Wing Commander AVS Rao was commissioned in accounts branch in Jul 1975. Since his commissioning he has held various important and challenging appointments with distinction. These include Registrar of Sainik School, Senior Accounts Officer of an Air Stores Park and Assistant Director of Accounts at Air HQ. The officer assumed the duties of Mess Secretary of Air Force Officers' Mess, New Delhi in May 1993. Immediately after taking over, Wg Cdr Rao improved the living-in conditions and other facilities in the mess buildings of 2nd World War vintage. His job as Mess Secretary involved arranging and looking after the prestigious functions associated with Air Force Day, AF Commanders' Conference, Biennial Cdrs' Conferences for Army and Navy and banquets for the visiting foreign dignitaries/delegations. Wing Commander Rao has always organised these functions in a befitting manner. In addition, the financial position of the Officers' Mess improved manifold during his tenure. Deposits/savings increased from Rs 8 lakhs to Rs 35 Lakhs. Wg Cdr Rao is a devoted officer who places service before self and has always gone beyond the call of normal duties in executing the entrusted task.

For distinguished service of a high order, the President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander AVS Rao.