IDD Bureau
US based Indian-American, Dr Vivek Lall, who, in the past, played a decisive role in some of the major defence deals between India and the US, has been inducted into the Global Board of Directors of the US –India Business Council (USIBC).
Also, separately, what will bridge the gap for the three-way US-India-Japan business relations, Dr Lall has been unanimously voted onto the board of the US-Japan Business council (USJBC)
In the past 12 years, or since 2008, the sales of US military equipment to India have touched $ 20 billion. The new global order means India and US will be working closely including on several new cutting-edge technologies, the experience of Dr Lall will matter.
Dr Lall is the Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation based at their headquarters in San Diego, California. General Atomics is one of the world’s largest privately held nuclear and defense companies.
The GA and affiliated companies operate on five continents. The company produces a series of unmanned aircraft (Predator) and provides electro-optical, radar, signals intelligence, and automated airborne surveillance systems. GA produces electro-magnetic aircraft launch and recovery systems, satellite surveillance, electro-magnetic rail gun, high power laser, hypervelocity projectile, and power conversion systems.
GA is the principal private sector participant in thermonuclear fusion research through its internationally recognized DIII-D and inertial confinement programs. GA is a leader in development of next-generation nuclear fission and high-temperature materials technologies.
India is looking at materials and metallurgy and also unmanned aircraft.
In the past Dr Lall has worked at senior positions at two separate US aerospace companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin and resulted in sales of their planes and helicopters to India.
The USIBC, in the past week, has also inducted four others in the Global Board of Directors — Dan Rosenthal, Managing Principal of Albright Stonebridge Group, Karan K. Bhatia, Head of Global Policy and Government Relations at Google, Bob Pragada, President and Chief Operating Officer, Jacobs and Paul Knopp US Chair and Chief Executive Officer KPMG LLP. The USIBC is leading industry body. Since Dr Lall is connected with Defence and military affairs, the IDD is featuring him and explaining his role in Indo-US relations. Read about USIBC here
Dr Lall’s experience is rich
In May 2018, Dr Lall was appointed by the United States Government in a key advisory role for a two-year term to the US Cabinet Secretary heading Department of Transportation (encompassing entities like the Federal Aviation Administration) in Washington DC which affects US and global aviation policies and technologies.
In January 2018, Dr Lall was appointed as Vice President of Aeronautics Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest defense company. In August 2014 he was appointed Chief Executive in charge of U.S. and International Strategic Development at General Atomics.
From 1996-2011, Dr Lall held numerous marketing and engineering leadership roles with The Boeing Company in Seattle including the airplane performance and propulsion group. He was appointed as Vice President and India Country Head, Boeing Defense Space & Security in May 2007.
Dr Lall worked as an adjunct faculty member at Embry- Riddle, McConnell Air Force Base. He also served as the founding Co-Chair of the US – India Aviation Cooperation Program launched by Norman Mineta in 2005. Prior to Boeing he worked for Raytheon and conducted research with NASA Ames Research Center in various multidisciplinary engineering fields.
Wide education & Honours
Dr Lall earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Carleton University in Canada and a Masters of Aeronautical Engineering degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. He also has his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University in Kansas and his MBA from City University in Seattle. He has also completed management and executive courses at the American Management Association in Washington DC.
Dr Lall has been recipient of several honors, including the 2008 OCA National Asian Pacific American Corporate Achievement Award in the US. Cambridge (UK) has listed him as one of only 2000 Outstanding Scientists of the Twentieth Century. He has also been cited in Who’s Who several times. He is in the Sigma Gamma Tau Aerospace Honor Society as well as the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society. He was President of the Mathematical Association of America. He has authored over hundred articles in various journals. He was also trained as a private pilot at the Phoenix International Flight Training Center in Florida.
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