Missile scientist G Satheesh Reddy on Saturday was appointed as the new chairman of Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation(DRDO) by the Government. He is the scientific adviser to the defence minister and will now head DRDO for two years. This post was lying vacant for the last three months after then chief S Christopher completed his term. Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra was then given additional charge of the DRDO.
A reputed scientist, Reddy was holding charge as the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister and also as Director General of the strategic missiles division before taking the new responsibility. As head of the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) he is credited with the indigenous development of seeker technology, a critical component in missiles. His name as DRDO chief was cleared by the AppointmentsCommittee of Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister.