Panama, Washington, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Egypt, Latin America, Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Rwanda, Peshawar, Guatemala, etc. Some essential facts are that the author: (a) came from a humble family; (b) was stationed in 6 countries with his family; (c) was stationed in four countries and traveled on TDY to 26 other countries by himself; (d) encountered dangerous situations in several countries; (e) made numerous reviews, evaluations, financial, special investigations and assessments, and others; (f) got many awards and rose through the ranks to serve as the First Mexican American to be a Deputy Regional Inspector General for Egypt and Latin America; (g) had exceptional ratings for most of his career; (h) took various dissenting positions with I.G. proposed faulty policies; (i) became the victim of a false accusation and malicious reprisal actions; (j) was a further victim of an I.G. Investigation which took three years to be resolved -- in his favor; (k) was cleared of all charges and retired from USAID; (l) worked as an International Financial Consultant for two companies; (m) was the Director of a Health Project in Guatemala and supervised the efforts of 50 Professional People that he hired; (n) the whole team achieved all expected Project Objectives; and (o) their performance was exceptional. His last consulting work was with the Office of Inspector General of the Organization of American States (OAS) -- a highly political organization. His reports showed numerous defects in OAS's operations. His strong reports alienated one high official. For expressing his Professional Opinions and once the OIG/OAs retired, reprisals were brutal, and he was declared a "Persona-Non-Grata" and not permitted to either work for OAS or even enter its buildings. He is now retired and, except for the death of three of his family and trying not to be affected by COVID-19, is enjoying his retirement writing articles and books and, on special occasions, giving some lectures.
