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2023 SESSION

23103609D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 269
Offered January 18, 2023
Celebrating the life of Adarsh Deepak, PhD.
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Patron-- Locke
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WHEREAS, Adarsh Deepak, PhD, an esteemed scientist, founder and president of the Science and Technology Corporation in Hampton, and a beloved member of the Poquoson community, died on December 5, 2022; and

WHEREAS, born in India, Adarsh Deepak earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in physics and a master’s degree in solid state physics from the University of Delhi before traveling to the United States and receiving a doctoral degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville; and

WHEREAS, early in his career, Adarsh Deepak taught physics at two colleges in Delhi, India, and the history and philosophy of science at the University of Florida, and he later served as a research associate professor of physics and meteorology at Old Dominion University and as an adjunct professor of physics at The College of William and Mary; and

WHEREAS, Adarsh Deepak founded the Institute for Atmospheric Optical Remote Sensing in 1976, a nonprofit education research organization that specialized in the field of remote sensing; later, the organization became the Takshashila Institute, providing symposia, workshops, research, and publications on various topics of current interest in the areas of science and wellness; and

WHEREAS, in 1979, Adarsh Deepak founded the Science and Technology Corporation (STC), a high-technology small business providing advanced research, engineering services, and operational support to a host of United States government agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense; and

WHEREAS, over his 43 years at the helm of STC, Adarsh Deepak led pioneering research on problems related to natural and man-made aerosols and other technical fields while overseeing hundreds of employees across several states; and

WHEREAS, Adarsh Deepak worked tirelessly to foster and promote scientific and academic discourse, organizing and chairing more than 30 national and international conferences, authoring or editing dozens of technical papers and proceedings, including the Journal of Small Satellites, for which he was the founding publisher, and sponsoring several free educational programs, such as mentorships and scholarships for students; and

WHEREAS, Adarsh Deepak demonstrated his dedication to his community through his service with several local civic and professional organizations, including the Peninsula Fine Arts Center and the Virginia Air and Space Science Center; and

WHEREAS, guided by his faith, Adarsh Deepak was actively involved with the Hindu Temple of Hampton Roads, the Sangeet Sargam musical society, and other aspects of cultural and religious life within the Asian Indian community of Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, a practitioner of yoga, Adarsh Deepak co-founded the Dharma Academy of North America in 2002, creating an inclusive forum for academic discourse on Dharmic traditions; and

WHEREAS, Adarsh Deepak will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Patricia; his sons, Shaunak and Ravi, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Adarsh Deepak, PhD, a cherished member of the Hampton Roads community whose unflagging passion and curiosity and indomitable spirit were admired by all who knew him; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Adarsh Deepak, PhD as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.