Air Vice Marshal Mahendra Singh Rao Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 15 Jul 1950. Since then he has served as Engineering Officer of transport as well as fighter Squadrons, Officer-in-charge Avro Assembly, Chief Technical Officer of a large fighter base, Deputy Air Attaché in the Embassy of India at Paris, Officer Commanding of an important Base Repair Depot, Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of Central Air Command and recently he has taken over as Air Officer-in-Charge of Engineering and Systems at Headquarters Maintenance Command. Air Vice Marshal Rao is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College and he successfully completed Senior Defence Management Course at the Institute of Defence Management.

Air Vice Marshal Mahendra Singh Rao was closely associated with the maintenance planning for introduction of new types of fighter as well as helicopters. His contribution was of immense value for the smooth introduction of four different types of Fighters, Transports and Helicopters in the Indian Air Force during its formative years.

Air Vice Marshal Mahendra Singh Rao during his tenure as Officer Commanding of the Base Repair Depot successfully completed the challenging task of meeting the production targets of a large number of rotables for our aircraft. AVSM 1981-82

He not only brought about remarkable improvements in the functioning of the BRD but also carried out modifications of far reaching strategic importance on two types of front line fighter aircraft.

Air Vice Marshal Mahendra Singh Rao was Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of Central Air Command from November 78 to June 81. During this period the air officer had contributed significantly to the overall improvement of aircraft serviceability in the Command. He had done this by keen and deep personal involvement in maintenance matters to keep aircraft flying to the maximum extent possible. The aircraft fleets in the Command included Canberras and Packets which are very old aircraft.

Notable achievements in the maintenance field are the clearance of prolonged aircraft on ground (AOG aircraft). In 1979 and in 1980 a very large number of aircraft, which had been on prolonged AOG were cleared.

Air Vice Marshal Mahendra Singh Rao has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.