Headline

Program Management Leader | Veteran Squadron Leader | PMP®| CSM® | LSSGB | LSSBB | 10+ Years of Technical & Operational Leadership

About

I’m Kalpana, a Program Management professional and former Indian Air Force Squadron Leader with 10+ years of experience leading complex, high-value projects and cross-functional teams across technical operations, digital transformation, process improvement, procurement, risk management and operational readiness. My experience spans the complete project lifecycle, from requirements definition and strategic planning through execution, stakeholder alignment, risk mitigation, resource optimization and delivery. What I bring to Program & Project Management: • Lead complex programs and projects across Agile and Waterfall environments, with strong focus on program governance, execution and operational excellence. • Manage high-value projects involving assets worth ₹50 Cr and project budgets of up to $2.2M, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, timelines and resources. • Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams of up to 90 professionals, working across internal stakeholders, external vendors and government organizations. • Drive digital transformation and process improvement, including a paperless transformation initiative that reduced manual documentation by 50%. • Apply structured risk identification, assessment and mitigation approaches, contributing to a 27% reduction in failure rates and risk factors. • Optimize operational processes, resources and maintenance planning, contributing to 95% operational capability and a 30% reduction in system downtime. • Manage stakeholder engagement, procurement, vendor coordination, change management and resource planning across complex and time-critical initiatives. • Build high-performing teams through leadership, mentoring, training and continuous improvement, contributing to a 25% improvement in productivity and operational readiness. As a PMP- and Certified ScrumMaster-certified professional, I combine structured program management practices with the leadership, adaptability and decision-making developed through 10+ years in the Indian Air Force. I am now focused on opportunities as a Technical Program Manager, Senior Program Manager, Program Manager or Senior Project Manager, where I can lead strategic initiatives, technical programs, transformation projects and complex cross-functional deliveries.

Location

Delhi

AI stack

antigravity

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Work experience

Program Manager at Indian Armed Forces, Dec 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 10 mos, • Led enterprise-level technical and operational programs involving cross-functional teams, external vendors and government stakeholders, overseeing project planning, execution, resource optimization, risk management and operational readiness. • Directed multiple high-value projects from planning and initiation through execution and deployment, aligning resources, stakeholders and operational requirements with strategic objectives. • Led a digital transformation initiative in collaboration with Wipro to transition operational processes toward a paperless environment, reducing manual documentation by 50%. • Strengthened SOPs, manpower planning, maintenance schedules and quality audit processes, achieving 95% operational capability. • Forecasted spare parts, tooling and manpower requirements for preventive and corrective maintenance, contributing to a 10% increase in the technical life of assets. • Drove supply chain optimization, risk management and process improvement initiatives to improve operational performance and ensure timely program delivery. • Led cross-functional teams and external stakeholders through complex technical and operational initiatives, ensuring compliance, resource alignment and execution against defined requirements. • Designed and delivered professional workshops and knowledge-sharing initiatives, improving workforce efficiency by 13% and strengthening operational best practices. • Managed stakeholder coordination, project reporting and operational governance across complex, high-risk environments with stringent timelines.

Senior Project Manager at Indian Armed Forces, Jan 2016 - Dec 2021 · 6 yrs, • Led strategic projects, process improvement initiatives and technical operations involving cross-functional teams, high-value assets, digital transformation, risk mitigation, procurement and operational readiness. • Defined project scope, requirements, milestones and delivery timelines for strategic initiatives, including the merger of two squadrons involving assets valued at ₹50 Cr. • Coordinated a 90-member cross-functional team to execute the squadron merger within a stringent one-month timeline, including the transfer of 10,000 spare-parts inventory lines to the IMMOLS system. • Led an e-office transformation project to enable paperless operations, defining requirements and coordinating a 20-member cross-functional team through planning, design and implementation. • Established operational processes to identify risks and recurring issues at an early stage; root-cause analysis initiatives reduced failure rates and risk factors by 27%. • Led preventive and corrective maintenance planning by forecasting spare parts, tools and manpower requirements, achieving 70% system utilization. • Optimized manpower deployment and off-base operations, contributing to a 30% reduction in system downtime. • Directed end-to-end development of a replica Base Operations Centre, managing project scope, workflow, procurement and deployment of ₹1 Cr worth of assets with a 50-member team. • Managed projects with budgets of up to $2.2M while coordinating stakeholders including Ministry of Defence (MoD) and AFFWA to ensure timely planning and delivery. • Led the full HR cycle for 300 personnel, including training and workforce development initiatives, contributing to a 25% improvement in productivity and operational readiness.

Education

Master of Technology, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU)

Bachelor of Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Gautam Buddha University