Air Marshal Prabhat Kumar Varma was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on 06 Nov 54. Throughout his long and distinguished career he has held a variety of key Command and Staff appointments with distinction. These include command of a Combat Squadron, the only VVIP base, a major fighter base, Director of Personnel (Officers), Director General of Defence Planning Staff and Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel at Air HQ . He was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1975 for exceptional devotion to duty while commanding a combat squadron. Later, he was appointed the Chief Operations Officer of the first ever Jaguar base of the IAF. Subsequently the officer commanded the prestigious VVIP base, Air Force Station Palam in an exemplary manner. A graduate and Directing Staff of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Air Officer commanded a frontline fighter base in 1985. The Air Officer also held a very distinguished tenure as Senior Air Staff Officer of Southern Air Command during the induction phase of OP PAWAN. On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, the Air Officer was appointed Director General Defence Planning Staff in MOD. The Air Officer held the crucial appointment of Air Officerin-Charge Personnel at Air Headquarters. Here, the Air Officer showed a remarkable ability to produce man-machine interface, which is so vital to a military service. For the distinguished service of exceptional order, he was awarded AVSM in 1993.

On assuming duties after major bypass surgery during Jan 93, not only he took over his own duties of the Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel, but was also entrusted with the arduous responsibilities of the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. Without showing any concern for his health, he rose to the occasion and discharged the dual responsibility in an exemplary manner wherein he displayed an extraordinary capacity to withstand the implicit stress and strain of the twin portfolios.

The Air Officer assumed the responsibilities of the DCAS at a time when the Nation was passing through the phase of ever mounting economic crunch. Despite the tight budgetary controls, he ensured that the expenditure was kept within the funds allotted without compromising the operational preparedness. He retailored the Air Force plans in conformity with the expected allocation and the changed strategic continental perceptions.

He has left an indelible imprint in the appointments that he has held during his chequered career spanning nearly four decades of dedicated service.

Air Marshal Prabhat Kumar Varma AVSM, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Naresh Kumar, AVSM, VM, ADC was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 14 January 1956. In his distinguished career spread over 37 years, he has held various important command and staff appointments. A graduate of National Defence College, he has an outstanding accident free flying record of more than 3000 hours on various aircraft like Vampires, Chetak, Mi-4, Mi-8 and Mi17 aircraft. While commanding one of the helicopter units he was assigned the task of flood relief in North Bengal and in recognition of his services, act of courage, initiative and devotion to duty, he was awarded 'Vayu Sena Medal' in 1970. After a successful tenure as Air Attaché in Afghanistan, he was appointed Air II in one of our premier Command Headquarters, followed by a command of an operational base located at high altitude. Under his inspiring leadership, meticulous approach and guidance, this base was brought to the level of operational excellence. For rendering distinguished service of an exceptional order, he was awarded 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal' in 1988. On his a promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he took over as Senior Officer-inCharge Administration at HQ CAC, before taking over yet another important appointment of AOC Jammu and Kashmir. His performance in both these appointments of totally diverse fields of administration and operation, was commendable.

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal in April 1991, he was appointed Air Officerin-Charge Administration at Air Headquarters. With his sound professional competence and dedicated hard work, brought about all round improvement in all areas of activities, viz. work services, general administration, management of public and welfare funds. A particular mention need to be made of introduction of “Medical Care Scheme" for retired Air Force personnel during this tenure of his. He was also entrusted the responsibility of Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel along with AOA, which he discharged with unmatched excellence.

In Apri1, 1992, Air Marshal took over the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Central Air Command. In this appointment, using his professional expertise in the field of operations, he effected considerable improvements in the Ops preparedness. He, with his meticulous planning and analytical approach, carried out rationalisation of resources and manpower in various spheres of activities and brought about significant savings to the tune of a few crores without any compromise on operational capability. In Mar 93 he was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of a major operational Command.

Air Marshal Naresh Kumar, AVSM, VM, ADC has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Keith David Kingsley Lewis, AVSM, VM Flying (Pilot) was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 01 Apr 56. Out of a service of more than thirty seven years, he spent twenty eight years in the field. He has flown over 4500 hours accident free on single engined aircraft, mostly jets. He successfully held all important field appointments including command of the legendary No.1 Squadron and of two major Air Force Stations. For his professional competence and devotion to duties, he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1971. He actively participated in both the Indo-Pak wars. During 1971 Operation, the detachment of MiG-21 under his able leadership at a Northern airfield, proved crucial to the results of the war. On staff, he has held the most prestigious and demanding air staff appointments, viz, SASO of an Operational Command, Director Operations (Offensive), Director Intelligence, Addl ACAS (Ops) and Inspector General of the IAF at Air Headquarters. He has also been a Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College. For his distinguished service as Air Officer Commanding of an Operational Wing, he was awarded AVSM in 1988.

Over and above his arduous responsibilities as IG he was appointed in 1991 as Chairman of the IAF's Diamond Jubilee Celebration Committee. He executed this task in an extremely professional manner. The celebration received favourable press coverage, thus brining the IAF closer to the people. Briefly stated, the IAF Diamond Jubilee 1992 was celebrated with the highest standards and in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

As SASO, he displayed an uncompromising commitment to the attainment of operational status of clearly evident deterrence to any potential enemy. Through relentless pursuit of this aim, the Command maintained a very potent war fighting capability of guaranteed pre-emptive and reactive capability. Furthermore, as Inspector General of the IAF, it was his perceptive vision of the compelling necessity to institute flight safety measures guaranteed to produce long term and lasting gains that a holistic appraisal was made and the present target for the entire decade of 1992 t0 2001 was set. This raised the IAF horizon from concerns about immediate gains to that of accident reduction of a more lasting nature over the long term. Likewise, in the field of inspections, the level has been elevated from single unit assessment to ascertaining the war fighting abilities of operational of operational commands in the use of air power in the Asian sub-continental scenario.

Air Marshal Keith David Kingsley Lewis, AVSM, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Having been commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) (AE (M) ) Branch of the Indian Air Force on 03 Sep 56, Air Marshal Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyaya (5337) rose to the present appointment of the Air Officer Incharge Maintenance (AOM) at Air Headquarters. During his long and distinguished service career, the Air Officer had held various key and staff appointments such as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) 402 Station, Director Maintenance Plans and Inspection at Air Headquarters, Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of an operational Command and that of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Engineering A) for which he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 1991.

On taking over as Air Officer Incharqe Maintenance, Air Marshal Mukhopadhyaya had to face a spate of critical problems confronting the maintenance management which were to be tackled judiciously and promptly in the interest of operational preparedness. There were two major constraints, namely, depleted funds available owing to the financial crunch on the on hand and declining product support for the combat as well as transport aircraft and helicopters forming the bulk of the Air Force, from the erstwhile Soviet Union, on the other hand. These problems were to be effectively handled to keep the operational preparedness of the Air Force. Air Marshal Mukhopdhyaya with his technical acumen and administrative ability braved the challenges to ensure that operational requirements are not unduly impaired or adversely affected. Inadequate product support from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was another problem to be solved. With his personal involvement and incessant efforts, he has been able to extract more, satisfying product support from that agency. To keep pace with the fast changing times, computerisation of logistics management systems in the Indian Air Force was a long awaited need. On his personal initiative, a final shape was given to this aspect, a measure which would accelerate speedier supplies to the units. Another thrust area is indigenisation of aircraft spares and equipment. A number of projects aimed at expediting indigenisation efforts have been initiated under his watchful eyes, the successful implementation of which could greatly help tide over the crisis situation created by shortage in many of the imported items.

Air Marshal Ama1 Kumar Mukhopadhyaya, AVSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.