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Tessy Thomas
Tessy thomas.png
Director General (Aeronautical Systems), DRDO
In office
1 June 2018 (2018-06-01) – 30 April 2023
Preceded by CP Ramnarayan
Succeeded by M Z Siddique
Personal details
Born 1963 (1963) (age 62)
Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Spouse Saroj Kumar
Children 1
Occupation Project director at DRDO
Known for Agni Missile Project Director

Tessy Thomas, born in April 1963, is a brilliant Indian aerospace engineer. She is often called the "Missile Woman of India." She was a top leader at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). There, she served as the Director General of Aeronautical Systems. She was also the Project Director for the important Agni-IV ballistic missile.

Early Life and Education

Tessy Thomas was born in April 1963. Her hometown is Alappuzha in the state of Kerala, India. From a young age, she showed a keen interest in science and engineering.

A Career in Missile Technology

Tessy Thomas joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1988. DRDO is a special organization in India. It works on developing new technologies for the country's defense.

Working on the Agni Missile Series

When she started at DRDO, Tessy Thomas began working on the Agni missile series. These are powerful missiles designed for India's defense. She focused on the guidance and control systems. These systems help missiles fly accurately to their targets. She also worked on inertial navigation systems. These systems help the missile know exactly where it is going.

Leading the Agni-V Project

Tessy Thomas became the Project Director for the Agni-V missile. This was a very important project. The Agni-V is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). It can travel very long distances. Leading this project showed her great skill and leadership. She played a key role in making India strong in missile technology.

Personal Life

Tessy Thomas is married to Saroj Kumar. He is a commander in the Indian Navy. They have one son named Tejas.

Awards and Recognition

Tessy Thomas has received many awards for her amazing work. These awards recognize her contributions to India's defense.

Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award

She received the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award. This award honored her for helping India become self-reliant. This means India can develop its own missile technology. She made a huge difference in the field of missile development.

Other Notable Awards

In 2018, she won the Dr Thomas Cangan Leadership Award. This award was given at the Faculty of Management Studies – Institute of Rural Management, Jaipur. In 2023, she was named 'Woman pioneer of the year'. This award was given at the ETPrime Women Leadership Awards in Mumbai. Also in 2023, she was recognized by the Asian Scientist magazine. She was named one of the Asian Scientist 100. This list celebrates top scientists in Asia.

See also

  • Agni (missile)
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