unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate Verma was the first person of Indian descent to hold the position. As ambassador to India, Verma is credited with the historic deepening and expansion of U.S.-India bilateral ties. Verma oversaw one of the largest U.S. diplomatic missions in the world, including four consulates with staff from nearly every agency in the U.S. Government. During his tenure, he championed historic progress in India–United States relations. He oversaw several meetings between President Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and created over 100 new initiatives and more than 40 government-to-government dialogues. He was also the first U.S. ambassador to travel to every Indian state. Post-ambassador career Verma stepped down from his post as ambassador on January 20, 2017 following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Verma went on to serve as Chief Legal Officer at Mastercard. Verma is also an active thought leader and commentator on international relations, international law, trade, and diplomacy. He is a senior fellow the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and serves on the boards of T. Rowe Price and the National Endowment for Democracy. He is a trustee of Lehigh University, where he gave the 151st commencement address in May 2019. He was a centennial fellow at the Walsh School of Foreign Service and co-chaired the Center for American Progress U.S.-India Task Force. In May 2022, Verma was appointed to serve as a member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. In December 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Verma for the role of Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. His nomination was praised by the Indian American Impact Fund. Personal life Verma is married and has three children. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the State Department's Distinguished Service Medal, the Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship, and the Chief Justice John Marshall Lifetime Service Award. He was named by India Abroad magazine as one of the fifty most influential Indian-Americans in the country. References External links |- 1968 births Ambassadors of the United States to India American politicians of Indian descent Georgetown University Law Center alumni Lehigh University alumni Living people United States Assistant Secretaries of State Washington College of Law alumni