DK_Sachdev
Dharmendra Kumar Sachdev (1935-2023)
With profound sadness, we inform you that our father Dharmendra Kumar (DK) Sachdev, born January 27, 1935 in Delhi, India, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2023 in Plainsboro, New Jersey. He spent his last days surrounded by his loving immediate family.
Our father was happily married for 58 years to our wonderful mother Usha Sachdev née Kapur (1941-2017) and missed her greatly after her passing. They were devoted parents to Abita Sachdev Nanda and her husband Basant Nanda, Amit Sachdev and his wife Sharmila Sachdev, and Subir Sachdev and his wife Usha Pasi. Papa felt great joy and cherished spending time with his 7 grandchildren, Monisha, Menaka, Nina, Anya, Shaila, Rohun and Rahul.
We remember our father to be a loving, hard working and disciplined person. He was an advocate for our education throughout our childhood and enjoyed spending time with us especially when traveling. Our parents were elated as each grandchild was welcomed into the family. Without their resilience and dedication, our family would not be what it is today. We will always be grateful for their love and support.
Our father made significant contributions to technology and education, and was recognized for his professional achievements in India, and in the United States.
He received an undergraduate degree at the University of Allahabad in 1953, and a Master of Science in Electrical Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore in 1956.
In Bangalore, he managed research and development at Indian Telephone Industries, including the development of India's first indigenous satellite antenna. For this work he received the Vikram Sarabhai Award from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad in 1976.
After moving to the United States with his family, he held various positions at Intelsat, Washington D.C from 1978-1996. He led engineering management for Intelsat spacecraft including the Intelsat Seven and Eight series. It was during this period that he provided the engineering support for NASA's successful 1994 recovery of the stranded Intelsat 603 satellite by the Space Shuttle.
After retiring from Intelsat in 1996, he joined Worldspace, where he headed Engineering and Operations and established their two regions of operation in Africa and Asia. Worldspace is now part of XM Satellite Radio. He assembled a full engineering team for XM and obtained two US patents.
In 2003, he received the Arthur C. Clarke Innovator's Award "for designing and implementing the world’s first audio broadcasting satellite". (Subsequent recipients of this award include Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Fabiola Gianotti.)
He ran his own private company, Spacetel Consultancy LLC, since 2000.
In 2009, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Space & Satellite Professionals International.
He enjoyed teaching and was an adjunct professor at George Mason University between 2000 and 2020, where he taught graduate classes on systems engineering for telecommunications (see his profile in the GMU newsletter)
He authored Business Strategies in Satellite Systems, and he edited two other books - Recent Successful Satellite Systems and Visions for the Future, and Success Stories in Satellite Systems.
May he rest in peace. Our father will live in our hearts and our memories forever, and we will miss him dearly - especially when we gather as a family. A memorial service will be held at Ruby Memorial, 2050 Rt 130, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 on Saturday February 11 at 11:30 AM. Livestream link is available on the Ruby Memorial web page.
Abita Sachdev Nanda, Amit Sachdev, and Subir Sachdev
Comments on LinkedIn
· Jay Kruse, PMP
RIP Professor. I always remember how he explained communication in the first class of our semester, I don’t remember word for word but something to the effect “Communication is me talking to you, as we move further apart I cannot hear you so we need a medium so I can hear you. It can be as simple as two cans and a string or complicated like satellites.” So simple and clear
- Craig L. Moll, Pathfinder Space Advisors
My condolences to the Sachdev family. May his memory continue to bring you joy.
· Carlos Placido, Independent Consultant and Senior Analyst
My condolences to DK,s family. I also worked at Intelsat but after he left. it was during a consulting project around 5 years ago that I was lucky to know him. May DK rest in peace, The satellite industry will miss him.
· Erik Levine, Engineering and Program Management Consulting
To the entire Sachdev family, please know that your father was a leader in our industry and for me personally a mentor during the time that I was honored to work with him. His legacy lives on in all the teachings that he provided to the next generation of aerospace engineers.
My condolences to you all.
· Chris Schram, Tracker Group at Cobham SATCOM
Sorry to hear of his passing. A good man afforded a full and memorable life, both in our little industry and at home.
· Michael Nakhla, Senior Systems Engineer at ST Engineering iDirect
My condolences to DK's family. I worked in Intelsat for some of the time when he was there. He was of-course in a much more senior position. He was a kind gentle professional engineer. He belongs to a generation that participated in building the satellite technologies which we enjoy and use today. May he rest in peace. He will definitely be missed.
