U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed two Indian Americans, Ricky Gill and Saurabh Sharma, to key positions as special assistants in his team, focusing on national security and personnel matters.
Ricky Gill will play a critical role in U.S. relations with India as the Senior Director for South and Central Asian Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC).
This is not Gill’s first stint with the NSC. During Trump’s initial term, he served as Director for Russia and European Energy Security. Additionally, he worked as a Senior Advisor in the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations.
Gill’s professional journey includes leadership roles outside government as well. He ran Gill Capital Group, serving as its Principal and General Counsel, and worked as an advisor on European and Asian energy matters at TC Energy, the company behind the Keystone XL Pipeline project. The project, approved by Trump, was later revoked by President Joe Biden.
Born in Lodi, New Jersey, to Jasbir and Param Gill, Ricky Gill holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He confirmed his appointment on LinkedIn, a move first reported by Politico.
Bengaluru-born Saurabh Sharma will join the Presidential Personnel Office. Sharma has been a strong voice in conservative circles, co-founding and leading the Washington-based organization, American Moment. The group focuses on educating and empowering young Americans within conservative policy frameworks.
Sharma’s prior experience includes serving as the state chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas and working as a journalist for The Daily Caller, a conservative publication. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas. His appointment was also initially reported by Politico and confirmed by American Moment through its website.
These appointments underline Trump’s continued focus on experienced and ideologically aligned individuals to advance his policy goals. Both Gill and Sharma bring a wealth of expertise and diverse perspectives, ensuring their contributions will resonate within their respective domains.