Vladimir Nesterov

Vladimir Nesterov (Нестеров Владимир Евгеньевич) (born 1 July 1949) Cherepovets) is the general director of Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, one the world's leading space launch providers.

He graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute in 1972 with a Master's degree in mechanical engineering, and from the Dzerzhinsky Military Academy of Rocket Forces in 1978. He served in the Soviet Army from 1972 to 1992, after which he joined the Russian Space Agency, first serving as a deputy head of Directorate for launch vehicles and ground infrastructure until 2004, and then as the head of the same directorate 2004–2005. On 25 November 2005, he was appointed as general director of Khrunichev by a Russian Federation presidential decree.

Nesterov has received the following awards:
 * Order of the Red Star,
 * Medal "For Impeccable Service" II Class,
 * State Prize of the Russian Federation (1997),
 * the 2007 Russian Government Prize Winner in Science and Technology.