California, USA (CU)_ According to the White House, the advisory board is an independent component of the executive office and functions solely to assist the president. It added, “It provides 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”.
President Joe Biden has appointed Richard Verma, an Indian-American and former ambassador to India, to a White House agency that advises the president on the efficacy of the nation’s vast intelligence community. Along with Verma, Biden also appointed other authorities to their designations. He appointed retired Admiral James A “Sandy” Winnefeld as chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, and also appointed Janet Napolitano, a former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (a cabinet position), and Gilman G. Louie as members.
Verma is presently serving as the general counsel and head of global public policy for Mastercard. President Barack Obama appointed him as the ambassador to India in 2014, making him the first Indian-American to hold the position. He had previously worked as assistant secretary of state at the State Department and Senate Majority Leader’s National Security Advisor.
According to his official biography, in his current position at Mastercard, Verma leads the company’s law and policy responsibilities in the United States and internationally. Verma also oversaw the team’s outreach to the Indian American community as an active member of Biden’s presidential campaign for the 2020 election. Being a United States Air Force authority, he has received several military and civilian accolades, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the State Department’s Distinguished Service Award.
