'Missile Woman Of India': Meet Senior DRDO Scientist Dr Tessy Thomas, Brain Behind Agni-5, Who Once Aspired To Become IAS

Tessy Thomas was born in April 1963 in Thathampally of Kerala. Growing up in a modest family, Dr. Tessy Thomas developed a fascination for science and technology from a young age. Growing up near the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Stations attracted towards the rockets and missiles. She did her schooling from St Michael Hiigher Secondary School and St Joseph Girl's Higher Secondary School. 

Dr Tessy Thomas did B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1983 from the University Of Calicut and then pursued DRDO-sponsored ME in Guided Missiles from the Institute of Armament Technology. She also did PhD in Missile Guidance from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad in 2014. She obtained MBA in Operations Management from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, in 2007. According to reports, she aspired to be an IAS and gave the prestigious UPSC exam but since her DRDO interview got cleared first, she decided to serve the nation with the higly prestigious institution. 

Tessy Thomas Joined IAT, Pune as a faculty member in Guided Missiles in the year 1986. She joined the Inertial Navigation group as Scientist ‘B’ in 1988 at Hyderabad. She has been associated with Agni Programme right from its developmental flights. She has designed the guidance scheme for long-range missile systems which is used in all Agni missiles. An energy management guidance scheme was designed and developed for the first time in the country for an all – solid propelled long-range system for which she was conferred with Agni Self Reliance Award in the year 2001.

In her work spanning more than 32 years, Dr Tessy Thomas has contributed in various fields such as Guidance, Control, Inertial Navigation, Trajectory Simulation and Mission Design. She was leading a major project AGNI-4 as Project Director, for a state-of-art system with many new technologies for the first time and successfully flight tested and proven and was also Project Director (Mission) for the long range AGNI-5 system and successfully flight tested and proven. 

Dr Tessy Thomas is the recipient of many prestigious awards including DRDO Agni Award for Excellence in Self-Reliance in 2001; DRDO Award for Path-breaking Research/Outstanding Technology Development-2007; DRDO Scientist of the Year Award in 2008; DRDO Performance Excellence Award for Agni 4 in 2011; DRDO Performance Excellence Award for Agni 5 in 2012; Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration Academics and Management in 2012; Suman Sharma Award by The Institution of Engineers (India), National Design and Research Forum for Engineering Design in 2009; Smt. Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Industrial Research Award for Women Scientists in 2009 by VASVIK; Maharana Udai Singh Award by Maharana Mewar Foundation Annual Awards for Contribution in the field of S&T in 2013 and Madam Marie Curie Mahila Vijnana Puraskar in 2012 to name a few.

Dr. Tessy Thomas' story showcases the power of passion, determination, and perseverance. Her journey inspires aspiring scientists, particularly women, to pursue their dreams, break barriers, and make significant contributions to their respective fields. Despite facing gender stereotypes and challenges in a male-dominated field, Dr. Tessy Thomas persevered and emerged as a trailblazer. She shattered glass ceilings and became a role model for women in the field of science and technology.