President George W Bush announced on July 10 that he intends to nominate an Indian American, Karan K Bhatia of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs.

Bhatia, the White House announcement said, currently serves as Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, a politically appointed senior executive service position.

Bhatia also serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Centre, where he co-teaches a course on international civil litigation to JD and LLM candidates.

Previously, Bhatia served as chief counsel for Export Administration, a politically appointed senior executive service position in the Commerce Department's Office of General Counsel. Earlier in his career, Bhatia worked as an equity partner for Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, where he served as a member of the firm's Regulatory and Corporate Practice Groups, and was administrative partner for the firm's International Aviation, Defence & Aerospace sub-group.

Bhatia earned his AB from Princeton University and is MSc at the London School of Economics. He received his JD from Columbia Law School.

The President's “intention to nominate” is the first step in a Presidential appointment. This is followed by a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after which the President sends his nomination to the Senate. The appointment is made after Senate confirmation.

Once the post is formalized Bhatia will become the highest-ranking Indian American in the Administration. Earlier, that distinction was held by Bobby Jindal, who served as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services before resigning in February to run for the post of Governor of Louisiana.