The Appointment Committee of Cabinet, on May 27, 2024, approved the extension in service of Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat for a period of one year, beyond his normal age of superannuation (May 31, 2024), i.e. up to May 31, 2025. He was appointed to this post on August 25, 2022. Dr Kamat is an alumni of IIT Kharagpur and The Ohio State University, USA and joined DRDO in 1989. Prior to the appointment of Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr Kamat served as Director General (Naval Systems and Materials)
Dr Kamat is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and Institution of Engineers India (IEI). He is a recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Kharagpur, Metallurgist of the Year Award from Ministry of Steel and Scientist of the Year Award from DRDO. He has published more than 180 papers in international peer-reviewed journals.