GAITHERSBURG  (Diya TV) — Indian American engineer Arvind Raman will lead the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation on an acting basis after the resignation of director Chris Fall, the Commerce Department confirmed. Raman will take on the additional role while continuing to serve as director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, better known as NIST.

The leadership change comes as the federal government continues to shape its approach to artificial intelligence standards and oversight. At the same time, the Commerce Department has started the search for a permanent leader for the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, or CAISI.

Commerce Department spokesperson Kristen Eichamer confirmed that Raman will oversee CAISI until the department names a permanent director. Chris Fall stepped down after leading the agency for about three months. He took charge of CAISI in April and guided the organization during a key period for U.S. artificial intelligence policy.

CAISI serves as the Commerce Department’s center for testing and evaluating artificial intelligence systems. The agency also supports work on AI standards and helps improve the safe and responsible use of emerging technologies. As interest in AI continues to grow, the agency plays an important role in developing reliable evaluation methods.

Raman brings decades of academic and engineering experience to the acting position. Born in India, he moved to the United States to continue his education. He earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. Later, he completed a doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Before that, he received a Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

His research career focused on atomic force microscopy, human biomechanics, and electronics manufacturing. In addition, he worked closely with NIST scientists on nanotechnology research for many years. Those collaborations helped build strong ties between Raman and the agency long before he entered public service.

Before joining the federal government, Raman spent more than two decades at Purdue University. He joined the university as an assistant professor in 2000. Over the years, he held several academic leadership roles. In February 2023, Purdue appointed him as the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering. His leadership earned recognition for advancing engineering education and research.

President Donald Trump nominated Raman to lead NIST in October 2025. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination on May 18, 2026. Soon afterward, Raman officially became the agency’s 18th director. He also took office as the fifth Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology during a ceremony led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on June 30. The appointment marked his first position in federal government service.

Now, Raman will manage both NIST and CAISI until the Commerce Department selects a permanent CAISI director. His temporary assignment comes at a time when artificial intelligence continues to influence businesses, government agencies, and consumers across the country. As a result, federal standards and testing methods have become increasingly important.

Meanwhile, Chris Fall leaves behind a long career in science and technology leadership. Before joining CAISI, he served as senior adviser to the deputy secretary of commerce. Earlier, he spent three years as vice president of applied sciences at MITRE. He also held leadership positions at the Department of Energy, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Naval Research.

According to Axios, Commerce Department officials viewed Fall’s appointment as a temporary arrangement from the beginning. The report also said Raman has already started reviewing candidates for the permanent leadership role. Department officials expect to announce a new director in the coming weeks.