11 Things you should know about DRDO’s New Chief – Eminent Scientist S Christopher

Distinguished scientist S. Christopher became DRDO’s new chief on 28th May, 2015. Here are 11 things you probably didn’t know about him.

After four months of being without a chief, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has appointed prominent scientist Selvin Christopher as its Director General on Thursday.

Christopher has been appointed as DRDO chief for a two year term. Here are 11 amazing things you should know about the distinguished scientist who’s going to be heading the country’s premier technology organization for defence –

1. He completed his BE (Hons) in Electronics & Communication Engineering from University of Madras and M.Tech in Microwaves and Radar Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur.

He then joined IIT Madras as Project Associate in 1980, where he conducted research on Microwave Antenna Design and Near-field Measurement Techniques. He further got a PhD in Antennae and Measurement Techniques from IIT, Madras.

2. After his PhD, he worked with Bharat Electronics, Ghaziabad, as senior engineer designing antennae for Digital Tropo-scatter Communication systems.

3. He was the Indian scientist responsible for the manufacture of India’s first indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) system, a supersonic defence fighter jet.

The system is efficient is detecting and classifying threats present in the surveillance area and acts as a command and control centre to support different air operations.

4. He is a respected Indian missile scientist with the DRDO and was heading the Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems before his new appointment.

Christopher has been entrusted with the task of strengthening the DRDO and bringing back the reputation which it has lost due to slipping on deadlines, poor research, delays, corruption and other issues.

5. Christopher is a Padma Bhushan Awardee and has received various other distinguished awards including the DRDO Outstanding Scientist for 2012.

He was also awarded Scientist of the Year Award in 1998.

6. He made way for the electronically scanned array antenna evaluation at Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) where he led a team to create the Automated Planar Near Field Measurement Facility for the first time in the country.

7. Christopher also worked for the Indian Navy as Project Director for Airborne Surveillance Platform (ASP) project and for development of the Maritime Patrol Airborne Radar, SuperVision 2000.

8. He played a crucial role in developing slotted array technology, which was used for several airborne and missile projects. The technology was even exported to Poland, becoming the first ever export from LRDE.

9. Before Christopher, Avinash Chander held the posts of director general, DRDO, Scientific Adviser to the defence minister, and secretary DRDO.

He was terminated w.e.f from January 31. His term would have otherwise ended in May 2016.

10. Earlier, the DRDO chief was also the scientific adviser to the defence minister but the post has now been split. Missile scientist G.S. Reddy has been appointed as the scientific adviser to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

11. Christopher has published over 70 papers and holds copy rights and patents for many of his works.

With the appointment of S. Christopher, the government has shown its intention of encouraging younger talent to take up leadership positions. We wish the dynamic scientist a very fruitful stint at DRDO’s top job.

All pics: Twitter

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