Avinash Chander (DRDO) explained

Avinash Chander is an Indian scientist who was Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, the Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development. He had succeeded V. K. Saraswat to this post.^[1] ^[2] ^[3]

He is the chief architect of the Agni series of ballistic missile systems.^[4] Chander is a recipient of the Padma Shri from the Government of India

Education

Chander joined DRDO after completing his training in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). He subsequently pursued an MS in Spatial Information Technology and Doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTU, Hyderabad).

Leaving DRDO

After completion of 42 years of Distinguished Service in DRDO, on 14 January 2015, the Department of Personnel and Training advised his contract as Chief of DRDO was to finish on 31 January 2015.^[5]

Awards

Chander is recipient of numerous awards, some of which are listed below:^[2]

IIT Delhi Alumni Award
Padma Shri
DRDO Scientist of the year, 1989
Astronautical Society of India Award, 1997
Awarded by Dr. R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to Govt. of India.
AGNI Self-Reliance Award, 1999
Dr. Biren Roy Space Science Award, 2000
DRDO Award, 2007
Outstanding Technologist Award, 2008
DRDO Technology Leadership Award, 2008
Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineers
Fellow, System Society of India
Fellow, Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences
Vice-president, Astronautical Society of India
Chairman – Sensors Research Society, India
Aryabhata Award - Astronautical Society of India.
Eminent Engineer Award, The Institute of Engineers (India) 2016.

Notes and References

http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/missile-man-avinash-chander-appointed-new-drdo-chief/1123607/ Missile man Avinash Chander appointed new DRDO Chief
http://www.iitdalumni.com/node/40535 AVINASH CHANDER
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/avinash-chander-is-new-drdo-chief/article4769905.ece Avinash Chander is new DRDO chief
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4SedwzW4fL7X2FobF9nQ2ZKLW8/view In Conversation with Avinash Chander
News: Som. Vishnu . After Sacking, Business as Usual for Avinash Chander at DRDO . 21 March 2015 . India News . New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) . 15 January 2015.