President Biden nominates Indian-American to national security post

- ADVERTISEMENT -

President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate an Indian-American to a key national security post, the White House announced Sept. 21, 2021.

Among the nominations announced was that of Ashish Vazirani for the post of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in the Department of Defense.

According to a profile provided by the White House, Vazirani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Engineering from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University, and a M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

His family immigrated to the United States when he was 3 years old. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland where he and his wife of 26 years, Deborah, currently reside. They have an adult son and daughter. Vazirani is the son of a combat wounded, Vietnam-era Marine and the father of a currently serving Marine.

According to his profile posted on the website of the organization Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation, where he is on the Board of Advisors, Vazirani “is a dedicated military family champion, accomplished leader, and problem solver.”

It goes on to say that as Executive Director and CEO of the National Military Family Association, Vazirani led the organization – programs, advocacy, and staff – through a worldwide pandemic.

He is credited by GWOTmemorial for having championed the expansion of dependent care flexible spending accounts to military families and facilitated the creation and roll-out of NMFA’s child care fee relief assistance program.

His leadership, consulting experience and business acumen, ensured that NMFA regained its four-star charity rating.

“His fresh perspective, and track record of setting organizations on a trajectory for growth, positioned NMFA to better serve and support the military family community,” the GWOTmemorial says.

Vazirani has served as a Member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on the Well-Being of Military Families.

Before joining NMFA, Vazirani led development and programming at Armed Services YMCA.

Prior to that he spent 22 years as a management consultant working with leading high tech and pharmaceutical companies to improve their marketing and sales functions to deliver profitable growth.

Vazirani has also served as a marketing and development advisor to military services organizations such as the USO (2011 – 2014) and Operation Homefront (2014 – 2017). Before his career in consulting, and sales and marketing management, Ash served in the US Navy as a Submarine Officer from 1986 – 1993.