Dr Ajey Lele is the Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi.   

He started his professional career as an officer in the Indian Air Force, and took early retirement from the service to pursue his academic interests.  

He has a Masters degree in Physics from Pune University, and Masters and MPhil degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University. He has done his doctorate from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.  

His specific areas of research include issues related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Space Security and Strategic Technologies.