Group Captain Surya Dev Pathak was commissioned in the Accounts branch of the Air Force on 1 Dec 50. During his twenty seven years of service, he has held a variety of responsible appointments and displayed tact, initiative, drive and devotion to duty, of a very high caliber.

In November, 1975, he was specially selected to take over as the first secretary of the Air Force Group Insurance Society, an entirely new field of activity for an Accountant Officer. Air Force was the pioneer in starting the scheme in the Armed Forces and in the absence of previous knowledge, experience and reliable data/statistics had to face numerous hurdles. Group Captain Pathak, however, applied himself to this new and challenging assignment with a very high sense of responsibility and dedication and in collaboration with the Life Insurance Corporation of India, got the scheme started.

Within one year of existence of this scheme, with his skilful management, he made it possible to delink the scheme form LIC thus resulting in a saving of Rs. 12 lacs to the Society, which was transferred to the members in the form of increased Survival Benefits and reduced "Flying Extra Premium". Again in early 1978, through a scheme of re-insurance with banks, he was instrumental in augmenting the yield on Society's investments by Rs. 7 lakhs per annum.

Encouraged by tangible results and the support of members, he formulated a new scheme in April 1978, which envisaged enhanced life cover, better survival benefits, cover to NCs (E) and disability insurance for rehabilitation of disabled personnel. The last mentioned benefit is another "First" on the map of Group Insurance in the Armed Forces.

The brilliance, skilful managements, zeal, hard work and dedication to service displayed by Group Captain Pathak, in bringing this major welfare measure to its present stature, have been of a very high order. Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Group Captain Surya Dev Pathak.