Dr Pal, a space communication technologist, accomplished researcher, academician, administrator and visionary of great repute is former: Prof Satish Dhawan Professor & Senior Advisor Satellite Navigation Programme (ISRO), Distinguished Scientist, Associate Director and also Programme Director Satellite Navigation Programme at ISRO Satellite Centre Bangalore, is President of Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers –India
He joined Indian Space Research Organisation in 1971 after a brief tenure at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Dr Pal pioneered the Space borne communication activities at the ISRO Satellite Centre at its inception. He is responsible for development of all Indian Satellite based on-board Telecommunication Systems, starting from Aryabhat to IRS, INSAT, GSAT, Low Earth Orbit series of spacecrafts and Chandrayan. The team created by him has worked for MARS-Orbiter Mission He is also responsible for pioneering satellite based navigation activities in India. He spear-headed the Indian Satellite Based Wide Area Augmentation System - GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation System) from infancy to blossom and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) for aviation activities for civilian & restricted users. (GAGAN SYSTEM is certified for RNP-1 & IRNSS first satellite was launched in July 2013). He is the originator of Satellite Navigation Programme in India. During his ~ 43 years career at ISRO he developed many innovative technologies
Dr Pal is widely respected for his knowledge and the same in his various areas of expertise, has been utilized as a consultant, by a number of national and international organizations, viz; (i)INMARSAT/ICO(UK) (ii) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (iii) Nan yang Technology University & many more. Dr Pal was on the United Nations panel of experts on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Chaired/participated in various UN meetings. Dr Pal has received more than one and a half dozen national and international awards. Besides these he holds patents for his various inventions. He is also recipient of IEEE-2010 Judith A. Resnik Award. He has been awarded the coveted: BITS Pilani Distinguished Alumni Award in the Category of Professional Management of Business, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to society.
Dr Pal has published/presented more than 220 papers in international, national journals and conferences of repute, one book on communications & guided number of PhD students. He is a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Indian National Academy of Engineering. Presently he is on the Distinguished Lecturer Programme of AESS-IEEE- Under the DLT Scheme, he has delivered invited talks, lectures and tutorials on antennas, GNSS, Space and RF communications at NTU Singapore, NASA & IEEE-Houston(USA), Bradford University UK, Many Universities at Republic of South Africa . He is also a Senior Adviser on ICT curriculum and other academic matters to newly formed Institute of ICT-Ahmadabad University Gujarat and BITS Pilani. Dr Pal is Honorary Professor of number of Indian Universities.
His field of interest are: RF Space Communications, Space Technology, Microwaves, Electromagnetics, Antennas, Radars, Digital Communication and Satellite Navigation –(GNSS). He is recognized as an expert in these areas at international level.