Air Commodore Gyanendra Nath Kunzru (4167) Medical was commissioned on 01 November 1951 and has been serving with the Air Force ever since. After having served as Medical Officer in various Squadrons, he attended Advance Course in Pathology and qualified for the MD degree in Pathology. He was elected a Fellow of Aero Medical Society of India and is currently a Professor and Post Graduate Examiner of the Bangalore University.

In 1960, Air Cmde Kunzru was selected for deputation to the UK for Specialised Training in Aviation Accident Pathology. Subsequently, he was instrumental in setting up the Department of Accident Pathology at Institute of Aviation Medicine. With the setting up of this Department, it has been possible to investigate all air accidents, both civil and military on scientific basis. He has carried out several research projects which have a direct bearing on aircrew performance and flight safety.

During his tenure as Officer Commanding, Air Force Hospital, Johrat, Air Cmde Kunzru displayed exemplary qualities of leadership, planning and organization. He introduced many innovations and organized Patient Care, which acclaimed high praise from all the peripheral units dependent on the Hospital.

In 1981 Air Cmde Kunzru was specially selected to hold the coveted appointment of the President of Air Force Central Medical Establishment in New Delhi. In this appointment, he not only brought about medical changes, to enhance the functional efficiency, but also devised new system of maintenance and up­dating of medical documents at Central Medical Establishment. He has been instrumental in setting up the latest investigative facilities for evaluation of aircrew with borderline cardio vascular disability. He has formulated many research projects, which will of great help in evaluation of aircrew and has contributed significantly to the delineation of the protocol for evaluation of the cosmonaut.

Air Cmde Kunzru has been an all round sportsman. He has represented Air Force Teams in Cricket, Tennis, Squash and Golf. He has also served in the Services Team for National Championship in Cricket and Tennis.

Air Commodore Gyanendra Nath Kunzru has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Syed Mohammed Osama Medical in his early career had served as Medical Officer at Air Force Station, Hakempet. He obtained his grading in general medicine in Feb 63 and was classified as a specialist in general medicine in 1968. Ever since his grading in medicine he has been working as a medical specialist in smaller and larger hospitals of Army and Air Force. He commanded 4 Air Force Hospital from Jan 68 to Oct 69. He has also been the head of a Med Division of the Base Hospital at Lucknow and has also served as an editor of the Journal of Aviation Medicine (India) since 1982, published by the Aero­medical Society of India. He was posted to Central Medical Establishment as Senior Adviser in Medicine on 21 Jul 80 and has also been the President of this Establishment.

While serving at Air Force Hospital Bangalore, he has been recognised by the Bangalore University as a Post­graduate teacher in medicine, and has been teaching postgraduate students of aviation medicine, and general medicine, in the Bangalore University, Air Force Hospital and the Institute of Aviation Medicine. He has to his credit original research work and has published more than 20 papers in various medical journals. He is now engaged in a Research Project in collaboration with Professor M.K. Bhatia of All India Institute of Medical Sciences for upgrading aircrew who are originally labelled as doubtful cases of heart diseases. As President of the Medical Board of AFCME he has brought a highly mature sense of professional judgment to bear on the decision of medical categorisation of service aircrew and ground duty officers serving with the Armed Forces and with Civil Aviation.

Group Captain Syed Mohammed Osama has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Parkash Singh Devgan was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps in September 1953 and seconded to the Air Force from the same date. He qualified as a paratrooper in 1955 and Commanded two paramedical flights upto 1958.

He was appointed as Commanding Officer No. 9 Air Force Hospital and Senior Medical Officer of a forward Air base during 1974-77 and did pioneering work for the fitness of the aircrew. As Principal Medical Officer of Headquarter Maintenance Command from June 1977-79, he organised effective medical cover and brought down the morbidity rate to the lowest level. The general health and the family welfare activities got an impetus in the Command which was adjudged the best in the Air Force. He was the first Air Force Medical Officer selected to undergo National Defence College course in 1980.

