The U.S. Mission to India has announced the arrival of Ambassador Richard Verma in New Delhi on January 2, 2015. Ambassador Verma is set to continue efforts in strengthening the strategic partnership between the United States and India.
Upon his arrival, Ambassador Verma expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “I am honored to serve as U.S. Ambassador to India at such an exciting time in our bilateral relationship. I look forward to meeting the Indian people and working together with the Indian government on our shared goals of security, development, and prosperity.”
Ambassador Verma brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles. He served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs from 2009 to 2011, where he was a principal advisor to Secretary Clinton. During this period, he led budget and policy initiatives on Capitol Hill, managed over 200 Senate confirmations, and handled major congressional investigations. Additionally, he was involved in negotiations with Congress concerning Iran sanctions and the ratification of the new START Treaty.
Before this appointment, Mr. Verma was a senior counselor at Steptoe & Johnson and the Albright Stonebridge Group focusing on international law and global regulatory compliance.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Verma worked as a senior national security advisor in the Senate under Majority Leader Harry Reid and served in the House of Representatives for Defense Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Murtha. His other roles include country director for Eastern Europe at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and senior National Security Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Mr. Verma also has military experience from serving active duty in the U.S. Air Force between 1994 and 1998. He holds an LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, a J.D., cum laude from American University’s Washington College of Law, and a B.S. from Lehigh University.