Ashish Vazirani, BE ’86, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness at the Department of Defense. Vazirani’s nomination was sent to the Senate Sept. 27.
Vazirani is the principal of A2O Strategies LLC where he provides advisory services to commercial and non-profit, high growth and large enterprises, on the development, implementation, and execution of growth strategies.
Most recently, Vazirani was executive director and chief executive of the National Military Family Association, where he provided strategic and operational oversight, and direction for all aspects of NMFA’s advocacy and programing to support military families.
During his tenure NMFA regained its four-star charity rating and expanded programming, including a childcare fee relief program. Before joining NMFA, he led development and programming at the Armed Services YMCA where he ensured implementation and measurement of standardized programs serving junior enlisted military families.
Vazirani also was selected to serve as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on the Well-Being of Military Families.
Prior to his work with the ASYMCA, he spent 22 years as a management consultant working with leading high tech and pharmaceutical companies to create transformational change while delivering customer-centric solutions and profitable growth.
Vazirani served on active duty in the United States Navy as a submarine officer from 1986 to 1993.
Vazirani holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University, a master’s of engineering degree from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University, and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
His family immigrated to the United States when he was three years old. Vazirani grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he and his wife, Deborah, currently reside. They have an adult son and daughter.
Contact: Brenda Ellis, 615 343-6314
brenda.ellis@vanderbilt.edu