Group Captain Praveen Bhatt (16970) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned on 29 Dec 1982 in the Flying branch of the IAF During his 22 years of distinguished service he has held important appointments, which include Flight Commander of a Fighter Squadron, Deputy Director Air Defence at Air HQ and Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron during Op Parakram. For his outstanding performance, he was awarded the Scudder's Medal in DSSC and the Jam Satji Sword of Honour for Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) Course. He has been commended by the AOC-in-C in 1993 and also by the Chief of Air Staff in 1995. Presently, he is posted at Directorate of Personnel (Officers), Air HQs wef 12 Aug 2002. Gp Capt Bhatt is endowed with a high degree of initiative and sound professional knowledge. He pursues tasks with singleminded devotion. In his present assignment, he has made significant contribution in improving promotion ratios and other HRDrelated issues. He has displayed ingenuity in not only improving promotion ratios in the select rank of Wing Commander in the last two promotion boards, but has also evolved a mid-term perspective plan to sustain good promotion ratios till 2009 for most Branches by undertaking an incisive study. A computer Based Career Planning Module (CPM) that seeks convergence between officers' performance quotient, career progression and placement was initially planned to be developed with the help of civil professionals. Group Captain Bhatt took it upon himself and relentlessly pursued development of CPM for officers of Accounts and Education Branch. This has made the task of placing the right officer for the right job that much more scientific and easier. He has undertaken research on many complex issues - rationalisation of distribution of open-posts upto the rank of Wing Commander was one such task requiring dialectic study of the last 25 years' data. His contribution to formulation of Human Resource Policies, Directives, numerous Concept Papers and HRD Studies, which required a high degree of dedication, single minded approach and ceaseless hard work, has been of the highest order. For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Praveen Bhatt. |