1991/MT/AE Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India
Dr. Devanahalli Krishnamurthy Sunil is a distinguished aerospace engineer and leader whose career of over 37 years at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been defined by an unwavering commitment to building India’s indigenous defence capabilities. Rising through the ranks to become Chairman and Managing Director of HAL in 2024, he has been a driving force in the nation’s journey toward self-reliance in defence aerospace, shaping programmes that have transformed what India designs, manufactures, and deploys in the sky.
He completed his B.E in Electronics and Communication from Osmania University in 1987 and his M.Tech. in Aircraft Production Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 1991. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Electronics Science from the University of Hyderabad in 2019, reflecting a lifelong commitment to learning that has continued alongside a demanding career in leadership.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Sunil has made seminal contributions to India’s defence ecosystem. He played a pivotal role in certifying the first airborne radio for the Light Combat Aircraft, led the development of the ACS 235 secure radio that replaced an imported system on the Advanced Light Helicopter, and as Programme Manager for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, achieved key technology breakthroughs including a High-Power Radar Power Supply and Voice Activated Control System. As Director of Engineering and R&D from 2022, he oversaw the first flight of the LCA Mk 1A, military certification of the HTT-40 trainer, and the certification of the GTEG Starter Engine. Under his leadership as CMD, HAL achieved the prestigious Maharatna status, becoming the first defence PSU to receive this distinction.
Beyond HAL, Dr. Sunil has contributed extensively to India’s scientific and industrial landscape as Chairman of the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council, Board Member of IN-SPACe, and member of the governing bodies of CSIR-NAL and ADA. He holds 12 copyrights in wireless communication, one granted patent, and has published six peer-reviewed international journals. His contributions have also been recognised through notable national honours, including the SCOPE Eminence Award in Institutional Excellence for the year 2022–23, IETE Shri Devi Singh Tyagi Memorial Award for the year 2025 and the Raksha Mantri Award for Excellence in the Defence & Aerospace Sector for the year 2021–22. Considering his exceptional contributions to the profession of engineering and iconic leadership in the field of Aerospace & Defence, he has been conferred with the Fellowship by the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE).
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the nation and to the field of defence aerospace, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and its alumni are proud to confer Dr. D. K. Sunil with the Distinguished Alumni Award for the year 2026.
