Shri Jayant D. Patil

Mr. Patil is an alumnus of IIT Mumbai and current President of Indian National Academy of ngineering & a Member of the Board of IN_SPACe (Space Sector Regulator and Promotion Board). He had a rich, nearly five-decade long career in L&T, and served India’s strategic sectors for 4 decades encompassing Defence, Strategic Defence, Aerospace segments in service of the Nation. He served on L&T’s Board as a Whole Time Director L&T and Member of Executive Committee of Management for Defence, Aerospace, & New Age Smart Technology (Semiconductors, L&T NxT, Smart Cities) businesses besides numerous leadership (Board) positions in companies within the L&T Group. Mr Patil superannuated from multiple board positions in L&T Group on 31st March 2025 and continues to Serve as Trustee of the L&T Employee Trust (Holding Trust) and associated companies, besides numerous other board positions and advisory positions with MSME’s and startups.
 

He joined L&T’s Corporate R&D and for over two decades he Designed & Developed Industrial Plants & Systems for wide range of core industries before leading L&T’s forays in the Defence Sector since mid-eighties, more than one and a half decades ahead of opening of this sector for participation by Private Sector. He participated in wide range of DRDO’s programs, Strategic Programs and in the Indigenisation drive of the Indian Navy as development partner. His team was awarded first ever complete system of system development program for a complete IGMDP weapon system by Dr Kalam way back in 1988.
 

Under his Stewardship, L&T built a bouquet of more than 350 indigenous products, technologies, systems, system of systems, solutions and platforms both through own in-house R&D efforts, and by teaming up with DRDO & the Indian Armed Forces. He set up 4 greenfield Defence Production Complexes at Talegaon - Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Hazira - Surat) and oversaw 4 existing production units (at Powai, Hazira, Vizag, and Mega Shipyard at Kattupalli) of L&T dedicated to Defence & Aerospace manufacturing and became the Largest Private Sector Defence Company in India.
 

Patil oversaw and mentored L&T’s Space business, to evolve as the longest & most mature industry partner of ISRO (>5 decades) as the development and production partner for Space Launch Vehicles, multiple special test facilities & Material independence to indigenously develop capabilities in denial regimes.
 

He is founding Vice President and Past President of Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). He is founding Chairman of Indian Space Association (ISpA). He served on National committees of CII and FICCI as also chaired CII and FICCI Defence & Space National Committees.
 

He has served on numerous National Committees and held multiple board positions over his rich career spanning nearly five decades.
 

Mr Patil features in ‘100 Great IITians’ for his dedicated service to nation building, a recognition conferred on those IITians who refused to be lured by west and significantly contributed to India’s growth. He has been conferred Fellowship by Indian National Academy of Engineering and Project Management Associates India in recognition of exemplary contribution made towards successful projects of National importance. He is celebrated by his alma mater, with the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award in the Diamond Jubilee Year of IITB. He is conferred with Honorary Membership by Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), and Pascal Award for Lifetime Achievement in Fluid Power by Fluid Power Society of India in its Golden Jubilee Year in 2023. He is also recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award by AIMTDR (All India Manufacturing Technology, Design & Research).