Missile Woman Tessy Thomas Appointed As DRDO's DG Aeronautics

The country’s top woman missile scientist, Tessy Thomas, Director of the Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad, has now been elevated to head the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). She has been appointed as a Director-General to head the DRDO's aeronautical projects.

Thomas is the first woman to be appointed as DRDO’s DG (Aeronautics). Also, the 55-year-old Tessy Thomas is the third woman DG to head a technological cluster of DRDO.

Popularly known as Agni Putri, she successfully launched the Agni missiles. Thomas will succeed CP Ramnarayan, who will retire at the end of this month. She will be moving to Bengaluru and take the charge of the position from June 1^st.

Also: All About Tessy Thomas: First Woman To Head Missile Mission In India

The missile woman of India will be heading aeronautics, which is one of the 10 technological clusters of DRDO labs and establishments.

Talking about her appointment, she said, “I am happy at the new responsibility given to me by the DRDO and am confident of handling the challenges. It’s all a part of life.”

The aeronautics cluster lab comprises five Bengaluru-based laboratories.

Agni Putri

Thomas has been progressing fast in her career right after she became the first woman to lead a missile project with Agni II in 2010. Not only in India, but in the whole world, she became the first woman scientist to head an important missile project. Though the project failed, she led Agni IV to a successful test launch the following year.

Also: Women Scientists To Train 60 Class XI Girls From Rural Maharashtra

Thomas, from Alappuzha in Kerala, has been associated with the Agni project since 1988.

However, it was the successful launch of Agni 4 in 2011 that catapulted her to fame.

WOMAN POWER IN DRDO

Other women DGs in DRDO are Shashibala Singh, Chitra Rajagopal and, Hina Gokhale.

In her new role as the head of the aeronautics cluster, she will be overseeing some of the crucial projects which have been delayed for many years. She will oversee the projects that have been delayed and waiting to enter the armed forces for many years.

Also Read: Scientists Speak Up Against Sexual Abuse In Science Labs

Deepali Is An Intern With SheThePeople.TV