A. Sivathanu Pillai

A. Sivathanu Pillai is an Indian scientist who was an honorary distinguished professor at Indian Space Research Organisation (2015–2018) and an honorary professor at IIT Delhi in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (2015–2016) and a visiting professor at Indian Institute of Science (2014–2015).

He is the president of Project Management Associates and is the former chairperson of the board of governors of the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra.

He was Chief Controller of Research and Development from 1996 to 2014 and held the rank of "Distinguished Scientist" from 1999 to 2014 at the Defence Research and Development Organisation at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of India. He is also the founder-CEO and managing director of the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.

He also previously was Vice President of International Project Management Association and as Special Secretary representing India in the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation.

Early life and education Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai was born in Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu on 15 July 1947. He completed his schooling at D.V.D. Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil. He earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Thiagarajar College of Engineering

In 1991, he attended the six-week Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He then earned PhD in Technology Management from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 1996. Pillai is a close friend of former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Career Sivathanu Pillai introducing a model missile to 13th Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh at BrahMos Complex in New Delhi. 13th President of India Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Bhushan Sivathanu Pillai at an Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi.

Academia Pillai is as honorary distinguished professor

He joined DRDO in 1986 and was the Programme Director of IGMDP under the leadership of A. P. J. Kalam. He contributed to the successful development of SLV III as a core team member and to the evolution of PSLV configuration for ISRO.

Brahmos Aerospace In August 2007 he was given a third extension of his retirement date by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Pillai is regarded as the "Father of Brahmos", the joint venture between India and Russia to design, develop, produce and market the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos and he is the chief executive and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace. In 2007, under his leadership as CEO of Brahmos Aerospace, the company bought Kerala Hitech Industries Limited. It has been then converted into Brahmos Aerospace Trivandrum Limited, the second missile making unit of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for a world-class missile facility with system integration and testing.

Awards and honours Year of award or honor Name of award or honor Awarding organization 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award Rotary International. 2014 Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management. 2014 Order of Friendship President of Russia. 2013 Padma Bhushan President of India. 2009 DRDO Technology Leadership Award Prime Minister of India. 2009 Level A certification of Project Directorship International Project Management Association (IPMA), Switzerland. 2008 Honorary Doctorate Thapar University, India. 2007 Honorary Doctorate Avinashilingam University, India. 2006 Honorary Doctorate Bharathiar University, India. 2006 Honorary Doctorate State Marine Technical University of St. Petersburg, Russia. 2006 Honorary Doctorate Andhra University, India. 2006 Raja Rammohan Puraskar Award Ministry of Defence. 2005 DRDO Performance Excellence Award Ministry of Defence. 2005 Honorary Doctorate Sathyabama University, India. 2005 Honorary Doctorate Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, India. 2003 The Order of the Peter the Great and the Academician of the university The Moscow University of Security, Defence and Law Enforcement, Russia. 2003 Award for dedicated service, co-operation, development and peace OISCA International, Japan. 2002 Padma Shri President of India. 2001 Dr. Davidson Frame Award University of Technology & Management, USA. 1988 DRDO Scientist of the year Ministry of Defence.

Books, research papers and journals Sivathanu Pillai is a published author and coauthor of several books, research papers and journals.