Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgali

Biography:

Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgali PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd) Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff

Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali was born in Bagalkot District, Karnataka in 1952. He studied in Sainik School Bijapur and graduated from the Indian Military Academy and was commissioned in First Battalion the Sikh Light Infantry in Dec 1972.

He has attended Defence Services Staff College, Higher Command Course at Army War College, National Defence College and Senior Fellowship Programme in Washington DC in USA. He is an M.Phil. from DAV Institute of Management, Indore.

He commanded First Battalion the Sikh Light Infantry, an Infantry Brigade and an Infantry Division on the Line of Control in Kashmir. He was also the Corps Commander of the prestigious Corps in Punjab. Thereafter, he was the Director General Military Training and later was the Deputy Chief of Army Staff at Army Headquarters.

He has been awarded three times by the President of India. Sena Medal Gallantry for displaying courage and bravery in the face of enemy in 1992. He was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and later the nations highest award of Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his outstanding & distinguished service to the Army and nation.

At the age of 59, he performed a solo skydive from over 12000 feet with less than two hours of training. This record breaking jump is featured in the Limca Book of World Records 2013 edition.

He has worked tirelessly towards the Strategic Development of Karnataka. The Karnataka Government has awarded him with the Sangoli Rayanna Award, Shivappa Keladi Nayaka Award, Rajyotsava and Karnataka Ratna.

On 18 April 2018, he was the first Indian to receive the International Leadership Award for Fight against Global Terrorism in New York from USA and Great Britain.

Email:

Dr. R. V. Nadagouda of Indian Space Research Organisation

Biography:

Dr. Ramanagouda V. Nadagouda has dedicated over 35 years to the advancement of India’s space program. His visionary leadership and pioneering contributions in spacecraft realization, integration, testing, and checkout activities have strengthened India’s self-reliance in space technology.

A graduate of NIT Surathkal, he joined ISRO in 1989 with a deep passion to serve the nation. Since then, he has played pivotal roles in landmark missions including Cartosat-1, INSAT-4B, Chandrayaan series, Mangalyaan, RISAT series (strategic EO satellites), ASTROSAT, Aditya-L1, SpaDex, Gaganayaan and forthcoming ambitious missions of ISRO

He is a key architect of the RISAT series, enabling rapid realization of all-weather, day- night Earth Observation satellites critical to national security, and played a decisive role in the success of Operation Sindoor. His initiatives in indigenization of critical technologies such as spacecraft checkout systems and advanced antenna systems have saved the nation hundreds of crores and reduced dependence on imports.

Through these achievements, Dr. Nadagouda exemplifies the spirit of fostering a globally competitive Indian space sector. His contributions have also accelerated research and innovation across academia and industry and to establish strong and robust Space Manufacturing and applications ecosystem in Karnataka.

Coming from a humble Agriculture and background in rural Karnataka, he has ensured that the benefits of space reach society. He has organized National Space Day celebrations, ISRO Robotics Challenge, Kannada Technical Seminars, World Space Week and numerous science outreach programs. These initiatives have inspired thousands of young minds, especially from rural Karnataka, to dream of becoming innovators and leaders in science and technology. Recognizing these commendable achievements, he has been awarded a honourary doctorate by a University in Karnataka and received many more awards and distinctions.

Dr. Vinod Chippalkatti of Centum Electronics

Biography:

Dr Vinod S Chippalkatti leads, Strategic Electronics Business Unit (SEBU) at Centum Electronics Limited, Bangalore.

He has master’s degree in engineering from Indian Institute of Science and PhD in Space Electronics from REVA University. He has overall 36 years of experience. He is a senior member IEEE, fellow of Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers (India), Institution of Engineers (India) and other professional bodies. He has around 125 technical papers at the National and International level.

He has 16 granted patents at Centum. He served Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Bangalore for ten years working on System Integration of India’s Communication Satellites. Subsequently, he joined Centum Electronics in the year 2000 as head of Design and Engineering.

He has been a part of Centum’s growth story as a key member of the management team. He is actively involved in Centum scaling-up to be a leading Indian Industry in Design & Manufacturing of High Reliability and High Technology modules, subsystems and systems in Defense, Space and Aerospace segments. He is the national Executive Committee member of Indian Space Association ISpA for 2025-27.

Personal Details and Educational Qualification:

• Date of Birth: 22-07-1967
• Educational Qualifications:
o BE (E&C) – NITK Surathkal 1985-89
o ME (Telecom) – IISc 1998-2000
o PG Diploma in IPR Laws – National Law School of India University 2016-18
o PhD in Space Electronics – REVA University 2024

• Honors and Awards:
o Astronautical Society of India – ASI award in Satellite and Related Technology
for 2024
o “Engineer of the Year award 2025” by HKBK College of Engineering, Bangalore
o REVA Engineering Excellence Award – 2018
o IETE's BV Baliga Award (2017)

Professional Details:
• Engineer – R&D at Sundaram Clayton Ltd, a TVS Company – 1989 to 1990
• Scientist at Indian Space Research Organisation 1990-2000
• Engineering Manager to President SEBU at Centum Electronics Limited since 2000
• 16 Granted Patents at Centum out of 19 applied.
• More than 125 technical publications at National and International level in Conferences and Journals.

