Air Vice Marshal Pawan Kumar, VM (Retd.) is a distinguished aerospace leader, former Director General of the Defence Space Agency (DSA), and a senior advisor in India's deep-tech and academic ecosystems.

Following a highly decorated 36-year career as an Indian Air Force Fighter pilot and a Diplomat, AVM Pawan Kumar transitioned to the frontier of national security, leading India's military space strategy as the Director General of the Defence Space Agency. Today, he leverages this unparalleled operational expertise in mentoring the next generation of aerospace and defense startups as well as bridges the gap between industry & academia. He serves as an Honorary Distinguished Professor at Delhi Technological University and an Adjunct Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.