Air Marshal Prakash Sadashivrao Pingale AVSM VrC VM (6755) F(P) was commissioned as a fighter pilot in November 1962. He saw active service in 1965 war and was awarded Vir Chakra for gallantry. Subsequently he was chosen as one among the core group of pilots of the 1AF to undergo training in erstwhile USSR to become the nucleus for training other pilots within the country. Besides, he is a highly qualified instructor, one among the very few in the IAF to hold Instructional Category A-l.

The Air Officer has the distinction of having commanded two fighter squadrons and two major IAF Bases. He was awarded Vayu Sena Medal for distinguished command of the Hunter Operational Flying Training Unit. In higher appointments he has served as the Staff officer in-charge of Administration of an operational command and as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Inspection) at the Air Headquarters.

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, he took over the vital post of Inspector General of the Air Force and was responsible to oversee the professional standard and Flight Safety in the Air Force. During two years of his service in the capacity of Inspector General of the IAF, the Air Officer contributed immensely in enhancing operational efficiency and Flight Safety. His untiring effort towards flight safety resulted in reducing the accident rate in the IAF during the 1996-98. He initiated the drive for quality assurance in the aircraft maintenance shop floors at Operational Bases, Base Repair Depots and the industry. This resulted in reduced defects and improved reliability of aircraft and its support facilities.

In his present appointment as SASO HQ SWAC, the Air Officer's contribution in operational matters has been once again of great significance which has helped in enhancing the Op preparedness of the Command.

Air Marshal Prakash Sadashivrao Pingale AVSM VrC VM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Khushinder Singh Bindra AVSM VM (6863) F (P) was commissioned in the Flying Branch of IAF in Jan 1963. In 37 years of service Air Marshal Bindra has excelled both as a helicopter pilot and as an administrator. He has nearly 4600 hrs of flying to his credit, has commanded a front line Helicopter Unit and has the rare distinction of commanding the Helicopter Training School twice. He has been Air Attaché at Kabul, President of an Air Force Selection Board, Air Officer Commanding of a transport base, Deputy Commandant of Air Force Academy and Senior Officer In-charge Administration of Western Air Command. His service was of exceptional order was recognised by the award of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1997 and Vayu Seva Medal in 1975.

Through out his career, Air Mshl Bindra has displayed a very high degree of professional zeal and commitment. As Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air HQ the Air Officer displayed remarkable clarity of thought and reasoning and brought about a number of innovative improvements which significantly enhanced the lAF's security and intelligence setup. As Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command, he brought his varied experience to bear on the conduct of a large number of command level exercises and seminars successfully. As Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command he was instrumental in successfully implementing the concept of Joint Training for all streams and branches at the Air Force Academy, which was a major change from the existing system that catered mainly to flying training. He was also responsible for the smooth and successful conduct of the Aero India 98 at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bangalore. Air Mshl KS Bindra was appointed Air Officer-in-charge Personnel (AOP) at Air Headquarters in Oct 99. As AOP he is responsible for all aspects of personnel planning, induction, training, education and personnel administration. He has introduced an innovative concept of Human Resources Policies in order to bring in greater organisation, transparency and information dissemination in areas of personnel policies. In a short span he has introduced a number of measures aimed at making the policies pertaining to Personnel and Training dynamic and effective.

Air Marshal Khushinder Singh Bindra AVSM VM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Teshter Jall Master AVSM (7224) F (P) was commissioned in the IAF on 09 Mar 63 as a Fighter Pilot. He has to his credit more than 2500 hrs of flying on aircraft of both Soviet and Western origin. During his distinguished career he has held several important field and staff appointments. Apart from commanding an operational Squadron and an ADDC, he has commanded a premier fighter Base. He has contributed in the Field of EW and Defence Production when posted in staff appointment at Air HQ. He was Air Attaché at Washington before taking over the command of College of Defence Management. Prior to his present appointment as Inspector General (Flight Safety & Inspection) since Oct 1999, he held the appointment of Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of an Operational Command.

