Group Captain Dukkaa Venketa Jagan Mohan Rao (5231) was commissioned in the Army Dental Corps in July 1942. He was the first Dental officer to qualify as a paratrooper and served with the Second Airborne Division. He headed the Para Dental team from 1946 to 1952, and served with the Indian Parachute Field Ambulance both in J&K and Korea.

In March 1956, when the Air Force Dental Branch was formed, Group Captain JM Rao was the first Dental Officer to be seconded to the Air Force and he was given the command of the first Air Force Dental Centre. Since then he has rendered outstanding service to the Dental Brach of the Air Force.

Group Captain JM Rao has been working on dental problems peculiar to the Air Force, much as Aerodentalgia, early recognition of tempro­mendibular disorders amongst the aircrew of high performance aircraft, air evacuation of maxio-facial cases, fitment of special dentures in relation to accelerative forces and higher incidence of periodontal disturbances among flying personnel. He has published papers on such dental problems in Aero­Medical Journals and has kept abreast of Aviation Dentistry.

He has been mainly responsible for the modernization of the Air Force Dental equipment, ensuring economy in its purchase and maintenance and in setting up the training facilities for dental technicians, dental assistants and dental hygienists.

In recognition of his conspicuous services rendered in the Art and Science of Dentistry, the International College of Dentists of the USA has conferred on him the Fellowship of the International College of Dentists.

Group Captain Dukkaa Venketa Jagan Mohan Rao has thus rendered distinguished service of exceptional order.