Meet Damodar V Mahesh, a space scientist turned Civil Servant whose journey of over three decades is defined by impactful contributions across a remarkable spectrum of fields. His career includes service as an Indian Civil Service Officer alongside a significant tenure in the Indian Army, where he rose to the rank of Major General, heading a Service Corps, and was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) by the Hon'ble President of India.
His professional journey encompasses pivotal roles within the Central Civil Service, including appointments as Member of the Postal Services Board and Chairman of the Postal Life Insurance Investment Board (responsible for overseeing a substantial ₹3.5 lakh crore fund and India's largest savings bank), and extends to his exemplary service in the disciplined ranks of the Indian Army. He brought strong leadership to a Training and Regimental Centre of the Indian Army as its Commandant. Additionally, he contributed to academic excellence as a member of the academic council of an Army Public School. He pioneered a significant transformation at a major Postal facility, culminating in its attainment of the first ISO 9001 certification within that government department, setting a new benchmark for quality
His experience extends to the frontiers of aerospace, where he contributed as a Scientist-Engineer at ISRO, and to the international stage as a Course Director for the UN-affiliated restricted union, the APPU Bureau, in Bangkok, designing and leading workshops for senior managers across the Asia Pacific. In his role as Chief Post Master General for the strategically important border region of J&K and Ladakh, he not only navigated its intricate dynamics but also directed general operations, HR, and financial management.
Complementing his core responsibilities, Mahesh offers expertise in financial and investment management, strategic planning, operations, and quality systems, further enhancing his capabilities. A passionate advocate for continuous learning, he has delivered training and lectures at prestigious institutions globally and benchmarked best practices by visiting over 25 world-class organizations, including Deming Prize-winning companies, across more than 15 countries. Post retirement, his dedication continues through his role as an Expert Member of a state Public Enterprises Selection Board and by conducting international workshop on Quality Management for senior managers.
Mahesh represented Kerala State in Swimming and Water Polo during his school days and is an oil painter with exhibitions in India and Thailand to his credit. His journey proves the value of diverse experiences, hard work, dedication and a focus on making a difference.