iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
US President-Elect Joe Biden announced additional members of the White House communications and press team on Friday including India-born Vedant Patel, who was appointed to the role of Assistant Press Secretary.
Patel was a key member of the Biden-Harris campaign and is currently a senior spokesperson for the Biden-Harris Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Prior to this, he was on the Biden team during the Democratic primaries, leading communications for Nevada and other Western states. He has also worked as Communications Director for Indian American congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, a Congressional Progressive Caucus chair. He has also served as communication director for former Congressman Mike Honda (CA-17).
Born in India and raised in California, Patel is a graduate of the University of California-Riverside and the University of Florida.
Patel is one of the 16 appointments announced by Biden to his White House communications and press staff.
Prominent among them are Megan Apper, Director of Research; Kate Berner, Deputy Communications Director; Rosemary Boeglin, Assistant Press Secretary; Amanda Finney, Chief of Staff for the Press Office and Special Assistant to the Press Secretary; Mike Gwin, Director of Rapid Response and Meghan Hays, Director of Message Planning.
Biden also named Paige Hill as Senior Regional Communications Director; Michael Kikukawa as Press Assistant; Jennifer Molina as Senior Director of Coalitions Media; Kevin Munoz as Assistant Press Secretary; Angela Dela Cruz Perez as Press Assistant; Emma Riley as Chief of Staff for the Office of Communications; Mariel Saez, Director of Broadcast Media; Amijah Townsend-Holmes, Press Assistant and Remi Yamamoto, Senior Advisor for Communications to the Chief of Staff.
These diverse, experienced and talented individuals demonstrate President-elect Biden’s continued commitment to building an administration that looks like America and is ready to deliver results for working families on day one, the transition said.
“Restoring faith in government by speaking honestly and directly to the American people will be a hallmark of my administration. Our communications and press staff are integral to this effort and are committed to building this country back better for all Americans. I’m proud to have them serve the American people in the White House,” said Biden.
“These appointees are among a diverse and experienced team that is dedicated to rebuilding the trust of the American people amidst a pandemic and a struggling economy,” said incoming White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain.
“In times of crisis, clear communication can save lives and keep families safe. These staff members recognize the important role they play in communicating fact-based information to the public on behalf of the president and vice president-elect. They are respected and creative communicators ready to tackle the urgent challenges facing our nation,” he said.