Naresh Chandra
Former Ambassador of India to the United States, India

Ambassador Naresh Chandra is India’s National Security Advisory Board chairman. He is also on the board of directors for several companies, including Cairn India Ltd., Bajaj Auto Ltd., Vedanta Resources plc, London, and EROS International plc, London. Most recently, Ambassador Chandra worked as a Chairman of the committee on civil aviation policy, set up by the Government of India, and submitted its report in 2004. From 2002 to 2003, he chaired the Committee on Corporate Governance and the Committee on Private Companies and Limited Companies Partnerships. He was the Ambassador of India to the United States from 1996 to 2001 and Governor of the state of Gujarat from 1995 to 1996. Previously in 1992, and following the economic liberalization program in India, Ambassador Chandra led the first official delegation to the United States to promote U.S. investments in India, during which endeavour he was Cabinet Secretary, the highest post in the Indian Civil Service. Also in 1992, Ambassador Chandra was appointed Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister of India. He also formerly served as the Chief Secretary in the state of Rajasthan; Adviser to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir; and successively Secretary to the Ministries of Water Resources, Defense, Interior, and Justice in the Federal Indian Government. He was also the Indian Co-Chairman of the U.S.-Technology Transfer Working Group from 1980 to 1981. Ambassador Chandra is a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, a high civilian award given by the President of India.