After his degree in Science in 1963 and Engineering in 1967 from Mysore University he took his Post Graduate degree from IIT Madras in 1969. He got his Doctorate under Commonwealth Scholarship in Control Systems from Salford University, UK. He joined Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in 1969 and since then he held several responsibilities like Group Director, Project Director, Deputy Director, Avionics, Associate Director (R&D) VSSC. He took over as Director VSSC in 2003 and continued till Nov. 2007. He was also Member, Space Commission. He took over as Director, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in July 2007. He is also Vikram Sarabhai Professor.

His fields of specialization are design of launch vehicles, aerospace control systems, navigation & guidance systems, vehicle avionics, modeling and simulation. He was deeply involved in the development of all launch vehicles of ISRO and particularly guided the design of complex navigation, guidance and control systems.

He is a fellow of several Professional Societies like International Academy of Astronautics, Paris, Indian National Academy of Engineering, Delhi, Astronautically Society of India, Bangalore, System Society of India and Aeronautical Society of India. He served as President for System Society of India for 6 years. He was the Chairman for the International Programme Committee of the International Astronautical Congress held during Sept. 2007. As head of Indian delegation for the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at Vienna, Austria he took active part to protect the interest of Indian Space programme in UN meeting for four years during 2003-07. He was selected as Chairman for the prestigious United Nations Scientific and Technical Committee by the Asia Pacific Countries for the year 2006. This was a unique distinction for India, since its inception for almost for 42 years no technical expert from a developing Country was selected for this coveted post.

He was won several awards & honors and prominent among are “Dr. Biren Roy space science design Award” from Aeronautical Society of India, “Agni Award” for excellence in self reliance, “ASI Award” for contribution to rocket & related technologies, by Astronautical Society of India, “Distinguished alumni Award” from IIT Madras “Lifetime Achievement Award” for excellent contribution to engineering science, by Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) Delhi, “National Systems Gold Medal” for lifetime contribution for large Systems by System Society of India. In recognition of his meritorious contributions for Science and Technology, Govt. of India conferred on him ”Padmasree” during 2002.

He has published more than 40 technical papers in both National and International Symposiums, Conferences and Journals and guided about 500 technical reports in several technical areas.