The ethnic and cultural diversity has been soaring higher in different walks of life across the United States since the Biden-Harris administration was formed. The Indian American community’s representation is greater in the new political regime than in any previous presidential era of America. From writing speeches to handling official communications of the White House to leading the National Security Council to playing a key role in the US office of Digital Strategy to serving as advisors to the President in various niches – the Indian American community is all game in building the foundation of a new American despite they make a little more than 1% of the total US populace.
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Kerala-origin Maju Varghese is the latest Indian American appointee to the White House. Much to the surprise and pride of Indians in the US, Maju Varghese has been appointed as Director of the White House Military Office (WHMO) – a most prestigious and coveted position in the US political corridor. He will also be serving as a deputy assistant to President Joe Biden. Prior to having become the first Indian-origin American Director of WHMO, he was the chief operating officer of the electoral campaigns and the executive director of the swearing-in ceremony for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
In his new role as the WHMO Director, Maju Varghese will supervise all military operations aboard Air Force One during the President’s domestic travel and foreign trips. It was Varghese who oversaw the arrangement for Barack Obama’s presidential missions, including the state visit to India in 2015. In addition to the presidential transportation, he will be helming an array of responsibilities, including critical military command, emergency medical support, hospitality services, and ceremonial duties at the White House.
This will not be his first stint at the White House. Maju Varghese’s previous experience in managing the White House Complex during the Obama regime played a decisive role in his selection for the WHMO Director. The Obama administration saw him having served as assistant to the then President for management and administration, and as the deputy director of advance. Elated at his progressive journey from a humble background to the White House Complex to a key department of the White House, Maju Varghese tweeted:
“Grateful for the journey, for great teammates and the history we made together. Honored to serve the country and the President. Proud to walk through those gates again and to take my family, their story and their hopes with me.”
Varghese’s parents had moved from Kerala to the US. His father took to driving in New York City, while his mother was a nurse. His father also used to work as a hospital security guard in order to make ends meet for the family. Varghese never shied away from his humble background. He shared the story of his parents’ immigration and hardships on Twitter in 2019. He is a graduate in political science and economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is a lawyer by training too.
A key member of the Biden-Harris presidential inaugural committee, he ensured the nationwide availability of logistics for hundreds of thousands of volunteers working on the Biden-Harris campaign and supervised the campaign’s day-to-day operations. Maju Varghese joined the elite club of Indian Americans in the Biden administration.