Air Vice Marshal Sudhanshu Kumar Adaval VSM (6486) Medical was commissioned on 20 April 1982 with a post graduate degree in Pathology. In 1981 by virtue of his outstanding work in the field of laboratory services, he was awarded Fellowship in Laboratory Quality Control by World Health Organisation. A fellow of WHO he worked in prestigious laboratories in United Kingdom and United States of America. On promotion to the rank of Group Captain, he was appointed Senior Advisor (Pathology), he remained professor of Pathology in the Faculty of Pathology of Bangalore University between 1980 and 1989. His pioneering work in Aviation Accident Pathology has made aircraft accident investigation easier and has contributed to flight safety. He was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal in 1985 for his contribution to “Project Pawan" involving Indian Cosmonauts.

On promotion to the rank of Air Commodore he held the appointment of Officer Commanding of an Air Force Hospital in Eastern Sector.

He was posted to the key appointment of Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME) on 10 Feb 92. AFCME is a prestigious institution in the field of aeromedical evolution of aircrew, both service and civil. During his Command he has brought about commendable changes worthy of recognition. By streamlining the evaluation system, open communication, positive health education, quick documentation and disposal, he has achieved a remarkable goal of aircrew friendly atmosphere. The institution, originally designed for only medical evaluation, has under his command, developed into a most sought after medical consultation and diagnostic center. He has generated an academic atmosphere and professional excellence amongst his staff by projecting and launching important research programmes under the aegis of Armed Forces Medical Research Committee and Defence Research and Development Organisation. With the goodwill developed through interaction at various levels, he has built up and constantly endeavoured to modernize the medical facilities.

Air Vice Marshal Sudhanshu Kumar Adaval VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Kukkehalli Prabhakar Hegde was commissioned on 27 Feb 1963. As a Flight Lieutenant medical trooper he, unmindful of the risk to his life, undertook mission to save aircrash victims in hostile terrain in Eastern Sector.

In 1969, he became a Medical specialist and served with distinction at Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and several Air Force Hospitals. His proficiency and clinical skill led to his being specially selected for the prestigious appointments as Staff Surgeon to the Chief Of the Air Staff in 1982. His outstanding services were recognized with the award of Vishisht Seva Medal in 1986. In 1987, he became Senior Advisor in Medicine for several service hospitals. He was instrumental in starting post graduate courses in all major clinical subjects at Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore duly recognized by Bangalore University and Medical Council of India. This was a matter of great prestige to medical services and helped many to obtain post graduate degree and improve quality of medical care.

As an Air Commodore, he was posted as Joint Director General Medical Services at Air HQ in Nov 1992. By his varied professional experience, he achieved significant modernization of Air Force Hospitals, Station Sick Quarters and Dental Centres.

In December 1993, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME). Under his stewardship many new diagnostic facilities have been added. The procedures have been reorganized so that the specialist facilities are now extended to outpatients also as a routine. This has benefited serving as well as retired service personnel.

Air Commodore Kukkehalli Prabhakar Hegde VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore (Mrs.) Padmavathy Bandopadhyay VSM (11528), Med joined Army Medical Corps on 22 Jan 1968 and seconded to the Air Force from the same date. Her career spanning over three decades has been full of achievements. She has held key appointments and demonstrated dedicated hard work and foresight. Academically, she is highly qualified in Aviation Medicine and Physiology. She is also a post-graduate of Defence Services Staff College and holds MSc (Defence Sciences). She has flown as passenger (and for research work) in quite many types of aircraft, which has contributing in enriching her knowledge with regard to the problems faced by aviators.

Her interaction with the flying and being with the aircrew was appreciated during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, and in recognition, she was awarded 'Vishisht Seva Medal' in 1972, and commendation by the Chief of Air Staff in 1982. Well attuned to the adventure, she has been a member of Arctic Team in 89-90 where she collected a lot of data for physiological research.

In the present assignment as Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Central Establishment (AFCME), she has effected substantial improvements in the working conditions of the unit, acquisition of high-tech equipment, as well as in the aesthetics. As chairman of the officers' Mess Committee, she has been able to improve the functioning of the Mess, which has been quite obvious in the recent past. Work services to the tune of Rs. 30 lakhs have been completed/in the pipeline in the Mess and about Rs. 75 lakhs in the unit during the year.

She has displayed exceptional qualities of leadership. She has been able to harness all the resources, which are required for smooth functioning of the AFCME, which is always in the notice being premier institution for aircrew evaluation, service as well as the civil. Her dedication to work, forthrightness, futuristic vision has led to all round improvement in the functioning of the unit.

