By IANS
Washington : A retired US air force general, described as a “stalwart architect of a deeper, strategic partnership with India” has been named senior advisor by a business advocacy group seeking stronger US-India commercial ties.
The appointment of (Retd.) Lt. Gen. Jeffrey B. Kohler, former director, Defence Security Cooperation Agency, as senior advisor to its board of directors was announced Friday by the US-India Business Council (USIBC), representing 250 of the largest US companies investing in India.
The USIBC board of directors comprises prominent companies and individuals representing the spectrum of industries engaged with India.
Welcoming Gen Kohler as senior advisor, Charles “Chip” Kaye, chairman of USIBC, and co-president of the private equity firm Warburg Pincus, said, “As director of DSCA, Gen Kohler became a stalwart architect of a deeper, strategic partnership with India, visiting the country numerous times.
“We welcome his advice and look forward to working closely with him on USIBC’s further engagement with India and on matters of strategic importance.”
Kohler said of his appointment: “While I was with the US government, I felt that USIBC was my strongest partner in our mutual effort to enhance the strategic relationship between our two great nations. After a long hiatus in the relationship, our two armed forces have realised that they have a great deal in common and are expanding their contacts.
“As a result, defence trade is becoming a major foundation of the US-India relationship. It is a distinct honour and privilege to advise USIBC’s board of directors to continue to enhance this relationship as well as expand opportunities for US industry in India.”
Kohler recently retired as director, Defence Security Cooperation Agency. The agency directs and oversees US foreign military sales, foreign military financing programmes, international military education and training, and humanitarian assistance and mine action programmes for the Department of Defence.
The agency is responsible for programme management of more than 12,000 security assistance cases from 189 countries and organisations with a value of more than $220 billion. Kohler was born in Washington, and graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1973. He has commanded a fighter squadron, a pilot training operations group and an air refuelling wing.
He has served in joint and combined staff assignments, at Air Force headquarters, in South Korea, and at NATO. Kohler is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours, principally in fighter and trainer aircraft.