Who is Richard Verma and what is his new role?
Richard Verma, an Indian-American lawyer, diplomat, and executive, has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources by the US Senate. This role is regarded as the State Department’s CEO and is a powerful position in the US government. Verma, aged 54, was confirmed with a 67-26 vote on Thursday.
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Verma’s impressive career history
Verma has an impressive resume. He previously served as the US ambassador to India, where he held the position from 2015 to 2017. Additionally, he is currently working as the chief legal officer and head of global public policy at Mastercard. During the Obama administration, he served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. In his earlier career, he was the National Security Advisor to Senator Harry Reid and also held positions as the Democratic Whip, Minority Leader, and Majority Leader in the US Senate.
Verma has held several high-ranking positions throughout his career. He was the Vice Chairman of The Asia Group, a Partner and Senior Counselor at Steptoe and Johnson LLP, and a Senior Counselor at the Albright Stonebridge Group. He was a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force and is a veteran.
Awards and accolades received by Verma
Verma received several accolades throughout his career. He was awarded 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 also appointed to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board and was a former member of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism Commission.
Background and education of Richard Verma
In addition to his impressive career, Verma is involved in several boards and committees. He is a trustee of The Ford Foundation and serves on numerous other boards, including the National Endowment for Democracy and Lehigh University. Verma was born to an Indian immigrant and grew up in Pennsylvania. He received a scholarship from the US Air Force to attend a private college and earned a B.S. from Lehigh University, a J.D. cum laude from American University, an LLM with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, and a Ph.D. from Georgetown University.