The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved appointment of Christopher as Secretary, Department of defence research and development-cum-director general, DRDO for a period of two years from the date of taking over the charge, an order issued by the department of personnel and training said.
Christopher is presently distinguished scientist and programme director (airborne early warning and control system) and Director, Centre for Air-Borne Systems in the DRDO.
Another scientist G S Reddy was appointed as the scientific adviser to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for a two-year term. Reddy is distinguished scientist and director, Research Centre Imarat, and programme director of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile in the DRDO.
The Department of Defence Research and Development has remained under additional charge of the defence secretary, after Avinash Chander's contract was curtailed by the government.
Chander contract as secretary, DoDRD-cum-DG DRDO and scientific adviser to raksha mantri was terminated with effect from January 31. His contract would have otherwise ended in May 2016.
Established in 1980, the DoDRD advises the government on scientific aspects of military equipment and logistics and the formulation of research, design and development plans for the equipment required by the three Services.
Recently appointed Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar was on Monday given the additional charge of the secretary, DoDRD. Former Defence Secretary R K Mathur, who completed his two-year term on Sunday, was handling the additional charge of DoDRD before Kumar.