Dr Y Sreenivas Rao, Distinguished Scientist taken over as new DG(NS&M), DRDO.

Dr. Y Sreenivas Rao, Distinguished Scientist & Director NSTL took over as Director General (Naval Systems & Materials), Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) on 31 May 2023. Dr. Sreenivas Rao spearheaded the development of underwater weapons, platforms and associated systems, as Director of Naval Science & Technological Laboratory(NSTL), Visakhapatnam from 01 Jun 2021. 

A Graduate with distinction in Mechanical Engineering from JNTU, Hyderabad, he 

obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University. Dr Sreenivas Rao started his professional career at BHEL, Hyderabad as an expert in the areas of Manufacturing of Steam Turbines, Centrifugal Compressors and Gas Turbines. Later, he joined DRDO Hyderabad in 2000, and worked in various capacities in the Missile Defence Programme. Over a span of 22 years, he worked on various technologies like 

Communication systems, Missile systems and various warheads. 

As Project Director for Exo Interceptor Missile systems, he led a team in configuration, development and realisation of the state of the art ‘hit to kill’ interceptor missile systems capable of intercepting incoming missiles in Exo region. As a part of Mission Shakti, he played key role as Project Director for the development and realisation of the Interceptor Vehicle in a very short time period, overcoming many challenges, the entire activity culminated into a successful mission on 27 Mar 2019. He is the first Scientist to lead the Contingent Command for A-SAT “SHAKTI MISSION” at the Republic Day Parade on 26th January 2020.

Dr Sreenivas Rao is a Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), and The Institution of Engineers India (IEI). Dr Rao is also Life Member of International Ballistic Society (IBS), Indian National Society for Aerospace and Related Mechanisms (INSARM), and Society for Aerospace Quality and Reliability (SAQR). 

Dr Sreenivas Rao is the recipient of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Award as 

Eminent engineer from IEI Telangana State Centre. He is also the recipient of number of 

DRDO Awards in 2005, 2006 & 2009; Solar Shakti Award-2019; JNTU - Distinguished Fellow in 2019 and the SAE India – “Roll of Honor” Foundation Award for the year 2019-2020.