Click on the squares in the timeline below for information on our history of directors since the agency's establishment in 1961.       On March 1, 1961, President Kennedy signed an Executive Order establishing the Peace Corps. Three days later, Shriver became its first director. Deployment was rapid: Volunteers arrived in five countries during 1961. In just under six years, Shriver developed programs in 55 countries with more than 14,500 Volunteers.   If you think you're ready to join, you can click here to apply now.       Peace Corps recruiters appear at information sessions, campus and community events, and career fairs. Pick your state and find a Peace Corps event near you. -- Select state -- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Cal. (-93000) Cal. (93000+) Colorado Connecticut Delaware Washington, DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming   Read our privacy and freedom of information policies.