Group Captain Gulshan Rai (15969) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in the Engineering Branch of the IAF on 07 Jan 1980. He is a post graduate from the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and has been specially trained in France on the overhaul of the Mirage-2000 aero engine (M53-P2). He has served as a Senior Engineering Officer of a premier fighter squadron and has held staff appointments at Air HQ in his service career.

Gp Capt Rai has been the Group Commander of the Maintenance Support group of Air Force Station Tezpur since 01 Oct 2003 which arguably has the largest population of fighter aircraft of any base in the IAF. The quantum of fighter flying done at this base is much higher than most other bases of the IAF.

The location of the air base is remote and has limited industrial support. The air base flies the oldest aircraft with the youngest fighter pilots. Most of the aircraft of the base are approaching the end of their technical life and therefore, need extra care to ensure that they are worthy of flight. Additionally, the maintenance effort required to meet the enormous flying effort is substantial, which is a great challenge specially with the ageing aircraft and reducing manpower. Additionally, the airbase receives almost 220 mm of rain fall every year which makes operating conditions for maintenance staff extremely difficult.

Inspite of all the daunting problems, Gp Capt Rai, with his unstinting leadership and dynamism, has been responsible for achieving the highest serviceability of fighters for any fleet in the IAF. Through his proactive approach, he has successfully synergized the efforts of a large technical manpower base to deliver, with precision, the exacting demands of operations of this premier flying base. Inspite of poor industrial support and limited access to base repair facilities, Gp Capt Rai has also ensured a very high serviceability of ground signals and mechanical support facilities. It is pertinent to mention here that during his tenure as the Group Commander Maintenance, aircraft serviceability has peaked and accidents in this ageing aircraft have been reduced to nil.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Gulshan Rai.