Air Marshal Laljee Kumar Verma (7768) was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps on 08 Sep 63 and seconded to the Air Force on the same date. During his career spanning over three decades, he has held many key appointments and by dedicated hard work and foresight has reached the appointment of Director General of Medical Services (Air).

Air Marshal LK Verma has excelled in each of the discipline he has handled. He is well­known personality in medical administration and has held SMO's appointments at five different Stations. For his oratory skill and quality of paper, he was awarded “Lt Gen KS Master oration", which is a triservice recognition. His experience in oratory, Mountaineering & Paratrooping skills & Jungle Survival and Counter Insurgency has stood him in good stead in the Services. Air Marshal Verma's zest for knowledge has always been on the forefront. He has completed a research project of World Health Organisation by establishing a proper system for Hospital Waste Management at Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore which in fact is the only medical institution in the country where a scientifically proven system of Hospital Waste Management has been functioning. With his efforts, an Indian Society of Hospital Management (ISHWM) has been formed of which he is to be elected Founder President.

As the Director General Medical Services (Air), he has pursued relentlessly towards modernization of hospitals and in achieving the highest standards in training of doctors and Para medical staff. The aspect of preventive health care has received a high impetus under his able leadership. Due to his efforts and guidance, installation of Lab for Night Vision Goggles is underway at IAM, Bangalore. These measures would enhance the overall health standards and contribute towards flight safety in the IAF.

Air Marshal Laljee Kumar Verma has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Purnendu Kumar Mukherjee (7698) F (P) was commissioned on 28 Oct 1963. in 37 years of distinguished service he has held several important staff and command assignments. He has flown over 3000 hrs on various fighter aircraft and has been Chief Ops Officer and Air Officer Commanding of major flying bases. He was mentioned in despatches for distinguished services rendered in 1971 war.

AVM Mukherjee was posted as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (FS&I) with effect from 03 Feb 97 and functioned in the appointment till 06 Jan 2000. With his vast experience in various field and staff appointments at Air HQ, it did not take him long to apply himself to the important aspects of Flight Safety and Inspection under the IGs branch.

He was the driving force for institutionalizing an operationally oriented relook at field units. Under his astute guidance, the inspection Directorates brought anew a host of operations related insights into the working of the field units. Some of the methods initiated were the Quality Audits on MiG-21s, AN-32, Bomb dumps and role equipment of fighter Units, an insightful look at Base Repair Depot functioning and security of a number of major Bases.

In Flight Safety, AVM Mukherjee was instrumental in commencing the framework for strengthening the FS organization in the HQ as well as field units. His tireless efforts also contributed towards gaining the sanction for the funds under Flt Safety code head which have provided the impetus for the improvement of flying environment at the airfields and keeping the airfield zones safe. Under his keen sense of propriety and integrity of the highest order, Quality Assurance gained momentum. His probing questions in all aspects of procurement of stores under QAS and timely guidance has provided the benchmark for future transactions.

Air Vice Marshal Purnendu Kumar Mukherjee has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Satish Kumar Ramlal Dham, VSM (8097) Med was commissioned on 29 Dec 1963. A distinguished graduate from BJ Medical College Pune, he obtained the post graduate degree in medicine (MD) in Nov 1970 and later super-specialised in immunology acquiring M Sc from Birmingham University in UK. He has held coveted appointments of Senior Advisor Medicine, Head and Professor of Medicine at Armed Forces Medical College and Consultant (Med) at the apex tertiary care Army Hospital, Research and Referral Hospital (AHRR). Earlier in his formative years he served with distinction at the Caribou transport squadron in the field and the Canberra bomber squadron. He was chosen to be the Physician and Staff Surgeon to the CAS. For his professional excellence he has been commended by the AOC-in-C, TC in 1975 and by the CAS in 1978 and awarded Vishisht Seva Medal by the President for distinguished services of high order in 1987. He served as a medical member UN fact finding mission at Cambodia in 1989. Professionally acclaimed nationally, he was awarded Fellowship of Indian College of Physicians in 1993. He has distinguished himself as one of the few Clinical Immunologists in the country.

Appointed Commandant of the prestigious super­specialty Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore in Jul 2000, AVM Dham has brought radical changes in the work atmosphere of the hospital which has witnessed a frenzy of professional activity. Departments of nephrology with latest Dialysis facilities and a transplant center, upgraded imaging center with CT Scan facilities and Joint Replacement and Neurosurgical centers have been further modernized with state of art equipment comparable to the best national centers of the country. A nationally acclaimed hospital waste management system has been set up. The hospital is a center of excellence for imparting post graduate training in various disciplines recognized by Rajiv Gandhi University of which AVM Dham is a Principal. His varied experience as teacher has further augmented the training of Medical Officer.

