AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity today announced that Akash Chougule has been appointed President of the organization, effective March 26. Chougule succeeds FREOPP’s co-founder Avik Roy, who has served as President since the think tank’s founding in 2016.
“After a rigorous search process led by myself alongside co-founders Avik Roy and Ames Brown, the Board is thrilled to name Akash Chougule as FREOPP’s next President,” said Jonathan Bush, Chairman of FREOPP’s Board of Directors. “Akash’s deep relationships with policymakers and thought leaders, his own policy expertise, and his passion for expanding economic opportunity made him the clear choice to lead FREOPP into its next chapter. Under his leadership, FREOPP will continue to develop bipartisan, pro-liberty solutions to America’s greatest social and economic challenges.”
Chougule joins FREOPP after two stints at Americans for Prosperity, where he most recently served as Vice President of Government Affairs. In this role, he led national advocacy efforts to advance policies that break barriers to opportunity and empower all Americans to reach their full potential. Previously, Chougule served as Director of Policy at Americans for Prosperity, where he helped develop the organization’s policy agenda and legislative strategy. In addition to his tenure at Americans for Prosperity, Chougule also spent two years at Stand Together, serving as Vice President of the organization’s Economic Opportunity Initiative, leading efforts to identify and support solutions that help more Americans achieve the American Dream; and two years as a professional staff member on the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where he led labor relations, wage and hour, and trade policy issues.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead this organization,” said Chougule. “I know firsthand how the American Dream is much more than just a slogan, and I believe strongly that FREOPP can play an even larger role in ensuring that the power of freedom touches more lives than ever before and uplifts more individuals, families, and communities to the American Dream than many believe is possible today. I am looking forward to working with FREOPP’s impressive team to accomplish that mission.”
Founded in 2016, FREOPP is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank improving the lives of Americans on the bottom half of the economic ladder using freedom, innovation, and pluralism. FREOPP’s research has helped improve the lives of over 120 million Americans, including by reopening schools during COVID; reducing drug prices for seniors and taxpayers; expanding educational choice; and improving access to health care for veterans, among other achievements.
“FREOPP has established itself as an engine of policy ideas that attract support from across the political spectrum, because we focus exclusively on how economic and individual liberty can improve the lives of lower- and middle-income Americans,” said outgoing President and co-founder Avik Roy, who will continue to be active at FREOPP as a researcher, and will succeed Jonathan Bush as Chairman. “With Akash at the helm, I’ll be able to spend more time helping to generate those policy ideas for FREOPP. I’m excited for Akash to lead FREOPP’s next phase of growth, which will in turn help us increase our ability to improve the lives of all Americans. I’m also grateful for Jonathan Bush’s dedicated service as our Chairman, and I look forward to helping him lead FREOPP’s Board of Directors.”
Chougule holds a master’s degree in legislative affairs from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston College. He is a Rhode Island native and resides in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and son.
