FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, October 30, 2003

Khanna Appointed Chief Financial Officer

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 30, 2003 – Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez recently announced the appointment of Gopal Khanna as the new Chief Financial Officer of the Peace Corps.

Before the appointment, Mr. Khanna served as Chief Information Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Peace Corps. He has successfully managed and enhanced the systems technology of the Peace Corps and overseen the financial planning for the growth of the agency.

Prior to his employment with the Peace Corps, Mr. Khanna served as president and CEO of International Technology Consultants Incorporated (ITC) and as CIO at the American Hardware and Insurance Group (AHIG). Both organizations are based in Minneapolis.

In addition to his professional duties, Mr. Khanna has been actively involved in government and community leadership, particularly as an appointee of former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson to the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation; as a task force member in deliberations leading to the publishing of the Minnesota Policy Blueprint; as a member of the boards of directors of the Minnesota International Center, and the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council; and as vice president of the Association of Indians in America.

Mr. Khanna received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Christ Church College in Kanpur, India, and earned his Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maine. When not in Washington, Mr. Khanna lives in Edina, Minnesota, with his wife Anjali and their two children.

The Chief Financial Officer is a senior policy making position, responsible for directing and monitoring the agency’s internal budget processes, as well as managing agency financial systems, accounting, and fiscal operations. The Chief Financial Officer also has the task of organizing the development of the Peace Corps budget requests to Congress.

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.


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