Dr G Satheesh Reddy honored by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce that G. Satheesh Reddy and Rondell J. Wilson are the co-winners of the 2019 Missile Systems Award, which will be presented during the AIAA DEFENSE Forum, held 7–9 May at the Kossiakoff Center at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. 

The award recognizes excellence in developing or implementing missile systems technology, including significant technological accomplishments or for inspired leadership of missile systems programs.

Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, India,was selected for his over three decades of significant national contributions toward indigenous design, development, and deployment of diversified strategic and tactical missile systems, guided weapons, advanced avionics, and navigation technologies in India. Dr. Reddy will receive his award in India.

Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, presently Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Chairman DRDO and Director General, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is well known for his significant contributions towards indigenous design, development, deployment of diversified Missiles & Strategic Systems, Guided Weapons, Avionics technologies and for sustained efforts in advancement of Aerospace technologies & Industries in India. He is a distinguished scientist and is regarded as the Chief Architect of advanced Missile technologies in India.

He graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering from JNTU, Anantapur and received his M.S & Ph.D from JNTU Hyderabad. He joined Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad in the year 1986 and subsequently joined Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the brain child of Dr Kalam, after its formation.

As Director General, Missiles and Strategic Systems, he spearheaded Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex and other Labs steering the design and development of wide variety of tactical and strategic missile & guided weapon systems. Under highly restrictive international control regimes, he envisioned and evolved the Strategies for indigenous design and development of advanced Avionics and paved the way for induction of a range of Missiles and Smart Guided Weapons.                 He made pioneering contributions to the Agni-5, 5000km range surface to surface long range strategic missile and brought a quantum jump in the critical technologies.

He is a Fellow of Royal Institute of Navigation, London, Royal Aeronautical Society, UK, Indian National Academy of Engineering and Foreign Member of the Academy of Navigation & Motion Control, Russia. He is an Honorary Fellow of Computer Society of India, Sensors Research Society and Project Management Association of India and many other Academies/scientific bodies in the country and abroad.

Rondell J. Wilson, retired Principal Engineering Fellow of Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona, was selected for his exemplary technical leadership and innovation that has significantly advanced the performance and capability of the world’s premier missile defense systems.

The AIAA Missile Systems Technical Committee presents the award biennially to a candidate  who has demonstrated expertise in fundamental technical disciplines that has led to substantial improvement in missile systems or innovative leadership that has established an environment in which creativity in missile system technology implementation can flourish and which led to the successful completion of a major program milestone by a government agency or an industry team.

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 85 countries, and 95 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, www.aiaa.org, or follow us on Twitter  @AIAA.