Richard Verma on President’s Intelligence Advisory Board
PRESIDENT Joe Biden has named Indian American Richard Verma, a former US ambassador to India, as a member of President's Intelligence Advisory Board that advises him on effectiveness of the US Intelligence Community.
Verma, 53, who was the first Indian American to be named enovy to India by President Barack Obama in 2014, is currently the General Counsel and Head of Global Public Policy for Mastercard.
As Ambassador to India, Verma led one of the largest US diplomatic missions and championed historic progress in bilateral ties, the White House noted announcing his new assignment Wednesday.
Biden also named Admiral James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr, who retired after serving as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. as Chair of the 16 member board.
Janet Napolitano, a former Secretary of Homeland Security and a former two-term Governor of Arizona, and Gilman G. Louie, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of America's Frontier Fund were also named members.
The board provides the president with an independent source of advice on the effectiveness with which the Intelligence Community is meeting the nation's intelligence needs and the vigor and insight with which the community plans for the future.
In his current job at Mastercard, Verma oversees the company's law and policy functions in the United States and around the world, according to his official profile.
Verma is also a former Assistant Secretary of State and the former National Security Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader.
A veteran of the US Air Force, he is the recipient of numerous military awards and civilian decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the State Department's Distinguished Service Award.
Verma was a member of the WMD (weapon of mass destruction) and Terrorism Commission, and he currently serves on a number of boards.