Squadron Leader Sadanand Kulkarni during his eleven years of service as a Navigator has flown 3,150 hours: out of which 1,320 hours are as an instructor. He holds transport category 'A' and Q.N.I. category A-1. In his Instructional tenure of four years, he has displayed instructional skill and flying standard of the highest order. He has had the distinction of passing out his pupils as best navigators in air work in three consecutive courses. As a navigator in M. R. Squadron, he flew 1,125 hours on Liberator aircraft and was responsible for training a large number ops U/T navigators into skilful and operationally sound maritime navigators, radar operators and bomb aimers.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Sadanand Kulkarni displayed professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Air Marshal Sadanand Kulkarni was commissioned as a Navigator on 23 March 1957. In his long career spanning more than 37 years he has held varied field and staff appointments. He holds A-1 Navigation Instructor category, and has served as Air Force Examiner for three years. For outstanding professional skill he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1969. An alumni of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Defence Institute of Work Studies, College of Defence Management (CDM), Naval Post Graduate School, California, USA and National Defence College (NDC), the Air Officer has served with distinction as Directing Staff at DSSC for two years and at CDM for five years. He also held the appointment of Director Systems Evaluation at Air HQ. He was later appointed Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Tambram, the premier Training Institution of the IAF.

As Commandant of CDM, the Air Officer put his vast academic and teaching experience to full use. He restructured the main course and initiated a number of short duration courses to suit the Services requirement. On promotion to Air Vice Marshal, he was appointed Senior Officer Administration of the Western Air Command. Due to his personal example, tremendous capacity for sustained hard work and methodical approach he established harmonious and effective management of man power and resources which had a direct bearing on the output of operational units.

On promotion to Air Marshal, he was selected for the appointment of Commandant of National Defence College, the most prestigious defence institute of our country which he is holding till date. The Air Officer, with his knowledge and experience has restructured the syllabus, modernised the training aids and support facilities and incorporated a modern library retrieval system.

Air Marshal Sadanand Kulkarni, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.