Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat and the first-ever Hindu elected to the US Congress was announced as the new Director of National Intelligence by US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday. 


Gabbard is a four-time Congresswoman, 2020 presidential candidate and NYT bestselling author. The veteran with three deployments in the Middle East and Africa recently moved from being a Democrat to a Republican. 


"I am pleased to announce that former Congresswoman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, will serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans," Trump announced.


As a former Democratic presidential candidate, Tulsi has broad support in both parties and can bring her “fearless spirit” into the intelligence community, noted Trump. 


Often mistaken for an India, Gabbard has no ties to India, reported Hindustan Times. The Republican Congresswoman's mother converted to Hinduism and gave all her children Hindu names. 


Gabbard, who is of American Samoan descent, also identifies as Hindu and was the first Hindu US Senator. She was sworn into office with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita.


Post 9/11 attacks, she enlisted in the Army National Guard. In 2004, she gave up an easy re-election campaign and volunteered to deploy to Iraq with the 29th Brigade Combat Team where she served in a medical unit, reported PTI quoting a media release. 


In 2006, she came back and worked in the US Senate as a legislative aide to the late Senator Danny Akaka. Her second deployment was in the Middle East as a platoon leader. 


Gabbard ran for United States Congress at the age of 31, vowing to honour the lives and sacrifice of her brothers and sisters in uniform. On October 22, Gabbard announced her decision to leave the Democrat Party and become an Independent. 


In August this year, she formally endorsed Trump for a second term and soon after began serving as co-chair of his transition team. In October she joined the Republican Party. 


Gabbard's first book 'For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind' was released on April 30 this year and hit number four on the New York Times' Bestsellers List the following week.