Group Captain A Saikia was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 22 Dec 73. He has held the appointments of ADC to the President of India and Staff Officer to the Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern and South Western Air Commands. He was selected to undergo Systems and Safety Management Course in USA. He is an A-2 Qualified Flying Instructor and has been an instructor at Flying Instructors' School. He has 3200 hrs of incident/accident free flying to his credit.

He was appointed Commanding Officer of a MiG-23 BN Sqn in Jul 93. Under his command, the Squadron has carried out record number of hours of accident/incident free flying. Inspite of non-availability of critical spares, good serviceability was maintained. During this period the Sqn was tasked to participate in various Fire Power Demonstrations and trials at Pokhran and Ahmednagar Ranges. These were carried out with surgical precision and were well appreciated by all. During the Command Armament Meet 94 the Sqn was adjudged overall runners up. During Directorate of Air Staff Inspection he was graded exceptional in three missions and Above the Average in the fourth one. Owing to his initiative, the Sqn carried out six innovations/modifications at the unit level with local resources utilising crashed aircraft equipment resulting in the reduction of man-hour requirement.

For exceptional devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Group Captain Atul Saikia.

Air Commodore Atul Saikia VM (13585) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the fighter stream on 22 December 1973. As a young Flying Officer he was commended by CAS for his extraordinary skill and professional knowledge. He has served as ADC to the President of India, directing staff of Flying Instructor's School and as Staff Officer to AOC-in-C, EAC and SWAC. As Commanding Officer of a MiG-23 BN squadron, he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal and AOC-in-C's commendation. He also served as Chief Instructor Flying at Air Force Academy, Air-I at HQ AOC J&K and as Station Commander of premier AF Station. He was selected to undergo Systems and Safety Management Course in USA in 1990 and secured first position. He served as Principal Director Training at Air HQ. As the Flight Commander in fighter Sqn he was commended by the CAS for the second time and the Sqn was adjudged the Best Fighter Squadron for two consecutive years in WAC. The legacy further continued, as the Squadron he was commanding was once again adjudged the Best Squadron in SWAC. For his professionalism and exceptional devotion to duty, he has been awarded VM in 1996. He took command of AF Station Kalaikunda in November 2004 with base in a state of operational disuse for three years. The runway was in the process of rehabilitation and the fighter squadrons were waiting to return to home base. With remarkable expertise, he expedited the process of rehabilitation of not only the runway but the entire airfield and its operations, maintenance complexes, thus brought it back to its original status of a premier airbase in the IAF. The base was then given the mandate of hosting the joint international exercise COPE INDIA2005 in November 2005, which besides being an air exercise had ramifications on Indo-US relations as well. The base was prepared in record time, to host the exercise, against heavy odds including local political constraints. With his able guidance and operational acumen, the exercise was conducted impeccably and all objectives were fully met. Immaculate execution of the exercise enhanced the image of the IAF internationally. The base thereafter hosted the Republic of Singapore Air force for exercise SINDEX-06 in Jan 06. This exercise was conducted equally meticulously and was immensely appreciated by all including the Chief of Air Force, RSAF.

The Air Officer contributed not only for enhancing the operational setup of the base but also concentrated his zealous efforts towards improving the domestic environment the station to an international standard in a short span which would not have been possible in absence of the ceaseless effort and drive of the officer.

Air Commodore Atul Saikia VM has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.