New Delhi. Leading Indian-American aerospace and defence expert Vivek Lall has been appointed as the Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation at its headquarters in San Diego, California.

Lall had in April last resigned as vice president of Aeronautics Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin, wanting to spend more time with his family in San Diego, where he resides. Within weeks, the world’s premier drone manufacturer roped him in.

“We are pleased to announce that Dr Vivek Lall will assume the position of Chief Executive at General Atomics Global Corporation effective immediately,” General Atomics (GA) said in a statement.

General Atomics (GA) is one of the world’s leading privately held nuclear and defence company.

“Dr Lall’s extensive experience in the US and international markets will strengthen the company’s international growth,” said General Atomics, which along with its affiliated companies operates on five continents.

For the Jakarta-born, Lall, this is his second stint with General Atomics, which produces a series of unmanned aircraft and provides electro-optical, radar, signals intelligence, and automated airborne surveillance systems.

In his new role as Chief Executive, Lall, 50, would be heading the General Atomics Global Corporation.

For over a decade now, Lall has been instrumental in major bilateral defence deals worth around US$18 billion. This includes the procurement of 24 MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters from Lockheed Martin for the Indian Navy worth US$2.6 billion, which was announced during the India visit of President Donald Trump in February.

He was appointed to the US Federal Aviation Advisory Committee two years ago and has overseen multiple campaigns as well as pan India strategic industrial tie-ups.

Trained as a private pilot at the Phoenix International Flight Training Center in Florida, Lall has conducted his doctoral work in collaboration with NASA.