US Air Force Appoints Indian-American as Assistant Secretary

With the support of over a dozen Republican party members, the nomination of the former Air Force officer was confirmed by the Senate with a 65-29 vote.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Chaudhary held the position of Director of Advanced Programs and Innovation, Office of Commercial Space at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within the US Department of Transportation, where he served as a Senior Executive.

In his previous role at the US Department of Transportation, Mr. Chaudhary oversaw the implementation of advanced research and development initiatives aimed at furthering the FAA's commercial space transportation objectives. Additionally, he assumed the responsibilities of Executive Director of Regions and Centre Operations, managing the integration and support of aviation operations across nine regions.

Between 1993 and 2015, Mr. Chaudhary served in the US Air Force, fulfilling diverse operational, engineering, and senior staff roles. As a C-17 pilot, he led global flight operations, including multiple combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also held the position of Director of the Personnel Recovery Centre at the Multi-National Corps in Iraq, where he was responsible for coordinating ground deployment efforts.

In his capacity as a Flight Test Engineer, Chaudhary played a crucial role in certifying military avionics and hardware as part of the US Air Force's modernization initiatives, with a strong focus on ensuring flight safety.

At the onset of his career, he provided support for space launch operations of the Global Positioning System (GPS), where he spearheaded third-stage and flight safety measures to ensure the successful operation of the first GPS constellation.

As a Systems Engineer, Chaudhary played a vital role in supporting NASA's International Space Station protection efforts, specifically focused on ensuring the safety of NASA Astronauts. He also served as a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the Obama Administration, where he provided guidance on executive branch initiatives aimed at improving veterans' support for the AAPI community.

Ravi Chaudhary's educational background includes a Doctorate in Executive Leadership and Innovation from the Georgetown University D.L.S. Program, an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from St. Mary's University, which he pursued as a NASA graduate fellow, an M.A. in Operational Arts and Military Science from Air University, and a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

He completed his education at the Federal Executive Institute and holds Department of Defense acquisition certifications in Program Management, Test and Evaluation, and Systems Engineering.