As Commandant of College of Defence Management, a Class 'A' Joint Services Institution, he brought about recognition to the college at the national and international level thereby enhancing its image. During his tenure an annual seminar was instituted at the national level. The recognition of the College at international level is evident from the fact that representation from friendly countries was for the first time at Major General level. With his zeal he got the long-standing proposal for permanent accommodation of the college cleared which will result in the move of CDM from its present temporary accommodation to its permanent location in the near future,

As SASO, of an Operational Command he was responsible for the smooth induction of the SU-30 fleet. With foresight and innovative planning he ensured that the Squadron achieved its full potential and was available for operations during the Kargil crisis. As SASO he was responsible for Air Power Demonstration both at Pokhran and Mumbai. The Vayu Shakti at Pokhran in Mar 99 had for the first time air to air missiles firing and full depiction of an air land battle. These events having been conducted safely speaks highly of the professionalism of the Officer. He was also tasked with the move of Command HQ to a new location, which he completed in meticulously under adverse circumstances. The HQ becoming operational in a short duration paid dividends during Op Safed Sagar, which was fully conducted from the new location of the HQ. He fine tuned Air Defence of Command area of operation along with revitalizing Pechora units and C&R system wherein a new CRC was introduced in the Gujarat area and Air Defence of Mumbai strengthened.

As IG (FS&I) he has put in considerable effort for accident prevention with special reference on accidents due to human error and technical defects. He has also been responsible for introduction of Role Specific Inspection and a new pattern for selection of units for annual awards. This will not only enhance the Op potential of the IAF but also foster air warrior qualities. During this period he was also a member of the Task Force on Review of Defence Management from May to Sep 2000, a task he carried out in addition to his regular duties.

Air Marshal Teshter Jall Master AVSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Surender Singh Chauahan AVSM VSM (7853) AE (M) was commissioned in IAF in Oct 1963. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering, he successfully completed his conversion course in Aeronautical Engineering and Engineering Management in IAF from Air Force Technical College at Bangalore in 1964. During his 37 years of meritorious service in IAF, he has qualified on a number of Fighters, Transports and Helicopters of IAF including modern front line aircraft like Mirage-2000. He was trained abroad on Jaguar aircraft and jet engine testing procedures on test bed. He is an alumni of National Defence College, New Delhi and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

A renowned Aeronautical Engineer in the aviation circles of the country, Chauhan has held various appointments in IAF. The most coveted of these have been as Chief Engineer in Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) where he was involved in instrumentation and modification of various aircraft systems for flight testing and evaluation and as Chief Engineer of the only Mirage-2000 base in IAF. He was Director of Engineering at Air HQ and was in charge of the entire Russian fleet of fighters, transports and helicopters. He also served as Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command.

In the present appointment as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Engineering) at Air HQ, AVM SS Chauhan has been in charge of maintenance of Western origin fleet and basic trainers. The sustained records of high serviceability and healthy flight and maintenance safety records of the fleet under him are a reflection of his foresight and managerial skill.

Air Vice Marshal Surender Singh Chauahan has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Gulshan Kumar Kwatra AVSM VSM (8001) AE (M) was commissioned in IAF in Apr 1964. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering, he successfully completed his conversion course in Aeronautical Engineering and Engineering Management in IAF from Air Force Technical College at Bangalore.

He is a Fellow of Aeronautical Society, of India and has held high offices including Presidentship of its Delhi Chapter. During his service in IAF, he has qualified on maintenance of five different types of aircraft and helicopters and underwent specialist training in UK and USA on aircraft and aeroengine.

A specialist in aviation maintenance, he has served the IAF during the last 36 years in various capacities. At the first and second line levels of maintenance, he rose to be a Chief Engineer of a Flying Training Establishment. He has also been the Chief of Production and Chief of Planning in a Base Repair Depot overhauling aircraft, helicopters and their accessories. In view of his rich experience, innovative thinking and unrelenting initiatives, he was deputed to a friendly country where he excelled in helping that country to set up its own infrastructure for aviation maintenance.

In his present appointment as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Maintenance Plans), he has been conceptualising maintenance policies in IAF. He is personally responsible for enabling the IAF in taking a significant step forward in setting up infrastructure at Type Training Schools which has set new standards of training in Defence Services with enormous contribution to Flight and Maintenance Safety.

A rare combination of multi-facetted talent with boundless energy, he finds more hours in a day and is capable of performing multiple activities concurrently. The indigenisation and self reliance efforts of IAF, which have reached new heights in the recent years, are clue to his singular contribution.

He is the Air Force representative of the Fifth Pay Commission and a host of sensitive issues have been resolved by his uncanny acumen for human psychology, trouble shooting and systematic analysis.

Air Vice Marshal Gulshan Kumar Kwatra AVSM VSM has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.