 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. | 
