While serving as India’s 11^th president from 2002-07, Kalam became known as the “People’s President” and was dubbed “India’s Best President” by a CNN-IBN poll. He was prominently known even before reaching this post, having worked as an aeronautical engineer with India’s Defense Research and Development Organization. It was there he became known as the Missile Man of India, given the work he did to help develop the country’s ballistic missile and space rocket technology.

Kalam also served as chairman of the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council, during which time he tapped the expertise of some 500 colleagues in order to develop Technology Vision 2020, a road map for transforming India into a developed nation.

Also to his credit, Kalam has received honorary doctorate degrees from 30 universities and institutions, and has been awarded the coveted Padma Bhusdan and Padma Vibhushan awards, the highest honors the Indian government presents to civilians.