WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American lawyer diplomat Rich Verma as top diplomatic position in the State Department.
According to multiple media reports, Verma, 54, who served as a former US ambassador to India from January 16, 2015, to January 20, 2017 is currently the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at Mastercard. If confirmed by the US Senate, he would serve as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, thus making him the highest-ranking Indian American in the State Department. Biden on Friday announced the nomination of Verma.
Earlier in his career, he was National Security Advisor to United States Senator Harry Reid while he was a Democratic Whip, Minority Leader and then-Majority Leader of the United States Senate. During the Obama administration, Verma also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs.
He has served as Vice Chairman of The Asia Group, Partner and Senior Counsellor at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, and Senior Counsellor at the Albright Stonebridge Group. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served on active duty as a Judge Advocate.
