Group Captain Zia Ahmad Rizvi (14968) Lgs was commissioned on 10 Jun 1977 in the Logistics (Lgs) Branch of IAF. In his 29 years of distinguished service, he has held several important appointments, which include Senior Logistics Officer of Flying Stations, Chief Logistics Officer/Dy C Lgs O at Equipment Depots (EDs) and staff appoint ments at Command and Air HQ. He has been awarded commendation by CAS in 1996 and by AOCin-Cs in years 1993 and 1998.

He is a hard core professional with very high level of integrity, dedication, devotion and assertive positive attitude. Through out his career, he effectively planned utilisation of available resources towards overall benefit of IAF and synergised the various TechnoLgs activities to ensure enhanced flying efforts both while serving in field units at Flying Stations and EDs as well as in staff assignments. He incorporated several effective result oriented procedures to enhance availability of spares ensuring higher fleet serviceability. As Dy C Lgs O EAC in largest ED, his systematic spares demand and supply analysis followed by interaction with HAL and major Base Repair Depot resulted in 30% reduction of Aircraft On Ground (AOG) in six months itself and also incidences of AOGs declined. During year 1998-99, provisioning activities of spares of few aircraft were decentralised necessitating automated processing of huge data. He willingly accepted this challenge and a comprehensive user friendly processing package in Oracle environment was developed in record time of 18 days which remained in use till change over to IMMOLS recently.

The Officer demonstrated outstanding managerial and professional skills even as young Flt Lt while serving at an ED, when due to change in stocking policy, Lakhs of Litres of aviation Oils were received in different packaging. He undertook in a time bound manner the uphill task of segregation, storage, sampling and introduc tion of testing B/F card system for costly/sensitive aircraft Oils which is still in vogue for life monitoring of stocks. While serving at flying bases, besides effective spares support to Sqn's higher fleet serviceability, he initiated various measures to ensure gainful utilisation of costly non-moving airborne spares by other bases.

At every unit of posting, he closely associated himself willingly with various welfare activities also. Standard of Preprimary School at Palam was enhanced in short span of time both in terms of facilities and teaching standards and was awarded "Best School" by HQ MC during 1995. His contribution, for setting up "Special Children School" at Bamrauli during 1991, "Adult Education" and "Family welfare" programmes at Bamrauli and at village near domestic airport New Delhi, adopted by AF Station Palam, needs special mention. For distinguished service of high order, Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Zia Ahmad Rizvi.