Dr. Pillai’s fifty years of experience in ISRO and DRDO under the great visionary leaders Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. Satish Dhawan and long association with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam made him a Technology Leader in the field of Satellite Launch Vehicles, Guided Missiles and Aerospace Systems. Dr. Pillai’s contributions to the successful development of SLV-3 as a core team member and evolution of PSLV configuration for ISRO have been remarkable. His skills in networking multiple institutions for the development of critical missile technologies overcoming technology denial regimes imposed by developed nations, and innovative Program Management techniques enabled realization of Agni, Prithvi, Nag and Akash missiles under the IGMDP, as its Program Director and Chief Controller R&D of DRDO.

Dr. Pillai is a recipient of various prestigious awards including Technology Leadership Award, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Award, OISCA – Organization for Industrial, spiritual & Cultural Advancement, International Award from Japan, Raja Rammohan Puraskar, Lokamanya Tilak Award, Performance Excellence Award from Institution of Industrial Engineering, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award by the President of India and most importantly Padma Shri (2002) & Padma Bhushan (2013) by the Govt. of India for his contribution to Aerospace, Missile and Defence Technologies.