Air Marshal Bharat Kumar, AVSM was commissioned as Fighter Pilot on 19 Dec 59. He is a Fighter Combat Leader and has flown practically all-fighter aircraft presently on the inventory of the IAF including Mirage 2000 and MiG-29. He actively participated in IndoPak conflicts of 1965 and 1971. The Air Officer has commanded with distinction a premier fighter squadron and two operational fighter bases including Air Force Station Gwalior, where Mirage 2000 aircraft are based. He was awarded AVSM in 1984. A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, the Air Officer is one of the very few Indian officers who have undergone General Staff Course at Vorshilov General Staff Academy, Moscow. He has held many staff assignments both at Command and Air HQ and in these appointments, his performance has been creditable. The more noteworthy of these appointments have been as Director Plans and Director Operations (Aircraft Induction) at Air Headquarters, during which most of the modern aircraft in the inventory of the IAF were smoothly inducted into the IAF. On promotion to the rank of Air Mshl, he successfully held the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer of South Western Air Command wherein he provided fresh impetus to the operational plans, their modes of implementation and training for the same. The Air Officer presently holds the appointment of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command. In this appointment he brings to bear his vast operational and staff experience in enhancing the capabilities of operational preparedness of this Command.

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

Air Marshal AY Tipnis, AVSM, VM was commissioned as a Fighter Pilot on 28 May 60. He has held several key field and staff appointments in his long and distinguished career. A pilot attack instructor and a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, he has commanded a fighter squadron and was the leader of the Mirage project team in France. He was awarded VM in 1980. On return from France he was appointed the Air Officer Commanding of the Mirage-2000 Base. An alumnus of the National Defence College he has held the staff appointments of Joint Director and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Inspection) at Air Headquarters. A year later he was appointed the Air Officer Commanding Jammu and Kashmir and was awarded AVSM in 1994.

The Air Officer holds the unique distinction of serving as the Senior Air Staff Officer of two operational commands, Eastern Air Command and Western Air Command. He took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command on 01 Aug 95. As Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, despite the existing monetary, equipment and manpower crunch, through a rational reallocation of the available resources he has successfully enhanced the operational preparedness of the largest Operational Command of the Indian Air Force. He flew the Mi-26 on its first landing at the treacherous Dalhousie helipad, flew the AN-32 on its first landing at Leh by night, and lead the fly-past on 26 Jan 96, thus leading by example and making valuable contribution in maintaining a high state of morale amongst the personnel.

Air Marshal AY Tipnis, AVSM, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal KB Singh, AVSM, VM, VSM was commissioned on 26 May 1960 as a Fighter Pilot. He has 4000 hours accident free flying to his credit. He was awarded VSM in 1972. The Air Officer was awarded VM in 1974 for flying a glider cross-country of 300 Km. He has held the appointments of Director General of Air Force Naval Housing Board and Director of Personnel (Officers) at Air HQ. For distinguished service he was awarded AVSM in 1994. For his long and intimate association with flying training, he was appointed the first Commodore Commandant of the Flying Instructors School. He took over as Air Officer Commanding-inChief of Training Command on 01 June 1995.

Air Marshal KB Singh has introduced new flying training patterns for more efficient and cost effective training of pilots. He was instrumental in analysing the problems connected with maintenance of HPT-32 trainer aircraft and initiating remedial measures. During the calendar year 95, there were a total of 10 aircraft accidents in Training Command. With his perseverance and managerial skills, he made immense contributions to the cause of flight safety by ensuring accident free flying during the year 1996. Under his dynamic leadership, the Commanders and supervisors have displayed a greater sense of commitment and dedication and enhanced the quality and standard of Training. With his vision and management of resources, the infrastructure at the training institutions have been vastly improved resulting in greater degree of comfort in working and living conditions for personnel.

Air Mshl KB Singh has been entrusted with a major portion of the task of conducting the International Air Show, Aero-India 96, at Yelahanka. He is also responsible for raising a new Formation Aerobatics Team “Surya Kiran" in Training Command to project the image and enhance the prestige of the Indian Air Force.

