Air Vice Marshal Babu Ajit Kumar Shetty (10110) F (P) was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 13 Mar 66. He has held the appointments of CO of a fighter squadron, Station Commander of a helicopter base during 'OP PAWAN' and AOC of an active Fighter Base. An Alumni of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington, he has held the most important appointments at Command and Air HQ. Presently he is Air Defence Commander of Western Air Command (WAC) since 01 Sep 2000.

Immediately after taking over in WAC, he was tasked to operationlise the Tactical Air Defence Integrated Display System (TADIDS) on priority. The TADIDS software was upgraded and operationlised in WAC within six months. Numerous modifications to the software were undertaken to make it user friendly and acceptable to field units. It is now possible to obtain real time air picture of WAC area at medium levels at any location using WACNET. Assistance to operationlise TADIDS in SWAC area was also provided. Similarly duplication of auto Control and Reporting Center (CRC) using Semi Automated Base Air Defence Complex (SABDC) computers has also been activated by the TADIDS cell under his guidance. This is a significant breakthrough which would prolong the employability of auto CRC developed at a cost of Rs. 85 crores. Efforts to completely automate AD set up are also underway in house at WAC.

During the recent deployment of AD assets, which has been the largest exercise undertaken so far, the AD set up was reviewed and deployed optimally without a single incident during the last eight months.

Air Vice Marshal Babu Ajit Kumar Shetty has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.