Air Marshal Praduman Kumar Jain was commissioned in the Indian Air Force, in 1952. During his long and meritorious career of 38 years, he has held a variety of prestigious appointments with great distinction.

At the initial stages of his career as a Controller of the Air Traffic Control, he displayed high proficiency, innovation and resourcefulness in his profession.

The professional standards set by him are even now used as yardsticks. He was instrumental in conceiving and establishing the only Air Traffic School in the Indian Air Force.

The Air Officer has served as the Chief Administrative Officer at two major bases. With his professional approach and direction, he brought about vast improvements in the administrative infrastructure and services which substantially enhanced the functional and operational efficiency of these bases.

As Air Officer incharge Administration he shouldered the responsibility of guiding the entire spectrum of administrative activities in the IAF. While discharging this onerous duty with his usual zeal and professionalism he has shown the initiative approach and courage to rise above traditional methods and normally accepted considerations after failure of the MES to provide qualitative runway repairs which critically affect Air Force Operations.

As President of the Services Sports Control Board, he demonstrated keen interest in promoting adventure and sports activities which help immensely in developing spiritde-corps and dynamic character among the personnel of the Armed Forces.

Air Marshal Praduman Kumar Jain, VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Rajendra Kumar Dhawan was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on the 17th July, 1954. A graduate of the National Defence College and Long Defence Management Course, a fighter Pilot of repute, he has held a wide variety of important command and staff appointments with distinction.

He was entrusted with the command of a squadron to be re-equipped with a different variant of supersonic fighter aircraft in 1973, where he faced multiple problems of the new induction. He, however, overcame the problems with initiative, determination and innovative skill. Through untiring efforts, he created a nucleus from which the subsequent squadrons of similar types could be formed successfully.

As Deputy Commandant of the Air Force Academy, he was instrumental in improving the training standards in respect of officer trainees of all branches. Later, he was appointed as the Commandant of the College of Air Warfare where he guided a number of studies to update air warfare doctrines and strategies.

Promoted to the rank of Air Marshal in 1988, the Air Officer was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at the Air HQrs. He guided and supervised an extensive in-house re-appreciation of the long-term re-equipment plan and the preparation of the draft outline of the VIII Plan of the Indian Air Force. His other achievement has been re-tailoring of the Air Force plans and schemes in conformity with expected allocation, without curtailing the process of building up the operational potential. In April 1990, he was posted as the Senior Air Staff Officer of an important Operational Command. In this appointment, his operational and staff experience continued to be of immense value.

Air Marshal Shashi Kumar Samuel Ramdas was commissioned on the 4th April, 1955. A graduate of the National Defence College, he has held a number of important field and staff appointments.

From 1976 to 1978, he served as the Chief Engineering Officer of a premier fighter base in the South Western Sector. Here, by meticulous planning and optimum exploitation of the limited resources, he ensured a very high state of serviceability of all aircraft and related systems. He was specially selected for training of Jaguar aircraft in the United Kingdom in 1979 and was closely associated with the successful induction of this high technology aircraft into the Indian Air Force.

In February 1986, he was appointed as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of an Operational Command. In this assignment, he brought about all round improvement in maintenance activities. He computerised the data and functioning of the Maintenance Control Centre at Command HQrs for increasing the quality and speed of decision making. He ensured strengthening of the infrastructure and qualitative improvements in the standard of maintenance and serviceability which enhanced the operational preparedness of the Command.

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, he was appointed as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at HQrs Maintenance Command. There, with his vast experience and expertise, he continued to make significant contribution for enhancing the production of various Base Repair Depots and, thus improved the operational preparedness of the Indian Air Force.

The Air Officer was nominated to head a high-powered committee to examine all aspects relating to the operation and maintenance of Airbus-320 aircraft by the Indian Airlines. The report of the Committee bears ample testimony to the Air Officer's professionalism and analytical ability in evaluating complex technical and man-machine interface problems in high-technology aircraft. The Government has accepted the Committee's report and implementation of its recommendations would assist the Indian Airlines in ensuring safe and smooth induction of this most modern aircraft.

The Air Officer has since retired and taken over the prestigious appointment of the Chairman, Indian Air Lines.

Air Marshal Shashi Kumar Samuel Ramdas, AVSM, VM, VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Trilochan Singh (5043) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Fighter Stream of the IAF on 14 June 1956. During his long service career he has held a number of key command and staff appointments including Command of a fighter squadron, an operational Base, Director Electronic Warfare at Air HQ and Senior Air Staff Officer at Western Air Command.

A veteran fighter pilot, he was awarded the Vir Chakra for conspicuous gallantry during the Indo-Pak Conflict in 1965. A dedicated Pilot Attack Instructor, he brought about remarkable improvements in the operational effectiveness of a frontline fighter squadron during his command. As a befitting squeal to his leadership of the Squadron, he was later appointed the Station Commander of a large Fighter Base in the Eastern Sector. His dynamic approach to numerous problems at this remotely located base transformed it into an exemplary station, for which he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1980.

As Joint Director Air Defence, he was the key figure in the induction of MiG-23 MF air defence aircraft in the IAF. He also served as a crucial member of the negotiating team for the Mirage-2000 aircraft and was instrumental in laying down the utilization philosophy and the weapon mix for this weapon system. Appointed Air Attaché in our Embassy in France in 1982, he coordinated the actual hand-over of Mirage-2000 aircraft to the IAF as well as the training of Indian pilots and technicians, apart from successfully negotiating and finalizing certain subcontracts of the Project.

A graduate of National Defence College, his contribution as DEW in exploitation of the IAF's meager inventory was noteworthy. In 1988, he was appointed the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at Western Air Command. As SASO of this Command, he was deeply involved in the planning and finalization of operational plans. He conceived relocation of the air defence elements of the WAC; making the system far more effective.

A graduate of Senior Defence Management Course, the Air Officer brings to bear his varied operational and administrative experience in his present appointment of Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) and continues to make significant contributions to our operational preparedness through innovative utilization of resources.

Air Vice Marshal Trilochan Singh AVSM, VrC, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.