What is new FBI director Kash Patel’s Gujarati connection? Who are his parents?

It was a proud moment for Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel, popularly known as Kash Patel, as he became the first Indian-American to be appointed the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Despite his selection being opposed by two Republican senators, Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, Patel was appointed by a majority of 51-49 Senate votes.

Born in Garden City, New York, Patel highlighted his Indian roots when, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, he greeted his parents, who travelled from India to attend, and his sister, and began his speech with ‘Jai Sri Krishna’.

On Thursday, he was the centre of attraction as he was appointed the FBI director.

Who is Kash Patel?

Before his appointment as the FBI director, Patel served as the Chief of Staff of Acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher Miller. American Defense Ministry’s official website says that Patel has also served as the deputy assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism (CT) at the National Security Council (NSC).

During that time, he oversaw the execution of several of US President Donald Trump’s top priorities, including eliminating ISIS and Al-Qa’ida leadership such as al-Baghdadi and Qasem al-Rimi, as per the website.

His first major appointment was senior counsel on counterterrorism for the House Intelligence Committee in 2017. 

Kash Patel education

Patel pursued his BA in history and criminal justice from the University of Richmond in 2002.

After that, he completed his JD at Pace University School of Law, New York in 2005.

He has also obtained a certificate in international law from University College London, 2004.

Kash Patel’s Indian connection

Patel’s father, Pramod, and mother, Anjana, who belong to Gujarat, migrated to Canada in the 1970s from Uganda after political repression of Asians.

From Canada, they migrated to the United States, where his father started working as a financial officer at an aviation firm.

His parents from India and sister from ‘Asia’ travelled to USA last month to attend his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.