Biden Nominates Indian American Viquar Ahmad to Senior Role at Commerce Department
The White House Aug. 18 announced President Joe Biden’s nomination of DC veteran Viquar Ahmad to serve as Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Commerce. If confirmed, Ahmad would be one of the highest-ranking Muslim Americans in the Biden Administration. (Facebook photo)
India-West Staff Reporter
The White House Aug. 18 announced President Joe Biden’s nomination of DC veteran Viquar Ahmad to serve as Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Commerce.
The AAPI Victory Fund lauded the nomination of Ahmad, who is Indian American, in a press statement. “Congratulations to Viquar Ahmad on this historic nomination,” wrote the organization.
Ahmad’s nomination must undergo Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Ahmad would be one of the highest-ranking Muslim Americans in the Biden Administration, along with Dilawar Syed, who is awaiting Senate confirmation to serve as deputy director of the Small Business Administration. Syed’s confirmation hearing has been held up by a group of Republican senators because of his involvement with Emgage Action, a Muslim American advocacy group. (See earlier story here: https://bit.ly/3jpd4PC.) At press time Aug. 27, no Senate confirmation hearing date had been set for either nominee.
According to the White House announcement, Ahmad has held multiple leadership roles in the U.S. government over the past two decades. He served as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives over the past four years; his responsibilities included management of Congress’ operating budget.
Ahmad also provided counsel to the Department of Homeland Security’s senior leadership on the budget decision-making, and oversight on a nearly $70 billion budget of its component agencies. “His leadership enabled DHS to successfully meet response and recovery efforts to catastrophic natural disasters, thwart cybersecurity threats, clean up the largest maritime oil spill in U.S. history, and recapitalize critical multi-billion dollar national security assets,” said the White House in a press statement.
Ahmad also served as a senior aide to the chairman for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. “In this capacity, he facilitated Congress’ enactment of the largest domestic discretionary spending bills, reflecting priorities outlined by a diverse constituency of stakeholders,” according to the White House.
Ahmad has been recognized with excellence awards, including the U.S. Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. He earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the George Washington University. He was awarded an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.