Saktipada Dash takes over as director of DERL

Dash handed over charge to M V K V Prasad who took over today as the new Director of ITR, defence sources said. Prasad was a senior scientist at Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad before the new appointment.

Having done his B Tech in Electronics & Communication Engg from IIT, Kharagpur in 1977, Dash was involved in the design development of avionics systems for all the missile programmes like Trishul, NAG, Akash, Astra, Brahmos, Prithvi and Agni which are now under production.

He was the first Odia to become the Director of ITR, Chandipur. For his outstanding contribution for the DRDO missile programme, he has received Prime Minister`s DRDO award for path breaking research and performance excellence four times for various projects like Prithvi and Agni.

He had the unique recognition of being the Director of three DRDO laboratories.