Washington, D.C. — The Center for American Progress announced today that former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Verma will become affiliated with the Center as a Senior Fellow. Mr. Verma, a partner at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, will provide strategic advice to the Center and work with the National Security and International Policy team, among other assignments.
“Richard Verma has dedicated his career to pursuing policies that protect our nation and strengthen our democratic alliances, which are both key priorities at CAP,” said Rudy deLeon, Senior Vice President of National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress. “His wealth of knowledge and experience in the defense, homeland security, and foreign policy arenas will prove an invaluable addition to our team.”
Mr. Verma practices law in Steptoe’s International, National Security, and Government Affairs practice groups. He is also an outside strategic advisor to the Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm. He serves on the board of advisors at the Center for a New American Security and is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. Mr. Verma was appointed to the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism and the Department of Defense Transition Team.
In his capacity as assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs, Mr. Verma acted as the primary advisor to the secretary of state on congressional affairs and the Department of State’s chief liaison to Congress. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Verma was senior national security advisor to the Senate majority leader. Mr. Verma is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a former country director for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He also worked in the House for the late Congressman John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania.
He received his LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, a J.D. cum laude from American University’s Washington College of Law, and his B.S. from Lehigh University.
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