Washington, Dec 24 (PTI) Indian-American lawyer diplomat Rich Verma has been nominated by US President Joe Biden to a prime diplomatic place within the State Department.

Verma, 54, who served as a former US ambassador to India from January 16, 2015, to January 20, 2017 is at the moment the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at Mastercard.

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If confirmed by the US Senate, he would function the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, thus making him the very best rating Indian American within the State Department.

Biden on Friday introduced the nomination of Verma.

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During the Obama administration, Verma additionally served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs.

Earlier in his profession, he was National Security Advisor to United States Senator Harry Reid whereas he was a Democratic Whip, Minority Leader after which Majority Leader of the United States Senate.

He has served as Vice Chairman of The Asia Group, Partner and Senior Counsellor at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, and Senior Counsellor on the Albright Stonebridge Group. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, the place he served on lively responsibility as a Judge Advocate.

“Ambassador Verma is uniquely well-qualified to become the State Department’s number two official. The breadth and depth of his experience and vision will make him a potent leader in protecting and promoting American interests and values around the world,” Ronak D Desai, distinguished legal professional and main India practitioner at Paul Hastings LLP and skilled on the Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute on the Harvard University, stated on the White House announcement.

“President Biden has found the ideal individual to serve as the Deputy Secretary of State. Rich’s long-standing track record of dedicated public service, principled leadership on global issues, and fierce belief in the United States renders him the ideal nominee. The President could not have named a better nominee,” Desai stated.

Verma earned a B.S. at Lehigh University, a J.D. cum laude at American University, an LL.M. with distinction at Georgetown University Law Center, and a Ph.D. at Georgetown University.

He is the recipient of quite a few awards and decorations, together with the Distinguished Service Medal from the Department of State, the International Affairs Fellowship from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Meritorious Service Medal from the United States Air Force.

He was appointed to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board and is a former member of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism Commission. He serves as a trustee of The Ford Foundation, and is on quite a few different boards, together with the National Endowment for Democracy and Lehigh University.

Desai stated Verma continues to be a supply of profound pleasure for the Indian American group and international diaspora.

“His entire public service career has been one firsts. By becoming the highest-ranking Indian American in the US government if confirmed, his latest nomination to serve as the chief operating officer of the State Department is no exception. He is an inspiration through example,” Desai stated.

“At a time when hyper-partisanship and political paralysis have become the norms, Ambassador Verma has always stood out. His unique approach to leading, to serving, and to finding consensus on the most difficult issues have always garnered bipartisan support,” he stated.

“Rich Verma’s nomination today hopefully heralds the return of one of America’s most talented, committed, and effective public servants. The country is safer and stronger when he is serving its ranks,” Desai stated.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff might not have modified or edited the content material physique)