Air Vice Marshal Satish Kumar Ramlal Dham, VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Ramesh Chandra Mahadik, VSM (8570) Adm was commissioned in the Administrative Branch on 27 Jun 64. During 30 years of distinguished service he has held varied key appointments such as Commanding Officer, Chief Operations Officer and Joint Director Air Defence. For his dedicated and result­oriented performance as a fighter controller, he was awarded the Commendation by the CAS and Mention­inDespatches during 1965 and 1971.

As Chief Admin officer of a major fighter base his professional and methodical approach reflected itself in a perceptible improvement in al spheres of administrative activities. His innovative approach in creating infrastructure facilities for Malaysian Air Force trainees and recommendations for Russian Warranty Team resulted in his being awarded the VSM.

After a tenure as Air Officer Commanding of an Equipment Depot, he was posted to Air HQ as ACAS Works, where he was instrumental in bringing about major changes in budgetary allocations and more effective management of funds. He interacted with engineers, contractors and vendors to evolve a work ethos of quality consciousness. He ensured that construction work was completed in a compressed time frame. During the Kargil Conflict, his personal involvement and interaction at the highest level with engineers, trade sources, Border Road Organisation and MOD ensured availability of additional funds, machinery, material and manpower to front line bases immediately after outbreak of the conflict.

He took over as SOA Central Air Command in Sep 99. He set out his task with a clear vision to bring about the desired improvements in AVSM 2001 all facets of administrative activities at Bases and Units under Central Air Command. He gave a new impetus to the development of an efficient and effective work culture through developing inter­action between engineers and executives at all levels of functioning. His professional and aggressive approach has led to resolving a number of outstanding problems of encroachment removal.

The officer displays mental resilience for accepting new challenges and working under pressure with equanimity and has set benchmarks for devotion and achieving organization goals.

Air Vice Marshal Ramesh Chandra Mahadik, VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Vijay Achyut Patkar VSM (8632) AE (L) was commissioned on 23 Jul 64 in Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the IAF. The Air Officer has varied and rich experience in the field of Electronic Warfare, Information Technology and Maintenance of Aircraft and Helicopters. His achievements as Chief Engineering Officer at Air Force Station Agra were indeed commendable where he maintained a very high serviceable state of the transport fleet and zero maintenance lapse state in practice. For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 1988.

A Postgraduate from IIT, Kharagpur and alumni of College of Defence Management, the Air Officer has successfully utilized his knowledge to enhance his technical, financial and logistic prowess. During the Kargil Conflict the officer took upon himself the task of the requirement of armament stores vis­à­vis their consumption and availability for various weapon systems and thus worked out the immediate and futuristic requirements. The task was concluded to its logical end by his visit to CIS countries to tie up procurement and delivery of stores.

In his present tenure as Assistant Chief of Air Staff Engineering the Air Officer has utilized his sound knowledge of both ground and airborne systems to suggest improvements to existing software available at our BRDs and incorporation of in lieu systems, thus resulting in saving of foreign exchange. His advice to IAF/MOD on the intricate issue of handling two separate contracts for procurement for Mi-17 helicopter safeguarding the interest of IAF resulted in significant benefits. His highly innovative abilities and professionalism are optimally utilized in dealing with foreign vendors as well as indigenous design of Flight Data Acquisition Systems and other electronic equipment.

Air Vice Marshal Vijay Achyut Patkar VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Bijoy Krishna Pandey VM (8990) F (P) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 25 Dec 64.

During his 36 years of dedicated service, the officer has held a number of important, difficult and challenging assignments both in India and abroad. He served as Air Attaché, Embassy of India at Kabul from Sept 89 to Sep 92, perhaps the three most turbulent years in the recent history of war ravaged Afghanistan. He successfully commanded Air Force Station Agra, one of the largest operational bases in the IAF which sustains high intensity flying operations throughout the year. At Air HQ, the officer held the appointment of Director System Application and Director Operations (T&H). In the recent past, he served as the deputy Commandant of the National Defence Academy. It was during his tenure that the NDA celebrated its Golden Jubilee, an infinitely complex exercise during which NDA hosted the Vice President of India as the Chief Guest, a large number of dignitaries and thousands of alumni of NDA. AVM BK Pandey has been with ARC since 28 Feb 2000, where he heads the Air Wing which is the largest wing of the ARC both in terms of manpower and assets. In less than eight months as Operation Manager ARC, AVM Pandey has initiated many reforms/measures which have had a positive impact on the work ethos of the Air Wing. The fleet modernization and other futuristic projects are being handled by him very systematically and efficiently which will ensure smooth implementation of various projects of importance to national security.

