Wing Commander Shalgram Parhee was commissioned in the Technical Branch of the IAF in August 1951. By his exceptional intelligence and application, he proved an asset in various appointments held by him.

As Senior Technical Officer in of the Radar Stations, he was instrumental in arranging and compiling detailed maintenance and training instructions on the main Radar and other ancillary equipment. He was an instructor in the Fighter Controllers Course where he with his deep understanding of the equipment, he was able to provide the maximum operational training for the pilots. At an operational Command, by careful planning and innate forethought, he was able to provide communication facilities to the far flung units under the Command inspite of limited resources in equipment and manning.

In Signals Base Repair Depot, he was entrusted with responsibility of organizing repair and overhaul of Signals and Navigation Aids and he discharged this responsibility with thoroughness and professional skill. He successfully carried out the evaluation of one of the indigenous developed light portable Radars in inclement weather conditions and at great heights. As in-charge of design and development electronic warfare equipment at a Signals Unit, he displayed exemplary leadership, devotion to duty, dogged determination and organizing ability in fabricating and quickly proving the equipment so that these are operationally available at the shortest possible time.

Wing Commander Parhee joined a special project in November, 1970. He has shown rare insight in planning and developing the proposed sophisticated system, evaluating impact of the system on existing communication network and determining the support requirements. He applied himself with unparalleled devotion to duty, untiring zeal and accomplished the task resulting in considerable savings in the overall cost of the project. By his initiative, meticulous planning and excellent leadership backed by technical knowledge, he was able to complete the task of site survey and system engineering of far flung sites in inaccessible mountainous areas on schedule. In 1974, Wg Cdr Parhee was deputed to a post abroad which called for technical knowledge, maturity and tact. In accomplishing the tasks Wing Commander Parhee showed extreme competence, rare judgment and technical skill, qualities which have been the hall-mark of his long and distinguished career.