Wg Cdr G Nayyar is on the posted strength of a Wing wef 23 Oct 89 and is employed as SE (M).

Wg Cdr Nayyar has been instrumental in improving and sustaining the serviceability of MiG-21 Bis fleet at this base. This he could achieve with dedicated effort and technical insight. Further, five AOG aircraft which were on ground for over two years, were also recovered during this period. As the Station Maintenance Safety Officer, he carried out regular checks of maintenance activities and also implemented some innovative ideas. A larger percentage of MT vehicles at this base are of vintage models. The maintenance of these is extremely difficult due to poor supply of spares from FOD and limited resources in the local market. Inspite of these constraints, Wg Cdr G Nayyar, by his perseverance and innovative skill has been able to achieve a high standard of MT serviceability.

The officer is trained abroad on certain type of bombs. These bombs were acquired by the IAF in the early eighties, primarily for use on Ajeet ac. Due to phasing out of Ajeets from the service, these bombs have been rendered surplus to the inventory. A service paper was submitted by Wg Nayyar recommending the use of these bombs on the MiG Variants. On the basis of the service paper submitted by Wg Cdr G Nayyar, trials have successfully been conducted by ASTE and the stores cleared for use on the MiG Variants. This achievement is considered very significant.

For his technical insight, extraordinary performance and valuable contribution to the service, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wg Cdr Nayyar.

Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar, an officer who started his career as an Engineering Officer at 3 BRD (Base Repair Depot), Air Force Station, Chandigarh has made it to the top of the Maintenance Command of the Indian Air Force as he took over as its Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) at Nagpur today.

The officer belongs to Chandigarh as his parents settled in the city in 1971 and he got married in Chandigarh in 1977. He has also done a posting as Group Captain at 3BRD from 1995 to 1998. A keen sportsperson, the Air Marshall received his cricket coaching in his earlier days by none other than Shri DP Azad at Chandigarh.

Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar was born on 09 March 1949 at Mumbai.  He is a second generation service officer as his father served in the air defence arm of the Indian army.   He attended various convent schools spread across the country, and finally graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University in 1971.  On 03 January 1972 , he was commissioned as an Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) in the IAF.

Beginning his career as an Engineering Officer, he has had rich experience in maintenance of various fighter aircraft of Russian and western origin.   During his formative years in the IAF, the Air Marshal excelled in various appointments.  As a young Flight Lieutenant , he was trained in Spain on retarder bombs.  He underwent the special weapons course in 1980.  In the mid 1980s, he was instrumental in induction of Mirage 2000 aircraft in IAF.  The foresight and planning ensured smooth induction and flawless operation and maintenance of this fleet over the next two decades.

During his career, the Air Marshal served as senior engineer at a MiG-21 base, Chief Engineering Officer of a Mirage base and Command Engineering Officer of an operational Air Command.   He was responsible in formulation of the "Aircraft Maintenance Manual" (AMM), which was eventually issued as IAPT.  The manual has proved to be a bible for maintenance engineers of IAF.

The Air Marshal has held various field and staff appointments in his illustrious career.   As Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Engineering B) at Air HQ, he was responsible for maintenance of the entire Indo-Western fleets of the Air Force.   On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, he was appointed Air Officer in Charge Maintenance (AOM) at Air HQ, where he successfully implemented many measures to improve reliability and availability of various weapon systems of IAF.

Air Marshal Nayyar is an all round sportsman. He has represented services in the Ranji trophy cricket championship and holds the national record against Punjab for "carrying his bat through".  He is also a keen golfer.  He is married to Rachita and they are the proud parents of a son, Gaurav who is software engineer in US and a daughter, Ruchi who works with an MNC Bank at New Delhi .