Wing Commander Lalit Kumar Kochhar was commissioned on 29 Jul 67. Having served as a General Duty Medical Officer of a flying squadron as a Senior Medical Officer of operational Wings/Units for seven years, the officer specialized as an Eye Specialist from Agra University and later as an ENT Specialist from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and obtained the Master Degree in Surgery. He is presently serving as the Head of the ENT Department of the Air Force Central Medical Establishment.

Wing Commander Kochhar has distinguished and well proven record of two decades of dedicated service. During the IndoPak Conflict in 1971, he was posted to an operational squadron located at a forward base in the western theatre. The officer was wounded during an air raid and though in plaster, he refused hospitalization and continued to remain on duty to provided medical cover to his squadron. During his tenure as Medical Officer an Operational Wing, he made singular contribution to promote aircrew care and flight safety by personally attending to their problems at odd hours.

Wg Cdr Kochhar has served in various service hospitals and has performed large number of complicated surgical operations in an extremely efficient manner. As an ENT specialist at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment, the officer has carried out his duties with great devotion and dedication. He has consistently displayed tremendous capacity for sustained hard work of high caliber.

In recognition of his outstanding services, devotion to duty, exceptional clinical service to the patients and aircrew community and singular contribution to the cause of flight safety, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wing Commander Lalit Kumar Kochhar.