When you aim for sky, make sure the ground you stand on is firm and substantial. And this is precisely the message Dr. Dinesh A. Keskar's career stands for. From doing research in NASA to selling planes, Keskar, Senior Vice President of Sales and President of Boeing Aircraft Trading, has always come out with flying colours, always standing on a firm foundation of his abilities, and of course adding value to his work. Born on July 25, 1954, in Rajkot, Keskar received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with a gold medal. Later he went to do his master's and doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

In fact, few people know that Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was his thesis adviser. Keskar, who believes that life is a constant learning experience, later went to do his MBA from City University in Seattle and was a recipient of the President's honor roll. In 1994, he attended the Berkeley Executive Program at the University of California, Berkley. Prior to joining Boeing, Keskar worked as a research associate in the Flight Dynamics and Control Division at NASA Langley Research Center. After joining Boeing, Keskar was responsible for research and consultation in the areas of system identification, digital signal processing and modern control theory. He also developed the techniques to conduct flight tests and analyze flight test data to obtain airplane math models for various flight simulators.

A fast learner, Keskar by dint of his hard work and intelligence, soon became the president of Boeing India and directed all Boeing airplane sales and marketing activities, calling on Air India, Indian Airlines, related government offices and all new private airlines. Today, he holds the dual positions of senior vice-president of sales and president of Boeing Aircraft Trading in the global aircraft giant. He was appointed to the sales position in April 2002. He is also Boeing's chief sales executive for India. In 2004, Keskar was appointed to lead commercial airplanes activities in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Asiana Airlines based in Korea.

A member of the board of Directors of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) and a board member for US-India Business Council, Keskar has been an active member of Indian community organizations in the United States. He also served on the advisory board of the College of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Known for his innovative ideas, market strategies and die-hard attitude, Keskar is recipient of various awards and recognition, both national and international. But when it comes to hard-core business, navigating the course of Boeing may not be so easy. Nevertheless, if there are people like Keskar manning the craft, even sky is not the limit.