President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have named Indian-American Maju Varghese in the four-member Presidential Inaugural Committee, which will organise the activities surrounding their swearing-in on January 20. The team includes Tony Allen as the Chief Executive Officer, Maju Varghese as the Executive Director, Erin Wilson as the Deputy Executive Director and Yvanna Cancela as its Deputy Executive Director. “It is an honour to help lead the team that will plan the inaugural activities for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris while keeping their commitment to protecting the health and safety of Americans and demonstrating the strength and resilience of our nation,” Varghese said. A lawyer by training, Varghese was born in the US to parents who immigrated from Thiruvalla, Kerala. Varghese was chief operating officer of Biden's presidential campaign.
As the Assistant to the President for Management and Administration from July 2015 to Jan 2017, Varghese was responsible for day-to-day operations of the White House complex including oversight of White House budget, personnel, facilities, tours and major events. Varghese is the fifth Indian-American to be given important positions by the Biden transition team.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, in the meanwhile, announced Tina Flournoy as her chief of staff. Flournoy will join at least two women of colour holding senior posts in Harris' team. Flournoy, a graduate from Georgetown Law, has served as Assistant to the President for Public Policy at the American Federation of Teachers. Flournoy currently serves as chief of staff to former president Bill Clinton. She has also served several key positions in the Democratic party including the travelling chief of staff to 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joseph Lieberman.
Biden and Harris have picked a diverse team to the White House, as the date of the transition inches closer. Biden announced an all-female senior communications team.
— With PTI inputs