Biden Nominates Indian American Ashish Vazirani for Key National Security Position

President Joe Biden has nominated another Indian American to serve in a key national security role. He has chosen Ashish Vazirani for Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Department of Defense.

Vazirani is currently the principal of A2O Strategies, LLC., “where he provides advisory services to commercial and non-profit, high growth and large enterprises, on the development, implementation, and execution of growth strategies,” according to a White House press release.

Most recently, Vazirani was executive director and CEO of the National Military Family Association (NMFA). In that role, “he worked on strategic and operational oversight, and direction for all aspects of NMFA’s advocacy and programming to support military families,” the press release said. “During his tenure, NMFA regained its four-star charity rating and expanded programming, including a child care fee relief program.”

Before joining NMFA, Vazirani led development and programming at the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA). During his tenure, “he ensured implementation and measurement of standardized programs serving junior enlisted military families,” per the release. He was also selected to serve as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on the Well-Being of Military Families.

Before his work with the ASYMCA, he spent 22 years as a management consultant working with leading high tech and pharmaceutical companies.

Vazirani served on active duty in the United States Navy as a Submarine Officer from 1986 to 1993.

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He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Engineering from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University, and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Vazirani’s 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.