Air Marshal Pratap Rao was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 25 August 1956. He has held numerous important command and staff appointments. Being an A2 Qualified Flying Instructor he was sent on deputation to a friendly country to impart training to its pilots. Subsequently, he was posted to Aircrew Examining Board where he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1975 for utmost devotion to duty. He was also specially selected for the appointment of Military, Naval and Air Attaché to Bangkok. On return he was appointed as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of a major fighter base in the Western Sector, where for his distinguished service of an exceptional order, he was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1989. He has also held important assignments such as Planning Officer in the Department of Defence Production, Director Intelligence and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Inspection).

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, the Air Officer was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of the Western Air Command (WAC). In this assignment the Air Officer made significant contributions to the operational plans and their execution. The Air Officer was then appointed as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of WAC. In a very short time the Air Officer was able to appreciate the priorities of Govt and dovetail them with the Command plans, which increased the operational potential of the Command without any additional resources or expenditure.

The Air Officer is presently holding the vital appointment of Vice Chief of the Air Staff. In this assignment, the Air Officer brings to bear his best operational and staff experience. 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 Pratap Rao, AVSM, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Verinder Puri was commissioned as a pilot in the transport stream on 25 August 1956. During his long illustrious career, he has held many important assignments both in the field and staff. He has flown various types of aircraft and has 9500 hours of accident free flying to his credit. An A2 Qualified Flying Instructor, he has also served as staff at the Flying Instructors School. He has been the Air Force Examiner with Aircrew Examining Board for two years. Because of his instructional prowess, he was selected to go on deputation to a friendly country to train its pilots. He has commanded three field units including the prestigious Air Headquarters Communication Squadron associated with VVIP/VIP commitments. For his professionalism, determination and courage he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in 1964 and a Bar to VM in 1975. He has commanded two major Air Force bases and was subsequently specially selected to undertake diplomatic assignment as Air Attaché to USA.

On promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of Southern Air Command. The Air Officer was responsible for the efficient conduct of air operation during operation Pawan (Sri Lanka) and operation Cactus (Maldives). He was later appointed Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command (EAC) on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, where he worked diligently towards improving the operational preparedness and efficiency of the Command.

The Air Officer is presently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOCin-C) Training Command (TC). He has put his vast flying, field and staff experience to optimum use by ensuring that high training standards are maintained and all courses are completed on schedule.

Air Marshal Verinder Puri, VM and Bar has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.

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.

Air Marshal Satish Kumar Sareen was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 29 May 1957. He has held several key field and staff appointments in his service career. As a Flight Commander of a MIG-21 Squadron, for courage and devotion to duty, he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1970. He graduated from Defence Services Staff College in 1971 and was appointed Ops-1 in Eastern Air Command. A Pilot Attack Instructor, the Air Officer was selected for a deputation to a friendly country to train its pilots. He commanded a fighter squadron and was the Chief Operations Officer of two major fighter bases. He also commanded an Air Defence Radar Unit. On promotion to Air Commodore, he was appointed Air Defence Commander, Western Sector. In 1985, he was specially selected to the diplomatic assignment of Air Attaché to the Embassy of India at London, UK. On return to India, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Srinagar. For his commendable performance he was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1990.

On promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal the Air Officer held the key appointments of Additional Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) and Director of Intelligence. While holding these appointments he carried out a complete update of our adversary's capabilities and disseminated the same to all concerned. On promotion to Air Marshal rank, the Air Officer was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of Central Air Command, where he excelled in bringing realism to electronic warfare training. He was personally involved in a night para drop exercise of a Battalion Group, which culminated very successfully. He was later appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of South Western Air Command (SWAC). His proposal for operational re-deployment and re-organisation of SWAC units was accepted by Air HQ and is being implemented. He was also tasked to carry out an in-depth review of Logistics Management in IAF. He has produced a policy document to reorganise the entire logistics branch and its functions, which is under study at Air HQ. In Jun 1994, the Air Officer was appointed AOC-in-C Western Air Command (WAC). Air Marshal Satish Kumar Sareen, AVSM, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Kodendera Cariappa Cariappa, VM was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 29 May 1957. As a young pilot, he qualified as a flying instructor. While on an instructional tenure he was attached to a fighter squadron to participate in the 1965 operations. He was shot down on an operational mission and taken prisoner of war. Released with injuries in a POW exchange after the war, he converted onto helicopters before being selected by the then CAS to be his ADC. Thereafter, he commanded a helicopter squadron before and during the 1971 war. For his performance in command of the squadron, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in January 1973. After regaining his medical category, he reverted to the fighter stream and also commanded a fighter squadron. An alumnus of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), he served as directing staff of the College of Air Warfare. He successfully commanded a fighter base and was selected by the CAS to be his Air Assistant. Thereafter, he was specially selected to undergo the course at prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in England. On return to India he was appointed Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Gwalior.

On promotion to Air Vice Marshal, he was appointed as Chief Instructor (Air) at DSSC. Later he was the Air Officer Commanding, Advance Headquarters, Western Air Command, where he contributed significantly to the overall operational plans.

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, he successfully held the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of Eastern Air Command (EAC). Inspite of disturbed insurgency conditions, he provided a fresh impetus into the operational plans and their modes of implementation. The Air Officer presently holds the vital appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command. In this appointment, he brings to bear his vast operational and staff experience to maintain this command in peak operational readiness.

Air Marshal Kodendera Cariappa Cariappa, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Rajamani Ramamurthy was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) branch on 01 March 1958. As Senior Technical Officer of a newly acquired fighter aircraft, he did a commendable job for which he was awarded VSM in 1971. Subsequently, he was appointed Chief of Aircraft at a major Base Repair Depot (BRD) and performed exceptionally well by increasing the production. He was specially selected as the technical member of Jaguar Project Team in UK. As Director of Jaguar and Mirage cell at Air HQ, the Air Officer performed creditably in ensuring timely setting up of support facilities for new aircraft at three AF Wings. He was later appointed as Air Officer Commanding of largest Repair and Overhaul Base, where due to his meticulous planning and foresight, he set up the new facilities and test beds for the overhauling of newly inducted aircraft and aeroengines. On promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) at Air HQ, responsible for supporting Indo-Western fleet. He was a member of the Ministry of Defence team which negotiated with Rolls Royce and obtained over Rs.80 crores in foreign exchange as damages.

On promotion to Air Marshal, the Air Officer was appointed Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of Maintenance Command (MC). He vigorously pursued the IAF's short and long term maintenance targets. On being appointed AOC-in-C, MC, in July 1993, Air Marshal R Ramamurthy has brought to bear his wide ranging field and staff experience to initiate fresh impetus to the on-going process of technological update of maintenance practices of the IAF.

Air Marshal Rajamani Ramamurthy, VSM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.