New Delhi: Eminent scientist AS Kiran Kumar was Monday appointed Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman of Space Commission.
Kumar has been appointed for a period of three years on re-employment on a contract basis, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training said. He is currently working as Director, Space Applications Centre (SAC) — a unique centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) — and has been steering design, development, realisation and other programmes undertaken by it. Kumar is a Padma Shri awardee.
Shailesh Nayak, Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, was handling additional charge of the Department of Space. He was given the additional charge of the Department of Space for a month on January 1.
The post fell vacant following superannuation of K Radhakrishnan on December 31. — PTI