Miami, FL June 29, 2002 - Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez announced yesterday the appointment of Gopal Khanna, a Community activist, an entrepreneur, and a National Vice President of The Association of Indians in America (AIA), as the agency's Chief Information Officer. He joined the staff on June 17, 2002 as a member of the senior management team. "Gopal Khanna brings to the Peace Corps his extensive experience in leveraging technology to improve business processes," stated Director Vasquez. "We are very pleased to have him as a part of our team as the agency plans and grows for the 21st century."

Gopal K. Khanna

"The ultimate honor one can receive in life is to have an opportunity to serve one's country," says Gopal Khanna, of his political appointment as the CIO of the Peace Corps. Khanna continued, "I am pleased to be part of this great agency and feel privileged to have an opportunity to serve."

Designated as a senior foreign service policy making position, CIO at the Peace Corps is the senior most agency official responsible for strategizing and directing the information technology functions at the agency. Khanna will serve as the first-line advisor to the Peace Corps Director and other senior agency officials on matters related to IT.

"Gopal Khanna's appointment to this senior position in Bush Administration is a welcome news for all Indian Americans across America", says Dr. Piyush Agrawal, National President of the Association of Indians in America. An elated Agrawal continued, "Gopal Khanna is an accomplished professional and a well known leader in the community. He has distinguished himself through his tireless work on behalf of all Americans and will be a great addition to the Bush Administration and the senior management team at the Peace Corps".

Expressing satisfaction at Khanna's appointment to a high profile agency, Dr. Agrawal said, "President Bush has the distinction of appointing highest numbers of Asian Americans, more than any other president in the history of United States." He continued, "President Bush recognizes the value of knowledge, intellect, and leadership skills Americans of Indian origin like Gopal Khanna bring to our country."

Commenting on Mr. Khanna's appointment, Republican Congressman from Minneosota Jim Ramstad said "Gopal Khanna is truly most deserving of this important position and will be a strong addition to the Administration." He continued "I have known Gopal for more than a decade, and he is truly one of the best and brightest high technology leaders in our state and nation. Gopal is a visionary and innovative business leader, and he will be an invaluable asset to the Peace Corps. Gopal has a huge heart and cares deeply about helping people throughout the world escape poverty and reach self sufficiency."

Congressman Ramstad applauded "Gopal's strong commitment to public service, and his skills will provide a big boost to the mission of the Peace Corps."

Dr. Joy Cherian, the first Indian American appointed by President Reagan to a sub-cabinet level position said about Gopal that "he is an extremely qualified gentleman who believes in grass root level Community Service and as such will serve the Bush Administration and Peace Corps well."

Dr. Zachariah P. Zachariah, a great fund-raiser for the Republican Party, said that " Gopal is a well-qualified and fine candidate for the position and I am sure that he would do a great job. Bush Administration should be praised for appointing Gopal."

Established on March 1, 1961 through an executive order signed by President John F. Kennedy, Peace Corps is a pre-eminent American institution that seeks to "promote world peace and friendship" through three goals: (1) To help the people of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained workers; (2) To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and (3) To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Prior to joining the Peace Corps Gopal Khanna was president & CEO of ITC, a Minneapolis based technology solutions firm that specializes in providing IT process improvement, building customized optimization tools, and implementing information systems projects for Fortune 1000 companies.

Khanna's community involvement is well known through his activities with The Association of Indians in America, (AIA), the oldest (Asian) Indian organization in the country. He is the past President of New York chapter of AIA and is currently a National Vice President of the association. "Gopal represents a rare combination of performing civic and professional duties with a sense of purpose and responsibilities," said Dr. Piyush Agrawal.

Prior to leading ITC, a start-up venture he founded in 1996, Mr. Khanna was with the American Hardware Insurance Group, a Minneapolis based nationwide Property and Casualty Company. During his service with AHIG, from 1990 to 1995, he held several key senior management positions including, Vice President of Data Processing Operations, Vice President of Information Systems, and Vice President in charge of all Information Technology functions and Corporate Administration for the enterprise. From 1981 to 1990, Mr. Khanna was with the National Council on Compensation Insurance, a New York/Florida based organization specializing in information and issues related to workers compensation. At NCCI, amongst others, he held positions as the Director of Data Processing Operations and the Director of Strategic Planning and Control. Prior to that, Mr. Khanna lived in New York where he was with the MONY Financial Services from 1974 to 1981.

