Group Captain Ravi Dhar (14559) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the IAF on 13 Jun 1976. During his last 29 years of distinguished service, he has held many important appointments at various levels such as Commanding Officer of an attack helicopter unit, Deputy Director Offensive Operations at Air Headquarters and Chief Operations Officer of an operational base. Besides being a flying Instructor with an A-2 category, he has a unique distinction of serving as an instructor in two most prestigious inter service institutes namely Defence Service Staff College and College of Defence Management. He was also selected as a team leader for serving with Govt. of Mauritius and commanded the Helicopter Squadron of Mauritian Police Force. During this tenure of two and half years, he earned many laurels for Indian Government by undertaking challenging flying tasks.

On 01 Jan 2005 he was chosen to command Air Force Station Car Nicobar, which underwent massive destruction due to severe earth quake and subsequent Tsunami waves on 26 Dec 2004. The task of bringing this destroyed station back on its feet was not only challenging but it required tremendous vision and thorough planning. Gp Capt Dhar, with his willingness to accept new challenges, guided the core team of officers and men in such a fashion that people worked day and night, leaving all personal comforts and brought the station back to functional unit within a record time. His qualities of perseverance, in time projection and sample monitoring of critical activities produced wonders in terms of developing facilities at the devastated station. All activities relating to administration, maintenance and operations got equal importance and the result was an all-round development. While scrutinising large number of Court of Inquires, Boards of Officers and Statement of Cases he exuded high degree of patience and all the time a high quality product was forwarded. He also managed visits of many dignitaries in a befitting manner despite all constraints in a devastated island.

Apr 2005 will be considered as a red letter day in the history of Indian Air force when Chief of Air Staff along with 30 media personnel witnessed flying of front line SU30 and Jaguar fighter aircraft from Carnic airbase, thus projecting the fastest resurrection of the air base. This needed thorough planning, dedicated effort and positive attitude by all personnel and Gp Capt Dhar left no stone unturned to motivate his team to put up such a good show.

For rendering distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Ravi Dhar.