Gp Capt DK Hegde was commissioned as an Aeronautical Engineer in the IAF on 15 August 1968. Whilst being the unit signal officer at Air Force Station Sirsa during the Indo-Pak conflict 1971, he performed creditably and was Mentioned in Despatches. In his 26 years of service he has held various instructional, staff and field appointments. He has worked as Project Engineer at Radar Communication Project Office (RCPO) and Joint Director, Air Defence Ground Environ ment Systems (ADGES) at Air HQ. He is currently the Deputy Command Engineering Officer of an Operational Command.

Gp Capt Hegde has been trained in UK for the computerised Ground Replay Equipment for the Crash Data Recorder of Jaguar aircraft. He installed and commissioned these equipments at two of the Jaguar bases most efficiently. His keen observations and thorough understanding of this system resulted in modifications to the original software which has greatly improved the performance of these equipments.

During the tenure at a Jaguar base he successfully undertook repair of complex airborne electronic equipment which were otherwise to be repaired abroad. This saved large sum in foreign exchange. He amply demonstrated his skill and professionalism once again during his tenure at a MiG-29 base. He set up and conducted extended second line servicing of avionic and navigational equipment of the ac though there were neither spare facilities nor literature for most of the components. This resulted in saving of precious foreign exchange besides improving the serviceability.

For distinguished service of high order, the President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Gp Capt Dayanand Kunhanna Hegde.