Group Captain Trikandiyur Kollath Venugopal (13598) Flying (Pilot) was Commissioned on 22 Dec 73, in the Flying Branch of the IAF. He has held the appointments of Flight Commander of two Squadrons, Chief Instructor at Air Force Station Yelahanka and Commanding Officer of a Transport Squadron. He is a graduate of the College of Defence Management.

In Dec 96, during the Aero India Show at Air Force Station Yelahanka, as the Chief Instructor and Co-ordinator of the event, he with his meticulousness, eye for detail and an uncanny ability to optimally utilise the limited human and material resources, worked intensely long hours to make the show a grand success in every sense.

In his present capacity as the Commanding Officer he has taken keen interest in ensuring and achieving an exceptionally high categorisation and Ops Status of the unit. This materialised in an outstandingly successful Battalion Group Drop with exceptional accuracy. He was further instrumental in successfully completing the conversion of six newly posted pilots, two navigators, seven flight signallers and three flight engineers in a record span of seven months against the targeted eighteen months.

On 26 May 1999, when alert was declared, he rose to his full measure. The unit maintained a very high serviceability state throughout the operations. Every single aircraft was launched on time, often at very short notice and at odd hours and every commitment met with the highest professionalism.

When given a window of opportunity during the two transport seminars held in his tenure, he has shown vision, far-sightedness and brilliance in presenting outstanding papers on Transport Tactical Training and Development Establishment, Airborne Assault Operations and Route Transport Operations. These valuable contributions of his did not go unnoticed and were commended at the highest levels and have already seen the light of day.

For exceptional devotion to duty, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Gp Capt TK Venugopal.

Air Commodore Trikandiyur Kollath Venugopal VM (13598) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned on 22 December 1973. He has to his credit over 5550 hours of accident free flying. A Qualified Flying Instructor on the IL-76 aircraft, he has also flown the AN-32 and HS-748 aircraft. An alumni of the National Defence College and the College of Defence Management, he took over command of AF Station Chandigarh on 03 January 2005. For his professionalism and exceptional devotion to duty, he has been awarded VM In 2000.

As the AOC of AF Station Agra from October 2002 to January 2004, the Air Officer successfully conducted a joint Indo-US para exercise; Cope India 02-01 in October-November 2002. This exercise displayed the might of the IAF in para and heavy drop and was very well received, both in the print and in the electronic media. He was also instrumental in pioneering the successful induction of IL78 MKI Flight Refueller Aircraft into AF Station, Agra. During his short span as the AOC of AF Station Chandigarh, AF, he led his team from the front to handle the after effects of three major-national calamities. Aircraft from this base flew out over 1695 passengers from the worst-ever natural disaster in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. When National Highway 1A, the only road link between the Jammu & Kashmir valley and rest of the nation was blocked, it was the aircraft under his command which flew round the clock and airlifted a record breaking 29086 passengers across the Banihal pass in a matter of just 37 days. This was an air effort that put forward the nation's capability as a potent force in front of the entire world. In the aftermath of earthquake, which struck the state of Jammu and Kashmir on 08 October 2005, transport aircraft from this base flow relentlessly, both by day and night, ferrying stores, medical aid and relief material, providing immediate succor to the affected personnel. The limited air effort placed under his command was so optimally utilized that this was achieved without sacrificing any load meant for troops in Ladakh sector, a routine activity of this station, which was executed simultaneously.

Under his dynamic leadership, the Station organized an IAF publicity awareness Campaign in March 2006. The conduct of the air show, the static display and the Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra was executed to perfection under his command. The ongoing Married Accommodation Project at AF Station Chandigarh had suffered a major setback due to a penalty of Rs. 15.2 crores levied by the UTI Administration, Chandigarh. The matter was so tactfully handled by him that a waiver was sanctioned by the Administrator, UTI for the entire amount. This has not only put the Married Accommodation Project back on line but also made it cheaper by Rs. 15.2 crores.

Air Commodore Trikandiyur Kollath Venugopal VM has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.