Air Vice Marshal Bijoy Krishna Pandey VM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Subhash Chandra Rastogi VSM (8999) F (P) was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on 25 Dec 1964. During his career, he has held numerous key Command and Staff appointments, performing with distinction in every assignment. He was awarded the VSM in 1990 while serving at ADDC, Barnala. He has undergone the Experimental Test Pilots Course in the UK and is alumnus of DSSC and NDC.

As Commandant ASTE, he pioneered the installation of a telemetry system, which fulfilled a long outstanding need for an advanced flight test support system in the IAF. As AOC of an Air Base in the Eastern Sector, he resurrected the Base for fighter operations within one month of completion of runway repairs. It was primarily due to his tireless efforts and exemplary ability to marshal available resources that the entire operational support infrastructure of navigation aids, PAR, runway barriers and lighting were made functional in record time. While attending the national security course at the NDC in 1997, the officer was awarded the gold medal for his thesis on the subject of 'Defence Expenditure in India'.

As ACAS (Plans) at Air Headquarters he has worked to progress various projects and programmes of modernizing the IAF in the post Kargil period. In the Plans branch, he has revivified the entire planning process with constant focus on optimum utilization of the capital budget. His budget planning for new acquisition for 2000-2001 has been done after detailed interactions with the user directorates as well as the MOD, so as to make the whole process more scientific and precise. His commendable efforts have already resulted in materialization of five contracts worth Rs. 1045 crores in the first quarter of financial year 2000-2001. His considerable conceptual and analytical ability, as also his deep study of the acquisition process, came to the fore during his presentation to the Standing Committee of Parliament, the Arun Singh Task Force for the Management of Defence and the VCOAS Committee on Defence Procurement.

His personal grit, determination and dedication to work show up in sharp relief by the way he combated and overcame the crippling injuries he sustained in a flying accident many years ago, to be counted among the best in the IAF.

Air Vice Marshal Subhash Chandra Rastogi VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Puran Chandra Singh Rautela SC VSM (9576) AE (L) was commis sioned in the IAF on 04 Oct 1965. During his illustrious career, he has held various imp ortant and challenging appointments. His technical expertise, augmented by desire to innovate and design, has yielded various benefits to the IAF. He developed the first AS-200 version carrier, which was put to extensive use in the IAF. He was the member of DARIN design team for Indian Jaguar. During his tenure in RCPO from 1988-1992, he had conceptualized and developed RAME (Guwahati) and RAME (Wadsar), which are fully functional now. He designed the airborne caliberational system MATCAL which is fully functional now and has significantly contributed to the serviceability of Testers for various weapons systems.

Since his posting as ACAS Sigs (Air) in Jan 98, he has shown remarkable ability in conceptualizing and Implementing various schemes. He has designed the IAF high-speed communication network between Air HQ and Command HQ with direct dialing facility, using compression and frame relay techniques. He has brought about radical changes in the procurement policy of telephone exchanges, which has amounted to savings to the tune of Rs. 2 crores in the last two years. He also designed and developed ATC 3D system, which will give a substantive boost to flight safety and safer operation at ATC. During the Kargil war, the Air Officer ensured that effective communication was provided at all levels. He developed a technique to use bulk encryptors on analogue tropo links, which is now under implantation. Air Cmde PCS Rautela by sheer dint of hard work, coupled with ingenuity, has not only given concrete shape to innovative concepts but has also set benchmarks for his subordinates to follow.

Air Vice Marshal Puran Chandra Singh Rautela SC VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Donovan Eric Jonas (10131) F (P) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in Mar 66. During his thirty four years of distinguished service, he has held several important Staff and Command appointments. He commanded a frontline Jaguar squadron and was Chief Operations Officer and Air Officer Commanding of premier fighter bases of the Indian Air Force. He has also held the appointment of Ops IA of an operational Command. Presently he is holding the post of Director Personnel (Officers) at Air HQ. As Squadron Commander of a Jaguar Squadron, he led from the front and brought up the operational and maintenance standards in the Squadron to a very high level. As Chief Operations Officer of a fighter base, he was actively involved with conduct of flying operations. He actively pursued flying and participated in the Command Gunnery Meet as staff pilot and had the distinction of winning the bombing trophy.

Air Cmde DE Jonas took over the command of an operational Station in Aug 95. Realising that it was the human element that would make the vital difference between mediocrity and excellence, he galvanised the manpower under him into action. Instituting a series of steps for close interaction between his officers and other ranks, the Air Officer built up a sense of camaraderie and spirit-de-corps amongst all personnel. The result was a quantum jump in productivity, as evident from a unique 'Above Average' assessment by Directorate of Air Staff Inspection. The Station also hosted the Colour Presentation ceremony, which due to his exceptional foresight, planning and administrative ability, was conducted in most successful manner bringing laurels to the Station.

