Group Captain Gurdial Singh Punia was commissioned in the Indian Air Force December, 1942, and joined the Administrative Branch on 17th February, 1943. In 29 years in the service, his main role was that of a Link Trainer Instructor. In this c he laid the foundation for the present skill in instrument flying of many of the senior officers in Service today. Later, he served in many units and formations on Air Traffic Control and ending this phase of his career as the Deputy Director Air Traffic Control at Air Headquarters. In this post, he was responsible, inter alia, for arranging safe and effective air itineraries of various dignitaries. Subsequently, he served as the Officer-in-charge Administration at an important Air Force Base.

Since October, 1969, Group Captain Gurdial Singh Punia has been the Provost Marshal of the Air Force. This appointment, in addition to carrying the responsibility of ensuring discipline in the Air Force, and allied tasks, also has operational responsibilities to the defence of Air Force Bases and installations against sabotage or attack by intruders and to the Passive Air Defence Scheme for the whole Air Force, together with the physical security of Air Force property and personnel. Group Captain Gurdial Singh has bent all his energies towards fulfilling these responsibilities. He has ensured that it in the forward and sensitive areas were provided with the resources they needed to improve their ground defence and passive air defence plans.

The success of his work can be judged from the fact that, in the recent conflict with Pakistan no enemy agent could enter any Air Force base and sabotage Aircraft. He has ensured that Air Force Police personnel received forensic training, and this will greatly improve the methods of crime detection and investigation in relation to the Air Force.

Group Captain Gurdial Singh Punia has rendered distinguished service