Air Mshl KB Singh, AVSM, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.

Air Marshal R Bajpai, AVSM was commissioned in the Engineering Branch on 20 Jun 1960. He holds an MSc. Degree in Physics, M Tech in Radar Technology and was awarded Ph D by IIT Delhi in 1995 for his work on “Electronic Warfare'. He is an alumnus of the National Defence College. He was awarded AVSM in 1995.

He has held many prestigious field and staff appointments. As Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, HQ Maintenance Command, with his innovative approach and thrust on indigenisation, computerisation and rationalisation, he achieved phenomenal growth in every aspect of production and maintenance activity while effecting savings in manpower, money and material.

In his present appointment as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, under his overall direction, supervision and control, he has ensured successful indigenous development of repair, life extension and overhaul technologies for aircraft, aggregates and other radar and communication equipment. The first AN-32 and MiG-23 BN aircraft overhauled with indigenous technology have already joined the operational fleets. Besides savings in crores of rupees in foreign exchange and downtime of the aircraft, he has provided the nation with much needed self reliance. These extraordinary achievements could be possible because of his sound professional background, administrative and managerial skill and total dedication.

Air Marshal R Bajpai, AVSM has thus rendered distinguished services of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal TRJ Osman, AVSM was commissioned as a Fighter Pilot on 15 Dec 60. A Pilot Attack Instructor, he has varied flying experience on different types of fighter aircraft and has actively participated in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. He commanded two front-line squadrons. During his tenure as the Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Jamnagar, he ensured very high operational standards which resulted in the station winning the Best Base and Flight Safety awards. For distinguished service rendered, he was awarded AVSM in 1990. He has held the key appointments of Director Offensive Operations, Air Defence Commander HQ South Western Air Command, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Inspection) and Senior Air Staff Officer HQ Eastern Air Command. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College, Bracknell, UK and the National Defence College. Air Mshl TRJ Osman was appointed as the Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) on 01 Jan 96. On taking over he has carried out a complete analytical review of the IAF's flying training system and thereafter formulated and executed a comprehensive reorganization and modernization plan.

As VCAS, Air Mshl TRJ Osman has contributed significantly to the formulation and execution of air strategy and tactical concepts of the IAF. Drawing on his comprehensive operational experience Air Mshl TRJ Osman has instituted innovative operational measures that will greatly enhance the IAF's future operational status and capability. His dedication to achievement of clearly defined service goals has inspired his entire Branch with a sense of mission. Air Mshl TRJ Osman has been actively involved in providing the impetus for the Fifth Pay Commission as the Principal Staff Officer in charge.

Air Mshl TRJ Osman AVSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal G Gururani, AVSM, VSM, was commissioned on 01 Dec 61 in the Engineering Branch. He has held the appointment of Chief Engineering Officer at AF Station Agra, Air Officer Commanding of a Base Repair Depot (BRD) at Chandigarh/Assistant Chief of Air Staff (ACAS), Air HQ and Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, HQ Maintenance Command (SMSO, HQ. MC). He was awarded VSM in 1983 and AVSM in 1993.

As ACAS, his dialogue with the original equipment manufacturers of Russia/CIS countries resulted in multifold improvement in supplies/repairs from Russia/CIS countries. During this tenure, he initiated life extension studies with the help of expertise available in the IAF, HAL and DRDO/CSIR labs. As a result life extension schedules were evolved and large scale withdrawals for overhaul in foreign countries were averted resulting in saving of large amount of foreign exchange.

As SMSO, HQ MC, he focused on self reliance and Indigenisation of spares by the repair depots. As Air Officer incharge Maintenance the Air Officer is continuing the thrust on self reliance. Servicing schedules of combat fleets are being revised to eliminate over servicing. Plans have been initiated for in-situ calibration by means of air transportable cabins fitted with calibration equipment. The thrust on procurement of maintenance supplies from original equipment manufacturers is continuing and the results are evident in the form of all round improvement in serviceability. A programme has been initiated to revise the logistics procedures and practices to bring them in line with present realities.

Air Marshal G Gururani, AVSM, VSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.