Dr Surendra Pal, Vice Chancellor –Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (Deemed University) Pune, is an space communication technologist, accomplished researcher, academician, administrator and visionary of great repute. He is former: Satish Dawan Professor, Senior Advisor Satellite Navigation (ISRO), Distinguished Scientist, Prog. Director, Satellite Navigation(ISRO), Chairman GAGAN, Associate Director, ISRO Satellite Centre-Bangalore, Member AICTE-Governing Council, President Institution of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers – Inda (2012-2014), Sr. Advisor/Consultant, Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, Senior Advisor-ICT-Ahmadabad University, Aditya Birla Chair 2013 (BKBIT Pilani), ITU Consultant, ICO Consultant & GNSS Expert for UN Office for Outer Space and Dr.Pal is Honorory Professor of number of Indian Universities Dr Pal joined Indian Space Research Organisation in 1971 after a brief tenure at TIFR. He was responsible for development of all Indian Satellite onboard Telecommunication Systems, starting from Aryabhat to IRS, INSAT, GSAT, Low Earth Orbit series of spacecrafts and Chandrayan. He is also responsible for pioneering satellite based navigation activities in India. He spear headed the Indian Satellite Based Wide Area Augmentation System – GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation System) from infancy to blossom and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) for aviation activities for civilian & restricted users.(GAGAN SYSTEM is operational after certification by DGCA for civil aviation).
Dr Pal a Distinguished Fellow of IETE, Fellow of INAE, FNASc, FIEEE(USA), FIET(UK), MIAA((Paris), FVEDA, MASI & has received more than twenty two national and international awards that includes Vikram Sarabhai , Om Prakash Bhashin , ISRO Excellence & NRDC awards etc. IEEE (US) announced its top level awards and him to be the recipient for the prestigious IEEE-2010 Judith A. Resnik Award. He is the 1st Indian national and 1st Professional to get this prestigious award east of France. In August 2012 he has been awarded the coveted: BITS Pilani Distinguished Alumni Award by Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla in the Category of Professional Management of Business, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to society.