Air Commodore Chandersekhar Rao Kurpad served in the Technical Signals Branch of the Indian Air Force for 25 years, from 1943 to 1968. During this period he held many staff and field appointments concerned with the training of technical personnel and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment.

In 1965, Air Commodore Kurpad was deputed to Bharat Electronics Ltd., where he was appointed Project Manager with responsibility of progressing the manufacture and supply of vital equipment for the Air Force. In 1964, he was selected to head the planning unit for the electronics factory that was to be set up as part of the MiG-21 project. He was subsequently appointed General Manager of the factory, which became the Hyderabad Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. He served in that capacity on deputation from the Indian Air Force. In 1969 he was appointed Managing Director of the MiG Complex, made up by the Nasik and Koraput Divisions along with Hyderabad Division . That same year, Air Commodore Kurpad was permitted to retire from the Air Force and take up permanent service with HAL.

Throughout his service in the Air Force and on deputation to BEL and HAL, Air Com modore Kurpad has consistently displayed a very high level of professional and managerial ability. He worked quietly, with patience and perseverance, to set up the Air Force's school for electrical and electronic trades. In HAL, his performance as General Manager of the Hyderabad Division and later as Managing Director of the MiG Complex has been outstanding and has contributed a great deal to the success of the MiG project.

Air Commodore Chandersekhar Rao Kurpad has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.