· Pranav Kondala, Engineer at large
My deepest condolences to DK Sachdev's Family. I have studied under Prof. Sachdev at George Mason University and also had the privilege to work for him as a Teaching Assistant. Even after my days as a student and TA, Mr. Sachdev continued to be my mentor and champion. He always encouraged me to push the envelope and be a better engineer. Despite having nearly 7 decades of experience, he was always curious and learning. He will be missed.
· Dr. Ramesh K. Gupta, VP, Satellite Network Engineering and Operations
My heart felt condolences to Sachdev family. I had known your father for more than 30 years. I was at COMSAT Labs while he was at Intelsat working on some of the common challenges during that time. Your dad was a fine gentleman and an accomplished professsional. He was very proud of all of you-his children. May his soul Rest in peace!!
· Lata Kini, Chief Medical Officer at Onward Assist
Om Shanthi on the passing of my father's dearest friend Dharam as he called him . Heartfelt condolences to the family.
I will miss his LinkedIn posts which revealed his zest for life by the way he was so much with the happenings of the world be it science , environment or political issues and how he always had his two cents and more to contribute
· John Stevenson, Photoscena LLC
1. This is, indeed, very sad news. I have been trying all weekend to figure-out just how long it was that I directly worked for DK at INTELSAT - it was certainly on the order of ten years altogether, beginning in 1979. He was my hiring manager, in INTELSAT's R&D Department. Long after we "parted ways", in 2004, I purchased a copy of his first book (as cited in what his children wrote here). It is very noteworthy what the title is: "Business Strategies for Satellite Systems" - I would like to underline *Business* there. Even more important to observe; the content of the book goes in the following order: Business Planning, System Planning, Engineering, and finally Operations.
2. I had completed, with no overlap at all, a financial and service take-up analysis pertinent to new Ka-band "high throughput" GEO satellite adventures right before DK's book was published. My study sank like a stone. But, based upon that experience I can say - with certainty - that there are many entrepreneurs active in the new satellite constellation arena today who would do very well (and much better in the end) to read DK's book. Its pages reveal its author as a truly insightful pioneer. One who embraced all aspects of satellite-based communications development, both financial and technical.
RIP DK and with solemn condolences to the Sachdev children and grandchildren.
· Lucas Smith, Director of Agile and Program Services at Toyota
As evidenced by the comments and huge legacy that he leaves behind, DK was an inspiration to many including myself. I had the opportunity to study under him at GMU and loved the unique insight he brought to all situations, the vast wealth of real life experience he shared, and how he challenged us to solve real life problems in a business sustaining way. My deepest condolences to your family and as I am sure you know, DKs legacy lives on through you and the many lives he touched along the way!
· Scott Chase, Publisher
DK... Now I know what DK stood for, at least as it relates to his name. Devoted, kind, delightful, knowledgeable, always a smile, always ready to explain something, simple or complex, a gentle soul whose approach was always welcome. A true gentleman who was so gentle, so quiet, such an intellect, you just had to love him. Thank you, DK, for being such a good friend.
· Vivek Darapaneni, Project Manager at ISRO Satellite Center
My deepest condolences to the family members of Shri DK Sachdev, a true Legend.
He is a stalwart in the satellite industry and the First Indian to be inducted into the coveted "Satellite Hall of Fame", SSPI.
His journey from ITI, India to Intelsat,USA and academic career to consultancy in Staelllite industry is indeed inspiring.
I am great admirer of his work of editing two excellent books
1) Success stories in Satelllite Systems in 2009 &
2) Recent successful stories in Staelllite Systems in 2017.
and his efforts and tenacity to bring all the pioneers of satellite industry in writing the above.
May the departed soul rest in peace..
· Rich Wolf, Media, Operations and Technology Advisor
I first met DK many years ago during my association with SSPI and I was immediately humbled by his premier intelligence, and passion, that he had for the Space and Satellite industry and more so, by his unwavering energy to make the world a better place. My sincere sympathies and condolences to the entire Sachdev family for their loss. I am quite certain that he will live-on in your heart(s) and spirit forever.
· Nihar Shah, Strategic Clarity Drives Results
Condolences to all of you in the Sachdev family. Your father was a highly respected professional in our industry & a passionate advocate of technology innovation in space. He was a true gentleman whose friendly face and kind demeanor will be missed. May he rest in peace.
· Youssef El Shafie, Systems Engineer IV for NASA
My deepest condolences to the Sachdev family. He was one of the pioneers in the satellite industry. I had the pleasure and honor to have him as my professor at GMU. He was a great teacher and always had a warm smile. I vividly remember the course that he taught and apply some of it’s concepts until today. May he RIP.
