Wing Commander Ashok Kumar Sharma (16460) Accts was commissioned on 11 Jun 81 in the Accounts Branch of the IAF. During his career, the officer had held the appointments of Senior Accountant Officer at various stations, Joint Directorate of Admin Inspection and worked as an instructor in two officer training establishments. He is presently posted as the Chief Instructor, Accounts Faculty at Air Force Administrative College (AFAC).

The officer assumed the additional responsibility at Training Coord Officer (TCO) since Mar 05. During the same period, AFAC was tasked to restructure the generic training for offices in the IAF into a Distance Education cum Contact Programme pattern. The task devolved on the office of the TCO. He handled this additional task with a focused vision.

The officers' task in the initial stages was to compare the existing pattern of training to those planned for change. Distance Education as a concept did not have any template within the three services to emulate. With no baggage of the past to refer, the officer proactively interacted with different organisations such is IGNOU, ICFAI, etc to create a template which convincingly helped AFAC to move ahead.

The result of officer's unswerving dedication and perseverance was that, AFAC could create not only the parent document, establish the training infrastructure, create the courseware and implement the scheme in a short period of six months. This is a laudable and a proud achievement by any standards and the credit justifiably goes to the officer. He has been so thorough and professional in his approach that the action document he created is now serving as the foundation for restructuring other professional courses at AFAC.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Ashok Kumar Sharma.