Raghavan Gopalaswami

Born on 20 June 1936, Raghavan Gopalaswami obtained a First Class (Honors) Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Madras University (1959); Master of Science Degree, Rocket Technology, Cranfield University Institute of Technology, U.K. (1970); and Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School, U.S.A (1984). An Indian Air Force aeromechanical engineering officer, he served the Air Force in operational units in wars in 1960’s and in 1971. He was Founder & Head Liquid Propulsion Division of DRDL Hyderabad for 16 years; and then Chairman and Managing Director Bharat Dynamics Ltd. After retirement in 1994, he continued research in strategic management, organization development; technology & national security, space solar power, design of low cost, fully reusable space transportation; mega-scale solar powered seawater desalination systems and environmental air & infrasound pollution. He was a close professional associate of the late former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for over 4 decades.