FEATURED
BIO
Dr Prahalada Ramarao is a Distinguished Adviser for The Peninsula Foundation. He is an acclaimed missile and rocket Scientist with experience in DRDO and ISRO. He is currently Pro-Chancellor at S-Vyasa, deemed university at Bangalore. He is also an Adjunct Faculty in Dept of Management and Dept of Aerospace at IISc ( Indian Institute of Science) and NIAS (National Institute of Advanced Studies), Bangalore.
He retired in 2014 after being the Vice Chancellor of DIAT (Defence Institute of Advanced Technology), a deemed University at Pune from 2011 to 2014. Earlier he was DS & CC R&D (Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller, Research & Development – Aero & Services Interaction), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi. He is also a former Director of DRDL, Hyderabad.
Dr. PRAHLADA completed Mechanical Engineering Graduation from University College of Engineering, Bangalore University(1969). Subsequently he got his Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from IISc., Bangalore, with specialization in Rockets and Missile Systems. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.
Since 1971 he has served in various ISRO and DRDO Establishments covering VSSC Trivandrum, ADE Bangalore and DRDL Hyderabad. His areas of interest cover aerodynamics, flight controls, guidance, propulsion, system design and system engineering.
In his position as Director of the biggest DRDO laboratory, DRDL, during 1997-2005, he provided leadership to many missile projects, new technologies and world class test facilities. He was the Project Director for AKASH missile system, Joint Venture Project BrahMos and contributed to Project formulation, management and conduct of initial flight trials.
As Chief Controller Research & Development at DRDO HQ and Distinguished Scientist, he handled Services Interactions, International Cooperation, Foreign Offices (UK, USA and Russia), Extramural Research, Intellectual Property Rights, Technology Acquisition and Industry Interaction. He was also Chief Controller for Aeronautical Cluster of laboratories of DRDO providing leadership and guidance for many important Programmes in Combat Aircrafts, Unmanned Air Vehicles, Gas Turbine Engines, Avionics and Aerostats. He spearheaded commercialization of DRDO technologies into civilian products through a customized programme with FICCI.
He has won many awards including the Padma Shri in 2015 in recognition of his exceptional service and contribution. He was awarded DRDO’s Scientist of the Year and many other honours including the Eminent Engineers Award for the year 2009 by Institution of Engineers, Delhi State Centre and The LifeTime Achievement Award- 2010 by Hyderabad Management Association among others.