Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2018-05-11
Invested on: 2019-02-12
Virendra K. Jha, C.M.
Baie-d’Urfé, Quebec
Virendra Jha has been a pillar of the Canadian space industry for over 40 years. He joined the Canadian Space Agency and rose through the ranks to become vice-president and chief engineering advisor. As such, he led a number of major projects, including the launch of RADARSAT, Canada’s participation on the International Space Station and the Anik F2 program, which provided some of Canada’s most remote communities with access to high-speed internet. As an active participant in international forums, he was instrumental in making Canada a key player in the space sector.