Air Commodore (Mrs.) Padmavathy Bandopadhyay VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Jai Krishan Gupta (12308) was commissioned on 15 January 1970 in the Medical branch of the Indian Air Force. During his 34 years of service career he has held various significant staff appointments, which include Deputy Principal Medical Officer at two operational Commands and Deputy Director Medical Services (Civil Aviation) at Air HQ. He has specialized in Aviation Medicine. He is a recognized Professor and Examiner of Aviation Medicine with Bangalore and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Presently, he is the Air Officer Commanding Air Force Central Medical Establishment. In his present assignment Air Commodore Gupta has brought AFCME up to the level of being a center of excellence. Apart from the physical improvements, which have been appreciated by all who visit the Establishment, he has able to infuse a great deal of professionalism into AFCME with a kind of a gentle face. By inculcating a positive attitude in his staff and providing a congenial atmosphere, the anxiety and suffering of the clientele has been enormously mitigated. New equipment has been added and manpower usage has been optimized. Systematized utilization of resources and close monitoring by him have not only reduced the time for medical evaluation considerable but also raised the standards of medical boards resulting in the speedy up-gradation of many aircrew. Through networking all the departments, he has made AFCME almost paperless. His vision to transmit medical boards to Air HQ digitally and get online approval so that upgraded aircrew can start flying from the day they finished their medical examination at AFCME is nearing fruition.

At Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) Air Commodore Gupta made a significant con tributions to the field of Acceleration Physiology. He initiated the high G training to IAF Air Superiority Fighter pilots and has also published many noteworthy research papers in this field. At Air HQ he brought a quantum change in the quality of licensing medical evaluation of civil pilots. At HQ WAC as PMO he did meticulous planning and ensured smooth handling of medical men and material during 'Op PARAKARM'. He has always displayed a very high degree of professionalism and his determination, dynamic leadership and vision have enthused many young doctors in the IAF medical service. His noteworthy work in the field of aviation medicine has contributed in improving the operational efficiency of IAF aircrew.

Air Commodore Jai Krishan Gupta has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Ram Krishan Ganjoo VSM (13362) Medical an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, joined the Medical Branch of the IAF in March 1973. He is presently holding the coveted appointment of AOC of the prestigious Air Force Central Medical Establishment at New Delhi since 01 March 05.

An astute physician always aiming for professional excellence, he furthered his academic pursuits with a post graduation in General Medicine from Pune University followed by a post graduate Fellowship In Clinical Haematolagy from St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. He is a certified Haemeto-oncologist of the Royal College of Physicians, London. During his service career spanning over three decades, he has held several important appointments, which includes Staff Surgeon to Chief of Air Staff, Senior Advisor Medicine and Head of the Department of Medicine at AFCME, New Delhi and Com mand Hospital Air Force, Bangalore. For distinguished services and devotion to duty, he was awarded Commendation by Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air-Command in 1978 and Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India in 1990. As Senior Advisor and Head of the Department of Medicine of the Apex Tertiary Care Super-specialty Hospital of the Air Force, at Bangalore, he conceptualized and set into motion various activities which brought about a sea change in the patient reception and care services in the Medical Out Patient Department as well as Intensive Care facilities for the critically ill patients. He was also instrumental in initiating the process for setting up of state-of-art invasive Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. He has distinguished himself as an excellent medical teacher, guided many research projects and contributed several scientific papers to national and international journals. Profe ssionally acclaimed nationality, he has been honoured with Membership of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, the Fellowship of the Indian College of Physicians and the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine. In his present appointment as AOC at AFCME, he has displayed excellent leadership qualities and administrative skills, in addition to his professional achievements. He has, through his proactive and positive attitude as well as highest norms of interpersonal relationship and time management, put AFCME on fast track, to be the first ISO 9001:2000 certified Medical Unit of the IAF. Through his untiring efforts, he has streamlined the evaluation process of the pilots of the IAF and ensured effective and on line medical documentation for the civil aircrew, wherein those declared medically fit to fly are back in the cockpit at the earliest, thereby uplifting the morale and ensuring saving of skilled man hours.

Air Commodore Ram Krishan Ganjoo VSM has thus rendered distinguished services of an exceptionally high order.