Decorated Indian American Air Force officer is an alumnus of the Obama administration
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Indian American Ravi Chaudhary as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Energy, and the Environment on Thursday.
Before he can be sworn in for this key Pentagon job, he must be confirmed by the United States Senate.
Earlier Chaudhary served as a senior executive at the U.S. Department of Transportation where he was Director of Advanced Programs and Innovation, Office of Commercial Space, at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to a brief bio released by the White House.
Read: Decorated US Air Force officer Ravi Chaudhary named Executive Director at the FAA (February 25, 2015)
While serving this position Chaudhary was responsible for the execution of advanced development and research programs in support of the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation mission.
He also served as DOT’s executive director for its Regions and Center Operations. In that position, he was responsible for integration and support of aviation operations across the country.
From 1993 to 2015, Chaudhary served as an Air Force officer and pilot on active service.
As a C-17 pilot, he flew a number of global combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq and ground deployment in Iraq.
He was responsible for certification of military avionics and hardware for Air Force modernization programs supporting flight safety and mishap avoidance.
“As a systems engineer, he supported NASA’s International Space Station protection activities to ensure safety of NASA Astronauts,” White House bio states.
Chaudhary also served on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Chaudhary advised the president on executive branch efforts to improve economic and community development, public and private sector collaboration, health, education and veterans’ support for the AAPI community.
Read: Biden Nominates Indian-American FAA Official to Head Air Force Installations (October 15, 2021)
Chaudhary has won a number of awards, including the NASA Stellar Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals.
Chaudhary received a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy, an M.S. from Saint Mary’s University, and an M.A. in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Force’s Air University.
He currently lives in Virginia with his wife, Uma, and their two children.