The US senate confirmed Indian –American lawyer and diplomat Richard Verma as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources by a vote of 67-26
“CONFIRMED: Richard Verma to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources By a vote of 67-26,” the official handle of live floor updates from the U.S. Senate Democratic Majority tweeted.
Verma, the former US Ambassador to India, would be the highest-ranking Indian American in the US State Department in the new role also referred to as the chief operating officer of the State Department.
As Deputy Secretary, Verma will serve as the principal adviser to the Secretary on overall supervision and direction of resource allocation and management activities of the Department. Additionally, he will assist in carrying out the Secretary’s authority and responsibility for the overall direction, coordination, and supervision of operational programs of the Department, including foreign assistance programs, the State Department said.
Welcoming the confirmation, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) tweeted ,“Congratulations to USISPF Board Member and former U.S. Ambassador to India, Richard R Verma on being confirmed by the Senate.”
Head of Global Public Policy of Mastercard, Verma carries over 25 years of international experience across senior levels of business, law, diplomacy and the military. Apart from being the former vice chairman of The Asia Group, he is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and the recipient of a number of military awards and civilian decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the State Department’s Distinguished Service Award.
A Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a trustee of Lehigh University, Verma holds multiple degrees, including a doctorate from Georgetown University and a law degree from American University, his profile added.
In December 2022, President Biden nominated Richard Verma to serve as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
