Loret Miller Ruppe
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Loret Miller Ruppe (1936–1996) was a U.S. administrator and diplomat. She was a resident of Bethesda, Maryland and wife of former U.S. Congressman Phil Ruppe of Michigan.
She was appointed Director of the United States Peace Corps in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served in that position until 1989. Ruppe was the longest-serving director and a champion of women in development. She launched the Competitive Enterprise Development program to promote business-oriented projects. She also established the Caribbean Basin Initiative, the Initiative for Central America and the African Food Systems Initiative to help address regional challenges.
She is credited with revitalizing this human service organization during a period when there were many budget cuts in other agencies. She created business-oriented volunteer positions within the Peace Corps to promote grass roots economic growth worldwide, an agenda that was supported by Republicans in the U.S. Congress who generally disapproved of U.S. foreign aid programs. Due to her hard work and outstanding performance, President George H. W. Bush appointed her Ambassador to Norway in 1989.
Loret Ruppe died of ovarian cancer on August 7, 1996. She is survived by her husband, five daughters, Antoinette Greenberg, Adele Ruppe, Loret Ruppe, Katherine Ruppe and Mary Ruppe, five sisters and one brother.
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| Preceded by Richard F. Celeste |
Director of the Peace Corps 1981–1989 |
Succeeded by Paul Coverdell |
| Preceded by Robert D. Stuart |
U.S. Ambassador to Norway 1989–1993 |
Succeeded by Thomas A. Loftus |
