Air Marshal MC Uthaya was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) branch of IAF on 24 Nov 58. During his long and distinguished service career, the Air Officer has held various key field and staff appointments such as Air Officer Commanding of a signal unit, Directorate of Plan ADGES (Air Defence Ground Environment System) and Chief Programme Director ASWAC (Aerospace Warning and Control). He has also been an alumnus of the National Defence College. The Air Officer has been Staff Officer responsible for all technical maintenance at HQ Training Command and HQ Western Air Command. Subsequently he took over as Director General RCPO (Radar and Communication Project Organisation) responsible for system engineering and installation of Radar and Tropo communication links throughout the IAF as part of ADGES plan.

The Air Officer was appointed Air Officer incharge Maintenance at Air HQ on 01 Feb 94. Despite two major constraints, namely, depleted funds availability due to financial crunch and declining product support from the erstwhile Soviet Union, the Air officer effectively handled the maintenance management of IAF to keep up its operational preparedness. Air Marshal Uthaya with his technical acumen and administrative ability braved the challenge to ensure that the operational requirements were not unduly impaired or adversely affected. A number of projects to expedite indigenisation effort have been initiated under his watchful eyes and the successful implementation of these would greatly help tide over the crisis situation created by shortages of many imported items.

Air Marshal MC Uthaya has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.