He is presently posted as Director Personnel (Officers) at Vayu Bhavan since 10 Feb 98. In a short span of time, with little or no previous experience in the personnel branch, he acquired expertise of a very high order. As DPO, he has demonstrated very high skill levels in his staff work and has combined the requirements of service with a human touch in a firm and fair manner.

His deft handling of personnel management has brought laurels to the Personnel branch at Air HQ.

Air Commodore Donovan Eric Jonas has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Shri Harsh Tripathi (11087) Adm/Lgl was commissioned on 24 Jun 67 and joined the Department of Judge Advocate General (Air) in 1972. He has held important legal assignments at various Command HQs and Air HQ. He was appointed as Judge Advocate General (Air) on 01 Aug 97.

The legal acumen and professional knowledge of the Air Officer has contributed immensely in successful defence of civil litigation on behalf of the Government. He has been monitoring the progress of about 2000 court cases to safeguard the interest of the State. His personal involvement in settling a large number of civil litigation in the recent past has exhibited his deep sense of commitment and high degree of professional competence, he has ensured that decision of the courts went in favour of the Union of India. In certain cases he strove hard and got some adverse decisions reversed in appeal thus saving the Government heavy expenditure.

The Air Officer took upon the task of revision of Regulations for the Air Force 1964 and accomplished it expeditiously. With his exceptionally high degree of professionalism, uprightness and dedication in rendering legal advice, keeping long tern interest of service as paramount, he made substantial contribution towards improvement of discipline and morale in the IAF. He has authored a number of booklets and guidelines on implementation of the provision of Air Force Law. These publications have proved to be of immense use while dealing in legal matters in the IAF.

Air Commodore Shri Harsh Tripathi has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Thekkekara Thomas Job VSM (11507) AE (M) is commanding a Base Repair Depot since 01 Aug 97.

The overhaul of MiG-29 aircraft commenced at this BRD three years ago. Since then the production capacity in respect of MiG-29 overhaul has been steadily increased. During a visit to the Depot the Chief of the Air Staff had stressed the need to give priority to trainer Aircraft. The depot produced a record number of aircraft even exceeding Air HQ task. Also, three trainers were produced instead of the task of one, even though the depot was attempting overhaul of trainers for the first time. Establishing the overhaul line of MiG-29 aircraft was beset with problems like non-availability of spares and technology as well as late arrival of Russian specialists. Under the able leadership of Air Cmde TT Job, the depot undertook the task of installing and commis sioning a number of test rigs without any help of Russian specialists, problems of non-availability was tackled by boosting indigenization efforts to a record level. Under his leadership, life extension study of MiG-29 aircraft was successfully completed, thereby avoiding sending of aircraft abroad for overhaul. The allotted task of overhaul of MiG23 aircraft was also completed well in time. In addition, a large number of modifications have been completed on MiG-29 and MiG-23 aircraft. Also, a number of innovative measures have been introduced in the depot to improve the quality of life.

Air Commodore Thekkekara Thomas Job VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Ashok Dharam Chhibar (12118) F (P) was commissioned on 30 Aug 69 in the Flying Branch of the IAF. Throughout his distinguished service, he has held a variety of Staff and Command appointments. These include command of a fighter squadron, which was declared best in the IAF, and an operational air base. He served on the directing staff at College of Air Warfare and as Chief Instructor at the Air Force Academy. As Air-1 of South Western Air Command, credit goes to him for smooth conduct of the highlyacclaimed Fire Power demonstration at Pokhran range in 1998 & 1999. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and a graduate of Defence Services Staff College and has flown over 4500 hours on various aircraft. He was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff in 1986 and by the Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of Central and Training Commands.

Air Cmde Chhibar took over as Air Officer Commanding, of a fighter base in the Eastern sector. The Air Officer realized that sustained excellence could materialize only through a cultural reorientation of his manpower. He also realized that personal example and selfesteem would be an important catalyst in the change. Though a series of individual and collective interaction he infused as sense of belonging and cohesion among his personnel and instilled in them a sense of pride. Through meticulous planning he ensured that his support environment matched and complimented the ethos of excellence he set in his station. Combining his operational and managerial skills he was able to marshal all the resources at his command to improve the serviceability-state of the fighter fleet aircraft based at his station.

His sustained efforts resulted in high level of Op preparedness, noticeable environmental improvements and an overall enhancement in the quality of life in the station. The culture of excellence he created also reflected itself in the Young Officers' Course designed and conducted by his Station for the officers of EAC. The course was started at his imitative and has proved highly successful. He was also actively involved in the preparation and implementation of the Accident Prevention Programme in Eastern Air Command.

Air Commodore Ashok Dharam Chhibar has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.