• Additional Recognitions and Memberships:
o National Executive Member of Indian Space Association (ISpA) for 2025-27
o Senior Member IEEE
o Fellow at IETE
o Fellow at IE(I)
o Member Aeronautical Society of India
o Founding Member of Society for Small Satellites and Systems
o Life Member Indian Society of Systems for Science and Engineering (ISSE)
o Life Member - IMAPS (India)
o Life Member Astronautical Society of Indiao Member of CII – National Space Committee
o Member of CII – National Design Committee
o Member of FICCI Space and Geospatial application committee

Mr. Sunil Kulkarni of Indian Space Research Organisation

Biography:

Sri SUNIL VENKATESH KULKARNI completed his M.E. Electrical communication in 1996, from Indian Institute of Science (IISc Bangalore) and B.E. from NIT surthkal (formerly known as Karnataka Regional Engineering College) in Electronics and communication in 1989 and joined URSC/ISRO in 1989.

He has been associated with Design and implementation Programmable Digital receivers using DSP algorithms using Field Programmable Gate Arrays and ASICs for Remote sensing satellites (IRS, RESOURCESAT, CARTOSAT & OCEANSAT series), Scientific satellites (CHANDRAYAAN-1,2 & MARS MISSION) and communication satellites.

He is associated with Project management of GAGANYAAN missions and development Baseband Data Handling and Solid-State Recorders systems for all Satellite missions.

He has received Team Excellence award for Mars Orbiter Mission and has published over more than 50 papers in various National and International journals

He is currently, Deputy Director, for Payload Data Management and Space Astronomy Group I U R RAO satellite Centre Bengaluru

Mr. Pramod Belgaonkar of Indian Space Research Organisation

Biography:

Pramod V. Belgaonkar , Engineer ’G’, received B.E. (Electronics Engineering) from Nagpur University in 1990. Joined Electrical Integration Division, UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bangalore and   contributed in the   areas related to Test systems & associated software development, 3D modeling software development for Spacecraft Electrical harness development & realization, EMI/EMC/ESD aspects of spacecraft systems, Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) of Indian Remote Sensing, Navigation and Geostationary class of satellites. As Project Manager, INSAT-4C, 4CR and RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite), he was responsible for Assembly, Integration, Testing, and evolution of Spacecraft Grounding scheme. He was the Focal Point for Electrical Integration activities of HYLAS. Further, as Deputy Project Director – Systems Integration for GSAT-7, GSAT-7A and IRNSS series was responsible for successful realization of these satellites.

Presently, he has the responsibility of Deputy Director, Integration & Checkout Area, URSC. Further, he’s heading various technical committees related to Spacecraft systems development, and member of various inter Center Committees, including LCA AF Mark2 Electrical Systems Optimization Committee.  

Mr. Puneet Kumar Mishra of Indian Space Research Organisation, IEEE AESS Bangalore Section Chapter

Biography:

Puneet Kumar Mishra earned his M.Tech (RF & Microwave) from IIT Roorkee in the year  2004. Since 2004 he is with U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bangalore. He has rich experience of RF characterization of 52 Satellites, 350+ antennas and radomes. . He has indigenously developed C-Band, Ku-Band, Ka-Band and Q/V Band Compact range feeds to meet various requirements of ISRO’s satellite program. He has played a pivotal role in establishing satellite level EMC facility and Asia’s largest Magnetic Field Measurement Facility. He has conceived and conceptualized World’s first compact range with 10 m quiet zone which was commissioned in Aug 2025. He has played pivotal role in design and development for Langmuir Probe Payload to study the RF Blackout Phenomenon during reentry of Spacecraft. He was also involved in first indegegeneous development of Busbars for high power spacecraft and is used in multiple spacecraft. Presently, he is Heading Electrical Integration-3 of Section of U R Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, India and Deputy Project Director (Integration ) of Venus Orbitor Mission and ResourceSat-3S/3SA spacecraft. He has Received IETE-IRSI Young Scientist Awards (2012), ISRO Young Scientist Award (2013), ASI-ISRO Space Gold Medal (2014), GE Foundation Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership (2002-2004), IEEE MGA Achievement Award (2017), IEEE Bangalore Section Medoal of Honor (2024) and IEEE Asia Pacific Region Outstanding Volunteer (2025) and 8 best paper awards. He is Fellow of IETE and IE(I), Senior Member of IEEE and Life Member of ASI and ISSE. He is a passionate volunteer and Global Vice President (Education) for IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society.