First Indian-American in history to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Raj Parekh, a career federal prosecutor and Eastern District of Virginia’s First Assistant U.S. Attorney will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney upon the departure of sitting United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger who announced Jan. 5 that he will step down from his post effective Jan. 15, 2021.

Parekh will become the first Indian-American and minority in the 232-year history of the Office to serve as Eastern District of Virginia’s (EDVA) U.S. Attorney (acting or otherwise), according to a press release.

Parekh has been at the US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia for the past five years. According to his bio on LinkedIn, he began his career at EDVA in 2016 as a Special Assistant on the National Security/Terrorism Cases.

In 2018, he was hired as the Assistant United States Attorney on the National Security & International Crime Unit, and in 2020, he became the First Assistant United States Attorney.

Parekh completed his Bachelors in Arts in Economics & International Affairs in 2003 at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

He went on to receive a certificate in Business & Public Policy from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in 2006. He graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2006, according to his bio.