· Dr. Bob Gough, Goonhilly Earth Statin Ltd
My condolences to the Sachdev family. I'm saddened to learn of DK's passing. My company CSR Ltd worked on many Intelsat contracts in the 1980s and DK was a Star 🌟
I've always followed his posts on LinkedIn and will miss them.
· Frederic C. Baker
My sincere and deepest condolences to the entire Sachdev family for your loss. Toward the end of his career, DK was instrumental in supporting the technical team during our years in LeoSat and he will be sorely missed across the industry. I’ll remember my colleague and friend’s generosity, wisdom, kindness, receptivity, courage and brilliance and continue sharing his legacy as an example to others - may he be warmly remembered by all.
· Ronald van der Breggen, CCO at Rivada Space Networks
So sorry to hear and my condolences to the entire Sachdeva family. DK has been key in the development of many of satellite’s new technologies, and will be remembered by many as such.
· Rajiv Kumaraswamy, COO at PT DOTS
My condolences to the Sachdev family.
I met DK when he was a Senior Manager at Intelsat and I was only an intern. He treated everyone with the utmost respect. It was an honor to have worked with him.
· Keith Buckley, CEO Xytech Systems
My condolences to the Sachdev family. I had the opportunity to work with DK with SSPI, and his impact on SSPI and the satellite industry as a whole will be seen for a long time to come.
· Blair Marshall, Senior Sales Director at SES
My condolences to the Sachdev family. DK was a beloved member of the satellite industry. I met DK as a young man while living in the DC area his kindness and encouragement will always be remembered.
· Dr. Sunil Lingayat, Cybersecurity
My condolences to the family and friends. Honored to have known and collaborated with Dr Sachdev.
· Eileen McGowan, Manager, Business Planning
He was such a lovely man and so knowledgeable about the satellite industry. I will always value what I learned from him. He will be truly missed. My condolences to the Sachdev family.
· Andrea M., Space business booster
A very sad day - my condolences to the family
· Ivy Cannon, Senior Office Manager, US Global Services
This made me really sad - My sincere and utmost condolences to the family. DK was amazingly kind and highly respected. He will surely be very missed. May he rest in peace!
· Dolores Martos, Vice President, Telesat
My deepest and sincere condolences to the Sachdev family. I had the privileged to work with DK at Intelsat. He was a brilliant professional and a kind person. He will be truly missed in the entire industry.
· Britt Lewis
DK epitomized the intellect and professionalism of the technical leadership that transformed satellite communications and drove Intelsat’s success in its 1st 40 years.
· Satish Tamboli, Director, University of Maryland
My heartfelt condolences to the Sachdev family.
· Ranjeeta Paudel, Senior Engineer at Spectrum
My deepest condolences to Dr. Sachdev's family.
· Jeff Adams, Senior Electrical Engineer
Condolences to DK's family. He was a kind man and generous with his knowledge.
· Antoine Naaman, Senior Director,
My condolences to the family.
· Paul Dykewicz
Your dad was one of the world's top satellite systems engineers and leaders, as well as a great gentleman. He was my main partner in organizing a satellite product demonstration with the Society of Satellite Professional International (SSPI) on Capitol Hill after Hurricane Katrina to show how the technology could help with rescues and communications when terrestrial infrastructure is wiped out. I am deeply saddened by his loss but grateful to have known and collaborated with him. You, he and the rest of your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
· Robinder N. Sachdev, Imagindia
Such sad news to hear. I had chance to interact with him professionally on matters re satellite commnications over past 20+ years, starting in years 2000 or so. He was always so full of life and intellect. Also, sometimes I used to ask him re his origins, ancestary, since we shared same family name, and somewhere we might be from some same tree of ancestors. May his soul continue on...on a wonder-full, discovery-full journey of the next. As for the family here - it is a memory and pain that may always remain. May God give you strength, are cliche words...but that is the only way ahead. I lost my Dad 2 years ago...the gap, hole will remain.
· Mark Shlien, iPeople
I'm very sorry to hear the news.
· Johanne Lecomte
So sorry to hear this! Great Space Gentleman. Condolences to the family.
· Ahsun Murad, Optimal Satcom
My deepest condolences to the Sachdev family. Your father lives on in the hearts of many, and the work he did touched, formed, and guided so many of us.
· Mahantesh Hiremath
To the Sachdev family, deepest condolences from the space community. DK was a great resource for space enthusiasts and ever ready to share his expertise. May his soul rest in peace!
