Dr Vivek Lall, a renowned scientist and global leader in critical and emerging technologies, was honoured with the World Leaders Award at the UK Parliament last week. The prestigious award recognizes his significant contributions in the field and was presented in the presence of several world leaders. This accolade adds to his distinguished career, which includes receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of the United States.
Transformative Defence Deals
Lall’s impact on defence cooperation between India and the United States is monumental. His visionary leadership has facilitated several significant defence deals, transforming the landscape of bilateral defence relations. Among the notable deals are:
– Boeing Company’s procurement of P8I Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft worth US$3 billion for the Indian Navy.
– Acquisition of 22 Anti-ship Harpoon missiles from Boeing in a deal valued at US$200 million.
-Procurement of AH-64E Apache Guardian Attack Helicopters and CH-47F (I) Chinook helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in a deal worth US$5 billion.
– Acquisition of 10 C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transport aircraft for US$4 billion.
Currently, he is leading negotiations for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from General Atomics a deal that is yet to be signed and is valued at under US$3 billion. His relentless pursuit of strengthening India-US defence relations has ushered in an era of technological advancements and strategic collaboration.
High-Profile Advisory Roles
Dr Lall’s influence extends to various high-profile advisory roles. In 2023, he was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Quad Investors Network, an initiative announced by The White House. Furthermore, he was appointed through the Pentagon as a United States Technical Team member to the NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO). His expertise is also sought after by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), where he serves on the Industry Advisory Board.
In addition to these roles, he is an active member of several US Chamber of Commerce Boards. He sits on the Board of Directors of the US Japan Business Council and the US India Business Council, both based in Washington DC. His academic contributions are significant as well; he serves as a Senior Advisor to the Center for Commerce and Diplomacy at the University of California, San Diego, and is on the Board of the Center for Advancing Global Business at San Diego State University.
Key Advisory Role in Aviation
In 2018, Dr. Lall was appointed to a key advisory role by the United States Government, advising the US Cabinet Secretary heading the Department of Transportation. This position encompasses entities like the Federal Aviation Administration, impacting both US and global aviation policies and technologies.
Fostering US-India Technology Cooperation
For the past two decades, Dr Lall has been a pivotal figure in fostering high-end technology cooperation between the US and India. His work with major US companies, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and General Atomics, has been instrumental in strengthening technological ties and advancing innovations in both nations.