Rajesh Kumar Singh and Sameer Kamat

New Delhi: Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh Has been given additional charge of the post of Secretary and Chairman, Department of Defense Research and Development Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) because current DRDO chief Sameer V Kamat is retiring.Singh will assume additional responsibilities from May 31 as the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) issued the order on Friday evening.During Kamat’s tenure as DRDO chairman from August 2022, the research organization focused on structural reforms, advancing cutting-edge technologies like quantum computing and stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles, and accelerating indigenous systems for the armed forces.Kamat emphasized on advancements in Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), indigenous electric propulsion for warships and space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). His tenure also saw the expansion of 15 DRDO Industry Academy Centers of Excellence to pursue translational research.Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1989 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre and current Defense Secretary, took over as Defense Secretary in South Block on November 1, 2024. Before assuming the post, he had taken charge as OSD (Defence Secretary-designate) on August 20, 2024. Before his appointment as Defense Secretary, Singh served as Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade from April 24, 2023, to August 20. 2024. Earlier, Singh had held several key positions including Director (Works and Urban Transport) in the Ministry of Urban Development, Commissioner (Land) in DDA and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.