· Bhushan H
He was an inspiring professor. I had the pleasure of being his student. May his soul attain sadgati.
· Pranay Shah
My condolences to the Sachdev family. RIP.
· Neeraj M. Shah
May Prof. Dr. Sachdev soul find peace. My condolences to his family. I took a course under Professor Sachdev back in May 2011 at George Mason University.
· Sankalpa Ghosh, IIT Delhi
My heartfelt condolences!
· Richard Fisk
Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. Professor Sachdev was a fascinating, insightful and brilliant man. I always thought about news items and scientific studies differently after reading his analysis. He was a true pioneer in his field and he will be missed. RIP.
· Alessandro Fiorio
Sorry to hear the sad news. My condolences to his family. I had the pleasure to have shared a bit of the road with him in the early days of Intelsat. May he rest in peace.
· Amit Katti
Very sad to know about Prof Sachdevs's passing. He was a great teacher and a great person. Will keep the family in our prayers.
· Steve Teller
DK, I was sad to hear of your passing, I’ve enjoyed our conversations over the years. You will be truly missed.
· Nanda Menon
My Humble respects to a great Engineer
· Jayshri Ravishankar
Deepest condolences from Ravishankar family!! May his soul Rest in Peace!
· Duy Nguyen
Deepest condolences to DK's family.
· Ujwala Mudivarti
My heartfelt condolences. Prof. Sachdev was an excellent teacher.
- Ted McFarland, Mangata Networks
May he rest in peace after he's given so much to our space community
Christophe Bauer
I worked with DK when I was at Alactel Space back in 2003 working with Worldspace and XM Radio and have the greatest respect for him.
Sorry to see him go, it is a pilar of the Space Industry that left us.
May he rest in peace.
Emails
- Pierre Neyret
I worked closely with D.K. as his subordinate for ten years, and then as a would-be supplier of the XM satellite, the procurement of which D.K. managed at WorldSpace. D.K. had major professional and human qualities. Unflagging integrity and loyalty to his employer, dedication to duty, as well as being an able director. Courage: when a very difficult issue arose, he was saying “This problem will not go away, I have to solve it.” And he did. But then, the decision was kept in the secrecy of a small team; he said “Let us sleep over it”. How wise! Most of the times we slept well at night, and he announced the decision. But at times between 2am and 4am in bed, something went to haunt one of us “but we forgot to take this into account!”. So, the next morning at work, the decision was revised before announcing it. He was always saying to me “Pierre, you do very good work, but too much by yourself. The role of a manager is to achieve very good results through the work of his subordinates. Nothing grows under a banian tree!”. On some technical problems, I had more knowledge, he knew it and he listened to me. At times, we nonetheless had divergence of views, but this always was discussed at closed doors in his office. For all my colleagues, I was “D.K.’s man”. D.K. made few errors, but whenever that happened he assumed them, he never blamed them on others. D.K. grew me up in my job function, he made me a better professional.
D.K. had a unique ability to understand situations, what was happening at high level at Intelsat, with its all-powerful Signatories who could have divergent interests. He also was saying: “I understand people”. That was so true! He saw the strengths and weaknesses of everybody, whether at high level, at our level, or below. Whether people were dedicated to the success of the organization, or whether some at times were playing games within the organization.
D.K. understood that the best way to achieve good results with the somewhat bureaucratic process of Intelsat was to provide to its Technical and Planning Advisory Committees clear and well written documents visibly based on in-depth analysis, but concisely providing its results in a very logic and convincing way. Then the Committee members understood what was the problem, the possible solutions, and the most advantageous one that was highlighted in the Recommendation. They generally supported us, except in those cases where some major interest of a large Signatory overwhelmed the best interests of Intelsat.
For as long as I was his subordinate at Intelsat or his would-be supplier for the XM Satellite, we had to keep some distance from each other. But after we both retired, we truly became friends. We enjoyed exchanging views on what was happening in the World. Last time I saw him, his mind was as sharp as ever, but his body was slowly becoming more and more debilitated under this horrible muscular dystrophy disease. D.K. was very proud of his family. That was what gave him strength to cope with his pathetic ordeal.
- Celeste Ford, Stellar Solutions Inc.
I wanted to send you a note about how grateful I am to have known your father. DK was a mentor and advisor when I first joined Comsat/Intelsat right out of college (1978). We amazingly kept in touch over the years and he would even stop by Stellar Solutions after I started the company in Palo Alto. We occasionally ran across each other at conferences and he was always eloquent, smart and kind. We were all blessed to have known him. We wish you and your family the best of memories as you carry him in your hearts as I know many of us at Stellar Solutions will as well.
