Lt Gen AK Bhatt Chairperson, BoG, [IIIT, Ranchi] PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM (Retd.) Director General, Indian Space Association (former DGMO, MS & GOC 15 Corps) chairperson@iiitranchi.ac.in
Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd) is currently the Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), an apex industry body created to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry. He has been the first Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA).
General Bhatt has held apex leadership and management positions in the Indian Army at the Army Headquarters in the Indian Defense services for over 38 years. Among his many appointments, he has been Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Chief of Army Staff twice, while serving in the capacity of Military Secretary, responsible for HR management in the Army as the Director General Military Operations wherein he was responsible for operational of the entire Indian Army. He was DGMO during the critical period of Doklam faceoff with Chinese in 2017.
General Bhatt has held critical operational appointments of the Corps Commander of Prestigious Chinar Corps in Srinagar in 2018 and General Office Commanding Division in Assam. Both the assignments involved intimate interactions with multiple agencies including Central and State Govts, members of civil society and academia. His ability to synergize and implement challenging decisions, taking along all stake holders together has been his forte. General Bhatt has spearheaded several projects and has demonstrated great ability in building collaborative consensus while providing mentorship.
He has headed numerous studies aimed at developing implementable solutions to complex challenges and has unparalleled insight when it comes to the functioning of the Ministry of Defense, Department of Military Affairs, State Govt and Civil Administration. General Bhatt has an eye for astute quality, an unerring ability to ensure everyone under his charge complies to laws, rules and regulations and has built many a top-quality team of professionals that demonstrate this. Amongst his many military assignments is his command of a multinational unit in a UN mission in the Lebanon – Israel border and tenure as instructor in Commando Wing.
During a career spanning four decades, General Bhatt has been the recipient of several awards from the Government of India. The most recent include the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2021) and other prestigious recognitions such as Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (2019), Ati Vishist Seva Medal (2015), Sena Medal (2014), Vishist Seva Medal (2012), Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card (2008) for his dedicated service to the nation.
General Bhatt is a graduate of Army Staff College in UK, he has a Masters in Management Studies from Osmania University and an M.Phill in Defense & Strategic Studies from the prestigious Madras University in Chennai. He has done his early Schooling from Hampton Court School and St George’s College in Mussoorie.
On 26th August 2023, The President of India has appointed him as the Chairman of Board of Governors of IIIT Kota for a period of three years.
As Director General of Indian Space Association (ISpA) he has been working relentlessly to create and energize the private space ecosystem in India and has been at the forefront as a single voice of the entire Space Sector.