Top American lawmakers and eminent Indian-Americans have hailed President Barack Obama's decision to nominate Richard Rahul Verma as his next envoy to India, noting that he would make an excellent ambassador.
"With over two decades of senior foreign policy experience, Rich Verma is a skilled and accomplished professional who will make an excellent ambassador to India," Congressman Joe Crowley, Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, said.
Obama yesterday announced his decision to nominate Verma as his next Ambassador to India.
If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first Indian- American to head the US diplomatic mission in New Delhi.
He would replace Nancy Powell, who resigned from the position early this year.
Obama formally sent Verma's nomination to the United States Senate yesterday, where more than 50 ambassadorial nominees are pending for confirmation.
A former Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, Verma currently serves as Senior Counsellor at Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Albright Stonebridge Group.
He is also a Senior National Security Fellow at the Centre for American Progress.
"He (Verma) is committed to building the US-India relationship, has access to the highest levels of the White House, and is exactly who we need at the helm as we look to further strengthen US-India relations," Crowley said soon after Obama's announcement.
At a critical time for growing India-US relations, Congressman Ami Bera said Verma is an experienced professional who will make "an outstanding ambassador" at such an important moment.
"He has many years of foreign policy experience as a high ranking official with the US Department of State, as an adviser in both the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, and during his years in the US Air Force," he said.
"I know he understands the importance of strengthening the US-India partnership, and I look forward to working with him toward that goal as he takes on this new role," said Bera, who is the only Indian-American in the current Congress and only the third ever.
He was Senior National Security Adviser, Counsel and Foreign Policy Adviser to the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from 2002 to 2007, and an Associate at Steptoe & Johnson from 1998 to 2002.
Verma served on active duty in the US Air Force from 1994 to 1998 and received, among other decorations, the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.
Verma currently serves on the boards of Human Rights First, the Clinton Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute. He received a BS from Lehigh University, a JD from American University, and an LLM from Georgetown University Law Centre.
