Jack Vaughn served as the second director of the Peace Corps from 1966 to 1969, presiding over the largest increase in volunteers in the organization’s history. During his tenure, enrollment rose from 10,000 volunteers to more than 15,500 volunteers in over 50 countries. He had formerly served as regional director of the Peace Corps in Latin America in 1961.

Vaughn had a long career in diplomacy and advocacy for peace. In 1949 he began working for the US State Department, serving much of his career in Latin America. Vaughn served as US Ambassador to Panama from 1964 to 1965 and is credited with smoothing the way for the eventual negotiation of a new Panama Canal treaty. In 1965 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Latin America). He later served as US Ambassador to Columbia from 1969 to 1970.

After his government service, Vaughn served as president of the National Urban Coalition, president of Planned Parenthood, and director of international programs for the Children’s Television Workshop, which produced “Sesame Street.”

After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1943 with a degree in romance languages, he enlisted in the Marines. During World War II, Vaughn was a rifle company commander and a combat intelligence officer in the Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and later attained the rank of Captain. He earned two Purple Hearts.

Vaughn was also an avid boxer who coached his alma mater’s boxing team and fought professionally after the war under the name of Johnny Hood. He returned to the University of Michigan after the war and earned a master’s degree in economics.

Vaughn served on Spirit of America’s Board of Advisors from 2004 until his death in 2012. His memoir, “Kill the Gringo,” was published posthumously in 2017.