Upendra J. Chivukula, NJ Legislative Assembly
Upendra J. Chivukula, Deputy Speaker of NJ Legislative Assembly
Email:AsmChivukula@njleg.org phone: (732) 247-3999 -http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=202
Upendra J. Chivukula of Franklin Township holds the distinction as the first and only South-Asian representative in the history of the state Legislature.
An information-technology company executive and former mayor of Franklin Township, Chivukula is serving his fourth consecutive two-year term in the General Assembly. He represents the 17th Legislative District, which contains the Middlesex County communities of Highland Park, Milltown, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, and Piscataway; and the Somerset County community of Franklin Township.
Chivukula, 57, has a professional background in electrical engineering and is considered one of the Legislature’s leading experts on telecommunications, science and technology issues. He was a leading force behind the creation of the bipartisan, bicameral Legislative Caucus on Science and Technology in 2004, a panel charged with enhancing the state’s position as a leader in research, technological development and innovation.
Born in Nellore, India, Chivukula came to the United States in 1974 to pursue a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the City College of New York.
He worked for CBS Television from 1977 to 1978. He worked for Electronic Associates from 1978 to 1980 designing power-plant operator training simulators. From 1980 to 1981, he developed control diagram language for sewerage treatment plants for Leeds and Northrop. He served as senior management consultant and systems engineer with AT&T Bell Labs from 1981 to 1983. He moved in 1983 to AT&T Technologies where he developed the Bell Communications Research account and was responsible for marketing computers ranging from minis to super micros. He worked as an account executive for AT&T Information Systems from 1985 to 1987, and became senior product planner for AT&T Microelectronics in 1988.
Chivukula also currently serves as Chairman of Rangam Consultants Inc., a Somerset-based information technology firm.
