Chandreshekhar Sonwane

Shekar was associated with several universities during his undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral studies. These include the University of California at Berkeley, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Unilever India Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, and Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan. He worked at US National Institute of Standards and Technology and General Electric, Gas Turbines in Greenville, SC. He joined Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (which late became Aerojet Rocketdyne) in 2009 and is still working with them as Specialist Scientist. This is where he has been involved in a few projects that are benefiting United States Space as well as Defense industries. These include Space Launch System, Torpedoes, Rockets and other propulsion systems. He has invented more than 50 patents and patent applications globally. He has published 30 journal articles, 40 conference papers, and 20 company reports. Meanwhile, he enjoyed teaching at different schools and colleges. He also volunteers as Chairman of Board American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Chandrashekhar Ganpatrao Sonwane (born May 2, 1972) is an Indian American scientist working as a sub-contractor supporting various NASA deep space programs including Artemis and Lunar Gateway based in Palo Alto, California. He is also an elected member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. Shekar is member of Space Launch System (NASA), Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fellow of Institute of Engineering and Technology, Fellow of Institution of Chemical Engineers, Fellow of Engineers Australia, and Fellow of Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Chandrashekhar was born on May 2, 1972, in Nanded, Maharashtra, India. He studied in Zilla Parishad Multipurpose Boys School, Pratibha Niketan High School and Science College Nanded. In 1994 he graduated with a BSc in chemical engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. In 1996, he received MSc in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India. He then moved to Australia and was completed a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Queensland in 2000. He is currently living in the United States and holds US citizenship.