Just prior to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming trip to Washington this month, Richard Rahul Verma has been nominated as the next US Ambassador to India.

On receiving a confirmation by the Senate, Verma would become the first ever Indian-American top US diplomat in New Delhi. Along with numerous other crucial administration appointments, Obama nominated Verma late yesterday.

In a statement, Obama said, "I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

Charge d'affaires, Kathleen Stephens currently heads the US Embassy in New Delhi. 45-year-old, Verma who's currently serving as Senior Counselor at Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Albright Stonebridge Group is believed to be a confidant of Obama as well as Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State. Verma also serves as a Senior National Security Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Rahul Verma has ample experience having served as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of State (2009-2011). From 2007 to 2009, he was partner at Steptoe and Johnson LLP. Plus, he served as Senior National Security Advisor, Counsel and Foreign Policy Advisor to Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (2002-2007) and Verma also was an Associate at Steptoe & Johnson (1998-2002).

Verma, a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal served the US Air Force and received numerous other decorations while he served the Air Force. Having served as a Field Representative for the National Democratic Institute in Eastern Europe, Verma also was employed in the House of Representatives for Congressman John P Murtha.

Among other services, Verma also served on the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction and besides being a member of the Secretary of State's Foreign Affairs Policy Board, Verma was Proliferation and Terrorism (2008). Currently serving on the boards of Human Rights First, the Clinton Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute, Verma received a JD from American University, BS from Lehigh University along with an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center.