Brazil RPCV Richard Goughnour sworn in as New USAID Mission Director for the Dominican Republic



From 1974 to 1976, he served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer and Volunteer Leader in northeast Brazil, working with the Ministry of Agriculture as a financial management consultant assisting a network of cotton cooperatives. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, and has a working knowledge of Russian.

Brazil RPCV Richard Goughnour sworn in as New USAID Mission Director for the Dominican Republic

New Mission Director for the Dominican Republic Sworn-In

WASHINGTON, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the swearing in of Richard Goughnour as its new Mission Director for the Dominican Republican. Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean Adolfo Franco presided at the event and administered the oath to Goughnour.

As Mission Director for the Dominican Republic, Mr. Goughnour will manage the USAID program of $21.8 million for fiscal year 2006. The mission provides assistance to the Dominican Republic to strengthen their democracy, promote economic opportunities and competitiveness, and improve the lives of the poor by providing access to quality education and health care.

Mr. Goughnour has over 28 years of experience with the Agency. He began his USAID career in 1978 as a Financial Management Officer in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, and later served as the Controller for USAID/Ecuador (1987-1992) and as the Regional Controller for USAID/Bolivia (1992-1997). He subsequently served as USAID Deputy Mission Director in both Ukraine (1997-2000) and El Salvador (2000-2002). Prior to his assignment to the Dominican Republic, Mr. Goughnour served as the USAID Mission Director to Brazil (2002-2006), where he was responsible for the full range of administrative and program management activities related to the USAID/Brazil development program. There, he oversaw an assistance program that contributes to the protection of Brazil's unique biodiversity, the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency, HIV/AIDS prevention and tuberculosis control and treatment, employability skills for disadvantaged youth, and the promotion of free trade.

Mr. Goughnour holds the rank of Minister Counselor in the Foreign Service of the United States and is the recipient of several awards. He graduated from the American University/USAID Development Studies Program with highest honors.

Born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1951, Mr. Goughnour graduated from the University of Minnesota where he majored in accounting and business administration. From 1974 to 1976, he served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer and Volunteer Leader in northeast Brazil, working with the Ministry of Agriculture as a financial management consultant assisting a network of cotton cooperatives. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, and has a working knowledge of Russian.

Mr. Goughnour is married to the former Julia Maria Viana. They have three sons, Christopher, Jason, and Kenneth.

For more information on USAID's programs in Latin American and the Caribbean, please visit out website:

http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/

Public Information: 202-712-4810

SOURCE U.S. Agency for International Development

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