New Delhi: Dr Vivek Lall, one of the most prominent Indian-origin leaders in the global aerospace and defence sector, was today appointed as the Chief Executive at the American company General Atomics Global Corporation.

He will be responsible for expanding GA Global’s footprint world over and manage sales, service, and international industrial collaboration in strategically important countries like Japan, Australia, the UAE, and others.

“Dr Lall’s extensive experience in US and international markets will strengthen the company’s international growth,” General Atomics Corp. said in a statement.

General Atomics is a leading privately-held nuclear and defence company and has in its portfolio systems such as the Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and the armed drones such as Avenger that India is interested in for its future aircraft carriers and for the army, navy and the air force use respectively.

Dr Lall was until April was Vice President of Aeronautics Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin Corp. and was spearheading the F-21 combat jet campaign of the American defence giant for the Indian Air Force‘s requirement of 114 combat jets for the future.

General Atomics Global Corporation has its headquarters in San Diego, California, a city that Dr Lall has made his home most of this gone by decade.

Dr Lall had left Lockheed Martin Corporation just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit nations globally resulting in a lock-down to spend more time with his family.

After a two-month break from international travel, Dr Lall will be back in action at GA Global. He has previously served at GA before his stint at Lockheed Martin Corp.

Dr Lall has vast experience in the India market, having previously served at Boeing Co. handling defence business in the South Asian nation. He is credited with scripting key defence deals between the United States and India over the last 15 years, including the P-8I surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy and others.