Best regards and sincere condolences. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.
- B. S. Prabhakar
Sad to learn that DK is no more. He was a gracious person & the best student in the class. My condolences to you & the family. I am visiting my daughter in Piscataway; didn’t know that DK was in Plainfield!
- Ajoy Ghose
Thank you Subir for forwarding this beautiful write up on your father. I had the privilege of working with him at TRC Delhi and ITI Bangalore. He was always very fond of his ITI days, and kept in touch with many of us with ITI connection.
I was in touch with him off and on till a few years ago, when his coxnet email stopped working. Somehow I was unable to reach him after that. Probably he had then moved to New Jersey to be closer to the family.
I'll always remember his kindness and generosity. I and many of my colleagues are grateful to him for opening up new opportunities and encouraging us to pursue them. I didn't get much time to get to know you and the rest of the family, as he left ITI soon after I moved to the campus.
Please accept condolences from my wife Susmita and me. Our prayers are with the family at this time.
Om Shanti.
- Denis Curtin
DK was a friend of mine for some forty years. I was at COMSAT in the early days and we frequently discussed issues. I found DK to be brilliant and on top of all the technical issues. In addition to many technical issues we often just discussed life and often had a good laugh over the satellite business. I felt it was an honor to have him as a friend and I will miss him.
- Bernd-Peter Paris
I would like to send my sincere condolences to you and your family.
I remember fondly my interactions with your father when I served as the director of the Telecommunications program at George Mason University. His contributions to the program are immeasurable and go well beyond his teaching of the Systems Engineering course. I believe that he was the longest serving faculty in the program.
We will miss him greatly,
- Chris Hoeber
DK was a friend to me for as long as I can remember – and I do remember our first meetings. He was a little older than me and although I looked up to him, he always showed me such kindness and respect – to the extent that he profoundly influenced the way I went have gone about my life as I have aged.
I will miss him, but part of him will live on in me, and I will pass his wisdom and kindness on, to the best of my ability.
- Joe Pelton
I considered D.K--and Usha--a true friend. He was a respected colleague and fellow humanitarian who wished for a better world for all. He will be missed by a wide circle of friends around the world that admired his intellect, his writings and contribution to the field of space and satellite communications. He contributed greatly to Intelsat and its development and to the entire field of space applications. His family should be proud of his many accomplishments.
- Raju and Shobha
This is a loss not only for the Sachdev family but for many like us who were privileged to become part of his extended family of friends. For Raju he represented the ideal manager- he let each of us bring out the best in us while shielding us from the sometimes toxic politics at INTELSAT.
It was our fortune and privilege to become close to him, Ushaji and others in your family in the last twenty years. In spite of his monumental accomplishments in satellite communications, he seldom talked about them but more often about his desire to know more about Hinduism and its spiritual teachings. We came to consider him not just as Raju’s boss but more like our elder brother.
- Yogesh Khanna
Sincere condolences. We have fond memories of Uncle and Aunty, beginning with our days at Burke Center. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. He will be dearly missed. May he rest in peace.
- B. M. Khanna
We were very very sad to know about sad demise of DK. Our heartfelt condolences! Pray to Lord Almighty to give you all strength to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity!
And yes, thanks for sharing DK's splendid achievements! We had a wonderful relationship, his loving nature endeared him to one and all who happened to interact with him. Shall miss him for all times to come!
- Peggy Slye
Our love and sympathy to your family. We will forward your beautiful obituary to our members. Our colleagues and our industry will miss your father!
Our thoughts and prayers to you and your family during this very sad time!
- Alan Olson
So sorry to hear this sad news of the passing of your beloved father DK. My deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences to your families. May he rest in peace forevermore.
- Alexander Spira
My sincere condolences on Dad’s passing.
He was a true gentleman and I loved getting to know him and your Mom. My thoughts are with you.
- Channasandra Ravishankar
My family and I are deeply saddened to hear the loss of DK and it must be much saddening for you all. I have known DK for nearly 15 years both professionally and otherwise. While he and Ushaji were here at Woodlands at Virginia, we used to visit him once in a while. He used to enjoy Gujarati Dhoklas from my wife – so she used to prepare and take it for him. You are absolutely right that when Ushaji passed away he was torn emotionally. My daughter was honored to perform Bharatnatyam dance at Woodlands for the elderly nearly five years ago – it was dedicated to Ushaji. DK was an amazing person - although he was physically handicapped, he was mentally very sharp and active. May his soul rest in peace. We are blessed to have known him and his family. We will miss him.