Khanna's community involvement is well known through his activities with The Association of Indians in America, (AIA), the oldest (Asian) Indian organization in the country. He is the past President of New York chapter of AIA and is currently a National Vice President of the association. "Gopal represents a rare combination of performing civic and professional duties with a sense of purpose and responsibilities," said Dr. Piyush Agrawal, National President of AIA.

A long-time Republican Party activist and supporter of President George W. Bush, Gopal Khanna has been at the forefront in building and implementing outreach strategies for the Republican Party and has been very successful at bringing in new voters and new contributors to Republican candidates. His deep commitment to strengthening America by enlisting the involvement of new Americans in the electoral process first took a structured format in 1992 when he founded the Asian Indian American Republican Affiliate of Minnesota, the first such organization of Indian Americans in the country. He worked actively to build the outreach program in Minnesota with State Representative Barb Sykora, the former Co-Chair of the Republican Party. Since then, he has been successful in taking the Republican message to the Indian American communities nationwide, thus broadening the base for the party all across the country. He also is a founder member and Co-Chair of the Indian American Network for Bush-Cheney (www.IANBC.net), and a member of the board of directors of the Indian American Republican Council.

Over the years, Mr. Khanna has served the Party at the grass-roots level in various elected positions. To name just a few amongst others, Precinct Alternate-Delegate, Precinct Delegate, Precinct Vice-Chair, Precinct Co-Chair, Vice-Chair Senate District, Delegate to two GOP Minnesota State Conventions, and in 1996 an Alternate-Delegate and member of the Minnesota Delegation to the Republican National Convention in San Diego, California. Being asked to address the delegates at the Party's State Convention and being elected to represent the state at the national convention was a highlight of his political involvement that Mr. Khanna remains most proud of.

Mr. Khanna served former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson as his appointee to the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation from 1993-1994. His work with Governor Carlson resulted in a Trade Delegation to India in 1995 led by Commissioner Jay Novak, which has improved commercial ties between Minnesota and India. As a member of Congressman Jim Ramstad's community advisory committee on House Ways and Means, Mr. Khanna has remained engaged with the latest public policy issues facing the nation. He also had the privilege of working with the Former United Sates Senator Rod Grams on matters pertaining to US foreign policy.

A citizen of the United States of America, Gopal Khanna was born and raised India. He hails from an old learned prominent family whose patriarch Rai Saheb Ganesh Prashad settled in Kanpur, India after his retirement form service in the Indian Railways during the British Raj. His grandfather Mr. Radha Krishan Khanna was a famous attorney who practiced law in Kanpur and at the Allahabad High Court. His uncle Mr. Shyam Narain Khanna was a successful entrepreneur and his father Mr. Krishan Narain Khanna, a lawyer by training was a respected local commercial banker. Raised in a family that valued honor, duty, and service, Gopal Khanna received his early education in a boarding school at the exclusive St. Francis College in Lucknow, India. Displaying signs of leadership at an early age, Gopal Khanna, a diligent student, was a member of school cricket, hockey, soccer, and debating teams. He was School Captain and won the All-round Best Cadet award in 1966. Gopal Khanna earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 with concentration in Economics, Mathematics, and Political Science from Christ Church College, Kanpur, India. He then pursued his higher education at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Maine where he earned his MBA in 1973.

Mr. Khanna has a long history of civic and charitable involvement. Most recent amongst others, in 1998 Mr. Khanna was invited by Center of the American Experiment, a conservative think tank, to serve as a task force member and to participate in the deliberations that led to the publishing of the Minnesota Policy Blueprint. Mr. Khanna currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Minnesota International Center, Ronald McDonald House, and Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council. He also is Vice President of the Association of Indians in America. Mr. Khanna actively participates in several professional organizations and has chaired many community initiatives. He is a member of the Hindu Society of Minnesota.

Mr. Khanna is a resident of Edina, Minnesota where he makes home with his wife Anjali, an accomplished professional who works as Product Delivery Manager at Best Buy; daughter Rohini who is a sophomore at University of Minnesota; and son Rohun who is an eighth grader at the Edina's Valley View Middle School. Gopal Khanna's hobbies and special interests include golf, running, meditation, and community service.

For more information, contact Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal at the numbers/address given below.